Wondrous Words Wednesday
Wondrous Words Wednesday is a weekly meme where you can share new words that you’ve encountered or spotlight words you love. Feel free to get creative! If you want to play along, grab the button, write a post and come back and add your link to Mr. Linky!
I found the Publisher’s Weekly article “7 Weird, Wonderful Words You Should Use More Often” by Kory Stomper fascinating. I only knew two of the 7 words and only use one of them and really don’t use it all that often. I’ve decided to highlight a few of the other words here.
1. lickspittle – “A “pickpocket” is someone who picks pockets; a “scarecrow” is something that scares crows; and so a “lickspittle” is someone who licks the spittle of others.”
I’m sure everyone’s known someone like this. Stomper suggests using lickspittle instead of brownnoser.
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2. jawn – “The first time I ever heard this word was in a Philly bookstore, where one guy described Game of Thrones to his compatriot by saying it was “some kind of medieval porno jawn,” and I fell utterly and completely in love (with “jawn,” not with the guy).”
Stomper says jawn is used in Philadelphia for “thing.” Now I want to visit the City of Brotherly Love just to test it out.
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3. retronyn – “One occupational hazard of being a lexicographer is that people assume that (a) there is a word for everything, and (b) you know that word. Most of the time, (a) is true and (b) is not, but “retronym” is one case where both (a) and (b) are happily true.”
Stomper says “a retronym is a word or phrase that we use to refer to an earlier and now less-usual version of something: “film camera,” “paper book,” and “snail mail” are all retronyms.” Can you think of any others?
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What words do you want to celebrate today?
All three are new.
I read about jawn also. I was surprised I never heard it because much of my family came from Philly.
Fun article and fun words. I definitely think you should visit Philly — it’s only two hours from me!!!
Initially I thought lickspittle meant really fast. Then I realized that I was thinking of lickety-split. So 0-3 for me (but I really liked retronyn).
I can see why you were fascinated by that article. I loved all three words you highlighted, especially jawn. My teen kids are using words I’ve never heard of, and it makes me feel like my own language is retronym. 🙂
All are new to me!
Those are new to me
Those first two words are fun. Now I want to go read the whole article. Thanks.
It would truly be very difficult to use those words! But they are still fun to know!
Kathy,
These words are new to me as well. Lickspittle is hilarious! I will “check out” Kory Stomper’s article.
Oh my gosh I love these new words! And pumpernickel – I love pumpernickel with cream cheese but now that I know the true meaning, it will be the perfect lovable nickname for my dog. And my boys!
Lickspittle, ewwww!!