for the love of words (feat. my vocab list)
words
Words matter.
Words are one of the most powerful tools we possess for communication and connection. A well-crafted story is meaningful and moving. Words chosen with care make a difference.
Words build or tear apart.
Words create change.
Words are plentiful, artful, and specific.
As people, this matters because all beings need connection and understanding. As readers, this matters because an author who can use words that hit us just right brings something tangible to us through their stories. As writers, this matters because we want to use the words that help our work find its mark.
vocabulary
For the past week or two, I have been keeping a vocab list in my Notes app.
As I read — and even in conversation with friends and anywhere else I might stumble upon a word treasure — I add to the list whenever I discover a word I either don’t know the meaning of, or I especially enjoy (for its sound, uniqueness, letter structure, how it looks on the page, how cleverly it was used in its sentence, or as a word I would like to remember to use more often).
It’s been such a fun little ritual of pause; look up the word; say it to myself a couple times; and pile it onto the list.
I’ve learned many new definitions and revelled in the nostalgic feeling of being an elementary student studying my vocabulary. 😊 Plus, it’s a pleasing and satisfying list to look at!
1. Obstreperous
2. Desultory
3. Stultifying
4. Celluloid
5. Vociferously
6. Dysgraphia
7. Inculcate
8. Onerous
9. Foible
10. Amalgam
11. Revelatory
12. Chivvy
13. Analogous
14. Temerity
15. Scupper
16. Kitschy
17. Interminable
18. Despondent
19. Self-reproachful
20. Evince
glossary
obstreperous: noisy and difficult to control.
desultory: lacking a plan, purpose, or enthusiasm.
stultifying: tending to stifle enthusiasm, initiative, or freedom of action.
celluloid: a transparent flammable plastic made in sheets from camphor and nitrocellulose, formerly used for cinematographic film. (motion pictures as a genre.)
vociferously: in a loud and forceful manner.
dysgraphia: a disorder of writing ability at any stage, including problems with letter formation/legibility, letter spacing, spelling, fine motor coordination, rate of writing, grammar, and composition.
inculcate: instill (an attitude, idea, or habit) by persistent instruction.
onerous: (of a task, duty, or responsibility) involving an amount of effort and difficulty that is oppressively burdensome.
foible: a minor weakness or eccentricity in someone's character.
amalgam: a mixture or blend.
revelatory: revealing something hitherto unknown.
chivvy: tell (someone) repeatedly to do something.
analogous: comparable in certain respects, typically in a way which makes clearer the nature of the things compared.
temerity: excessive confidence or boldness; audacity.
scupper: to cause something such as a plan or an opportunity to fail.
kitschy: (of art, objects, or design) considered to be in poor taste because of excessive garishness or sentimentality, but sometimes appreciated in an ironic or knowing way.
interminable: endless (often used hyperbolically).
despondent: in low spirits from loss of hope or courage.
self-reproachful: feeling or expressing harsh disapproval or criticism towards oneself.
evince: reveal the presence of (a quality or feeling).
For most of these, I’ve only included the primary definition. For one or two, I included or exclusively used a secondary definition that was more fitting to the context in which I found the word. There are, of course, many further layers of extra definitions and useful information such as pronunciation, part of speech, etc, if you feel inclined to explore further!
Many of these words are used in Oliver Burkeman’s book Four Thousand Weeks (which I just finished reading and highlighting in my last post!). Throughout the entire book, I was very taken with Burkeman’s phraseology and specificity with beautiful words. He is also a British author, so there is an entry or two on my vocab list (looking at you, scupper) that is very colloquially British. 😊
invocation
May you have the words you need, when you need them.
May you hear precisely what it is you need to hear.
May you share with others words that help and bring truth, words to make things better.
And I hope — for you and for me — there are always plenty of words that spark joy!
