Category: GENERAL

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Week 6: Hey, I’m a bibilophile! (and other ‘B’ewdiful ‘B’ words for book lovers)

What I love about week 6 words is they are all about books and writing! (Speaking of ‘b’ words, this week is Brief, But I have a good reason… More on that later.)

Now bring out those ‘B-book’ words we love…

best-seller: n. both the book and the author – and yes, it has a hyphen for future reference)

bibilophile: n. a lover of books

biddable: adj.  willing to do what is asked; obedient; docile (good advice for a debut author!)

bildungsroman: n. a novel whose theme is the early growth and development of its main character.

billet-doux: n. a love letter

See you next Sunday as I continue my dictionary odyessey…  Week 7 of My Leap Year of Words.

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Week 5: Balletomane — Beetle-browed and beyond

Okay, no time for clever today. Let’s get straight into a week of beaut B words–some new, some strange, some surprising.

balletomane: n. a ballet enthusiast (only a balletomane would wear those shoes!)

barb: n. cutting comment (or–according to my dictionary–a horse, a pigeon, or a black dog!)

barbarous: adj. uncivilised, uncouth, or cruel

barrel-chested: adj. having a strong, thick chest

bate: to moderate or restrain (the breath) as in bated breath–all this time I’ve thought it was baited – as in…you know…fish breath! (How’s that for honesty.)

batter: v. to beat persistently hard (or perhaps try a light tempura-style coating on your fish breath!)

beetle-browed: adj. having heavy projecting eyebrows; scowling; sullen

bawdry: n. promiscuous sexual behaviour

bawdy: adj. rollickingly vulgar, lewd

beastly: adj. nasty, disagreeable (sorta what I am after a week of flooding rain!)

beau geste: n. a fine gesture often only for effect

beauteous: adj. beautiful

bedraggled: adj. wet and dishevelled (sorta what I am after a week of flooding rain!)

 

“They waited with bated breath before battering the beetle-browed and barrel-chested balletomane with barbarous barbs for his beau geste.”

B…b…b…bye for this week.

 

 

 

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Week 4: Ardent – Balance

I’ve loved this week’s words, even using a few in my Little Gems short story entries (due next – yikes!)

What this week has taught me however, is I’m ardent about putting a little balance in my life – starting tomorrow!!

But first…my favourites.

argus-eyed: adj. keen-eyed, vigilant

armature: n. protective covering of an animal or plant, or any part serving for defence or offence.

arresting: adj. catching the attention, striking

arriviste: n. social climber, ambitious person

askance: adv. with suspicion, mistrust, disapproval

avarice: n. insatiable greed for riches

aventurine: n. an opaque, brown glass containing fine, gold-coloured particles

avowel: n. frank acknowledgement or admission. 2. Open declaration

babushka: n. 1. A woman’s headscarf; often triangular with ends tied under chin or at back of neck (or a Russian grandmother!)

balance: various. what every good novel needs!

Now for my weekly challenge; using as many words as possible (not recommended if you are planning to write a good novel. Remember – balance and moderation!)

“She yanked the knot on her babushka and looked askance at his avowal to have his way with her. He was nothing more than an argus-eyed arriviste with an arresting smile. She’d need her armature to avoid his avarice.”  🙂