Tag: My 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.”  🙂

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Week 3: Dedicated to the antinovelist!

 The big word of the week is…

antinovel n. – a novel in which the traditional approach to such aspects as plot, form, character, etc is rejected.

Does that mean those amazing unpubbed authors who struggle with plot, form and character are actually called – antinovelists!!!

Seriously, this week’s read took me from Algeria to arctic, uncovering some great words along the way including:

antiquity: the quality of being ancient; great age

aplomb: 1. self-possessiveness, poise or assurance.   2. a perpendicular position

apophthegmatic:  to speak one’s opinion frankly [pron: ap-uh-theg-mat-ik]

aqueous: watery, of, like or containing water

“Despite the apophthegmatic compliment, she carried her antiquity with great aplomb.”

(Hmmm, okay, you can probably do better!)

Today’s dictionary travels brought me here – to ARCTIC. Join me next week as we travel from ardent to bagatell.

PS Thanks for your mum wishes on my previous post. Given my week, it seems fitting that included in this week’s words included analgesia and anaesthetic. She is ‘better’, although an overnight stop at Port Macquarie Base hospital (two-hours south) turned into four very long days. But we are back home and hoping for the best. Thanks for your wishes and for joining my journey.