…. is a weekly meme where we share new (to us) words that we have encountered in our reading.
It is hosted by Kathy, over at BermudaOnion’s Weblog.
You can either stop by and leave a link to your own ‘mystery’ words of the week, or just browse the eclectic mix of words that others have discovered, there is always a great selection.
Don’t forget that Kathy and the rest of us, all love to read your comments too, so that we can visit and share your words.
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I came across just one more word from contemporary fiction novel ‘Women of a Dangerous Age’, by Fanny Blake
1. UNEXPURGATED
We talked for ages but she’s coming over tonight to give me the unexpurgated version
UNEXPURGATED: …Not shortened by omissions: complete, unabbreviated, unabridged, uncensored, uncut
This has to be a great word for slipping into that conversation with someone who can usually make you feel totally inadequate, no matter what you say …
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My next words come from my current read, ‘Hope’s Betrayal (The Huntley Trilogy)’, by Grace Elliot.
2. 3. & 4. SKIFF, SMACK & CUTTER
The smugglers were preparing to leave; five figures wading out to the skiff and jumping on board
Becalmed in the fog, fishing smacks and cutters bobbed at anchor.
SKIFF: … A flatbottom open boat of shallow draft, having a pointed bow and a square stern and propelled by oars, sail, or motor.
SMACK: … A fishing boat sailing under various rigs, according to size, and often having a well used to transport the catch to market.
CUTTER: … A sailing boat with its mast stepped further aft so as to have a larger foretriangle than that of a sloop … A ship’s boat, powered by oars or sail, for carrying passengers or light cargo … A small lightly armed boat, as used in the enforcement of customs regulations
I was aware that a
‘skiff’, a
‘smack’, and a
‘cutter’, were types of boat, but didn’t really know what they looked like. I need to thank Wikipedia once again, for these excellent articles and accompanying pictures illustrating just how varied the many types of these particular vessels are. I imagine that the illustrations I have highlighted, are how they might have appeared during the time frame the book deals with.
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5. NIGHT – RAIL
At the thought of removing her night-rail in front of a stranger Hope blushed but the maid spoke softly …
NIGHT – RAIL … A now obsolete word, a night-rail was a loose robe worn as a nightgown.
Although this word’s definition seemed pretty obvious when read in the context of the story, it was definitely a word that I had never come across before in my reading and I was interested to see just what it might have looked like…
check out this great article
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6. VIRGINALE
Huntley rolled his eyes. “Phish!” Next you’ll be saying she’s accomplished on the virginale
VIRGINALE: … A small, legless rectangular harpsichord popular in the 16th and 17th centuries, having one manual and no pedals. Often used in the plural. Also called
pair of virginals. (probably from Latin
virginālis virginal, perhaps because it was played largely by young ladies)
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