"We are not provided with wisdom, we must discover it for ourselves, after a journey through the wilderness which no one else can take for us, an effort which no one can spare us, for our wisdom is the point of view from which we come at last to regard the world." --M. Proust
In the 'Dukies in the NBA 2019-20' thread, DBR members are admitting to some lapses in vocab knowledge. Is admission of ignorance allowed on the interwebs?
Brings to mind this fun word:
Ultracrepidarian - someone who has no special knowledge of a subject but who expresses an opinion about it
Unfortunately, we have very little use for it on DBR
Last edited by bedeviled; 08-27-2019 at 06:33 PM. Reason: a kinder definition
I heard this word on the radio this morning: mendacious.
Reminded me of another word I really like: prevaricate.
"We are not provided with wisdom, we must discover it for ourselves, after a journey through the wilderness which no one else can take for us, an effort which no one can spare us, for our wisdom is the point of view from which we come at last to regard the world." --M. Proust
I have a new favorite word: unscathed.
As in: I got through Hurricane Dorian unscathed.
Merriam-Webster word of the day: mumpsimus -- a stubborn person who insists on making an error in spite of being shown that it is wrong.
Over the weekend I heard an NPR guest use the word "licit." This is one of those words that is almost always used only in its negative form, "illicit."
Clement is another such word.
"We are not provided with wisdom, we must discover it for ourselves, after a journey through the wilderness which no one else can take for us, an effort which no one can spare us, for our wisdom is the point of view from which we come at last to regard the world." --M. Proust
This brings up the concept of an orphan or unpaired word, which is defined by Wikipedia as a word that "according the usual rules of the language, would appear to have a related word, but does not ... In some cases a paired word does exist, but is quite rate or archaic"
Examples include:
Disheveled - sheveled
Discombobulted - combobulated
Inept - ept
Unbeknownst - beknownst
Feckless - feckful
To take this a step further, here is a poem which is frequently attributed to J H Parker.
A Very Descript Man
I am such a dolent man,
I eptly work each day;
My acts are all becilic,
I’ve just ane things to say.
My nerves are strung, my hair is kempt,
I’m gusting and I’m span:
I look with dain on everyone
And am a pudent man.
I travel cognito and make
A delible impression:
I overcome a slight chalance,
With gruntled self-possession.
My dignation would be great
If I should digent be:
I trust my vagance will bring
An astrous life for me.
I'm not sure if this word has been raised in the thread earlier, but I really like the word "cantankerous." Also "irascible." "Curmudgeon" is pretty solid, too.
"We are not provided with wisdom, we must discover it for ourselves, after a journey through the wilderness which no one else can take for us, an effort which no one can spare us, for our wisdom is the point of view from which we come at last to regard the world." --M. Proust
Borborygmi
Like the sound of distant thunder, only closer.
"We are not provided with wisdom, we must discover it for ourselves, after a journey through the wilderness which no one else can take for us, an effort which no one can spare us, for our wisdom is the point of view from which we come at last to regard the world." --M. Proust