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Sharing our love for authors, and the stories they are inspired to tell.

Wondrous Words Wednesday

We have an abundance of wildlife, home travel and outdoor activity and nature programmes, crowding onto our screens at the moment. One of the most recent programmes, now in its third series, is ‘Secret Britain’. Recently, the team travelled to Cumbria, home of The Lake District, on the North West coast of the UK. Whilst talking to the locals, these two words were mentioned and I rushed to jot them down, so that I could share them with you.

Picture Of Series Three Secret Britain Presenters

LONNINGS –

All Cumbrians instinctively know what a lonning is. It’s a dialect word shared with their friends in the North East (although they tend to spell it “lonnen”). The Lakeland Dialect Society defines a lonning as a lane, and when many lonnings were “upgraded” to roads in the 19th century they were often re-named lanes. Hence Rosemary Lonning in Whitehaven became Rosemary Lane.
There are tens of thousands of books detailing walks and footpaths in Cumbria but amazingly there isn’t one specifically on lonnings. So I donned my boots to explore this Cumbrian phenomenon.
It soon became clear that “lane” is not sufficient as a definition. Some lonnings are barely tracks in the landscape while others are wide enough for tractors and 4x4s.

SLARE –

To walk at a slow, leisurely pace

Generic Picture of An Unknown Person Reading a Book

These next couple of words, I have jotted down randomly, as the opportunities have presented themselves, although I have neglected to capture quotes or sentences in which they have been used.

ENCOMIAST –

A person who delivers or writes an encomium; a eulogist.

A person who publicly praises or flatters someone else.

.

GENTRIFICATION –

The restoration and upgrading of deteriorated urban property by middle-class or affluent people, often resulting in displacement of lower-income people.

A process by which middle-class people take up residence in a traditionally working-class area of a city, changing the character of the area.

The upgrading of run-down urban neighbourhoods by affluent people who buy and renovate the properties, thereby displacing the resident poor.

… Is An image for the weekly meme Wondrous Words Wednesdaya 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  as well, so that we can visit and share your words of the week!

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Written by
Yvonne

I can’t remember a time, even as a child, when I haven’t been passionate about books and reading.
I began blogging, when I realised just how many other people out there shared my passion for the written word and I have been continually amazed at the wealth of books that are available and the amount of great new friends I have made, from literally 'The Four Corners Of The World'.

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Written by Yvonne