Top 10 Tuesday: Favorite Words
5:08 PM
I am once again posting a day ahead schedule to take part on Broke and Bookish's meme Top 10 Tuesday. Today the topic is free so I chose Top 10 Favorite Words.
1) Revival
2) Zeitgeist1) Revival
Meaning: "a process in which something becomes active or strong again"
I've been obsessed with this word lately. I find myself saying: a Tudor revival house, an Art Deco revival in the 60's, a much expected dry tomato revival. I'm just rejoiced whenever I hear it.Meaning: "the general spirit or feeling of a period in history, as shown by people's ideas and beliefs at the time".
One time in college a professor said very naturally the phrase: "Zeitgeist, baby." I hated that professor, but I've tried to use that sentence in a conversation ever since.
3) Brobdinagnian
Meaning: "anything of colossal size"
Brobdingnag is a fictional land occupied by giants in Jonathan Swift's novel Gulliver's Travels. I first heard it in Big Bang Theory (starting 1:23)
4) Poser
Meaning: "someone who pretends to have a quality or social position they do not really have, usually in order to make people notice or admire them"
When I was growing up this was a key word and concept for teenage survival. Some people were rockers, others were posers. It was crucial to know how to identify a poser and specially not to be one.
5) Angel
5) Angel
Meaning: "a spirit who is God's servant in heaven, and who is often shown as a person dressed in white with wings".
The Latin word "angelus" originally meant "messenger" but the Catholic Church adopted it to describe God's messengers, then changing the meaning of the word.
6) Jet Setter
Meaning: "rich and fashionable people who travel a lot"
My dream is to be a jet setter. But I'll settle with befriending one in real life.
7) Tour de force
8) Gunslinger
Meaning: "someone who is very skillful at using guns, especially a criminal"
I'm not that much of a western fan, but I sure like this word.
9) Ubiquitous
What are some of your favorite words?
6) Jet Setter
Meaning: "rich and fashionable people who travel a lot"
My dream is to be a jet setter. But I'll settle with befriending one in real life.
7) Tour de force
Meaning: "an exceptional achievement by an artist, that is unlikely to be equaled by that person or anyone else."
This is more of an expression but I have once bought a book because it was described as "an emotional tour de force". The book didn't turn out that great in the end.Meaning: "someone who is very skillful at using guns, especially a criminal"
I'm not that much of a western fan, but I sure like this word.
9) Ubiquitous
Meaning: "seeming to be everywhere"
The first time I saw this word was in some David Foster Wallace article or book, I don't remember which exactly. I just love this word and find it hilarious the example that the dictionary offers: "a French film, starring the ubiquitous Gérard Depardieu"
10) Galvanize
Meaning: "to shock or surprise someone so that they do something to solve a problem, improve a situation"
10) Galvanize
Meaning: "to shock or surprise someone so that they do something to solve a problem, improve a situation"
Galvanization is actually the process of applying a protective zinc coating to steel or iron, in order to prevent rusting. But the way the Chemical Brothers use it is just so much cooler.
What are some of your favorite words?
2 comments
I love BBT so Brobdinagnian is definitely a favourite word of mine. =)
ReplyDeleteMy Top Ten
Sabina @ Delirious About Books
That's such a funny episode isn't it? I love how I can always learn new words from this show. xx
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting! Do come back because I usually reply to comments here.