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’ve had a lot going on this week so haven’t done much reading and had to turn to my Word-a-Day calendar to discover some new words.

1. banausic – “At the far end was a wooden board on which were hung saws, chisels, knives and other banausic instruments of the trade.” — Sebastian Faulk, HUMAN TRACES

Banausic is an adjective that means relating to or concerned with earning a living – used perjoratively; also: utilitarian, practical.

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2. pleonasm – “The composition instructor is particularly critical of such pleonasms as ‘past history’ and ‘personal friend.'”

Pleonasm means the use of more words than those necessary to denote mere sense: redundancy.

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3. contumacious – “She sat still, looking a little contumacious, and very much indisposed to stir.” — Charlotte Bronte, SHIRLEY

Contumacious is an adjective that means stubbornly disobedient: rebellious.

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What words do you want to celebrate today?