Wondrous Words Wednesday
April 1, 2009
Wondrous Words Wednesday is a weekly meme where we share new (to us) words that we’ve encountered in our reading. Feel free to join in the fun.
My words for this week came from Laura Rider’s Masterpiece by Jane Hamilton.
1. belletristic – “It was fine to read the Russian novels again and again, fine to read criticism, the belletristic essay, military history, science, biography, collections of letters, and the occasional grocery-store mystery.”
Belletristic means it is written and regarded for aesthetic value rather than content.
2. encomium – “There were eleven more stanzas, each beginning with her name, each in the same spirit of encomium, . . .”
Encomium is glowing and warmly enthusiastic praise.
What new words have you discovered lately?
22 Comments
leave one →
Bermudaonion's Weblog 
I’m joining in this week! I have my list set to post later this morning. I’ll stop back and leave the link once it’s up. =)
oooh…two good words there, this week! Both new-to-me, as well. I only had 1 1/2 words this week, but they’re up!
Thanks for hostin’ this, Bermuda Onion…
Happy Reading, everyone.
You readers are like me!! Up at 5 a.m.!!!! Will look for a word to add later.
Here it is, that new word (to me): http://bookbirddog.blogspot.com/2009/04/wondrous-words.html Sorry, haven’t found a second one yet, if you don’t count foreign words.
Well, in the spirit of encomium, your blog is fabulous. Did I use that right? I like those words!
Here are my words
Those are great words – both new to me.
My words are here!
Two new words to me. As a former high school English teacher, believe me when I say that I have never read a belletristic essay.
Here’s my list for this week.
Two very good new-to-me words. I found two new ones this week as well. They are here.
Thanks for continuing with these wondrous words…I really like encomium…and I never new what it meant until now!
I posted last night, but am just getting around to leaving my link:
http://booksandmovies.today.com/2009/04/01/wondrous-words-wednesday-april-1-2009/
Have a great day, Kathy!
I am unfamiliar with both of these.
Your words are new to me as well. I’ve never even seen them before!
Here are mine:
http://shereadsandreads.blogspot.com/2009/04/wondrous-words-wednesday-april-1.html
Joining in for the first time this week!
You found some good words this week! I had not heard of either one of them. My list is here.
Belletristic- I like that- “belle” means beautiful, right? My new words all came from Emma, they’re here.
I’ve never heard either of those before. My post is up.
I finally remembered to write down at least a couple of words for this. See here.
I knew belletristic because the Germans use it to describe literary novels.
Encomium is the kind of word that I look at, understand the definition, and then promptly forget because it just doesn’t look like what it means to me.
My new word is graphomania from House of Leaves. It describes the passion or urge to write — in this case, a sickness
Ooh, I like graphomania! It and cacography are my favourite new words so far!