Wondrous Words
Wednesday is a lovely meme hosted by Bermuda Onion
each week to highlight new (to us) words that we come across in our daily
reading.My gorgeous copy of Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston is one of the Virago Modern Classics Designer collection.
It has an introduction by Zadie Smith that I saved for the end in case it had plot reveals. It did.
It also had several literary words that I was unsure of.
Today I used the free dictionary for my definitions.
1. Aphoristic
It was a category that did not include aphoristic or overtly 'lyrical' language.
adj
1. of, relating to, or resembling an aphorism
2. tending to write or speak in aphorisms
aphorism
n.
1. A tersely phrased statement of a truth or opinion;
an adage.
2. A brief statement of a principle.
2. Quotidian
In the mouths of unlettered people she finds the bliss of quotidian metaphor.
adj.
1. Everyday; commonplace.
2. Recurring daily.
3. Neologisms
We all deserve to savour her neologisms (sankled, monstropous, rawbony).
n.
1. A new word, expression, or usage.
2. The creation or use of new words or senses.
3. Psychology
a. The invention of new words regarded as a symptom
of certain psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia.
b. A word so invented.
4. Theology A new doctrine or a new
interpretation of scripture.
I'm delighted to now have a big word to throw back at my husband whenever I accidentally create a new word!!
I knew quotidian from the little bit of French I can remember. Have you ever been to a Pain Quotidian? I'm glad you looked up aphorism because the definition of aphoristic didn't help me much. Thanks for playing along!
ReplyDeleteNew and interesting words for me today.
ReplyDeletehttp://tributebooksmama.blogspot.com/2013/04/wondrous-words-wednesday_24.html
Very thorough definitions- thank you. I think teenagers are prone to neologisms, don't you? :) I take it your words were from the introduction? It sounds like a discussion of the prose.
ReplyDeleteI love neologism, mostly because I love new words. Perhaps we should change the name of this weekly meme Wondrous Neologism Wednesday. Just joking. All good words this week.
ReplyDeleteI often leave introductions until the end too, for that very same reason. Good selection of words! I never really knew what quotidian meant. Now I know.
ReplyDeleteNeologisms is one of my favourite words- and concepts. I like quotidian a lot too. Aphorism is a word I'm familiar with, but didn't know the meaning really.
ReplyDelete