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‘WONDROUS WORDS WEDNESDAY‘
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 as well, so that we can visit and share your words of the week!
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My words this week are taken from ‘Women of a Dangerous Age’, a great contemporary fiction novel, by English author Fanny Blake.
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1.FILLIP
Lou felt the familiar fillip to her spirits that came whenever she heard from one of her children.
FILLIP:
1. Something that adds stimulation or enjoyment
2. The action of holding a finger towards the palm with the thumb and suddenly releasing it outwards to produce a snapping sound
3. A quick blow or tap made by a finger snapped in this way
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2.TUK-TUK
Tuk-Tuk and rickshaw drivers were touting for business too
TUK-TUK:
An auto rickshaw or three-wheeler (tempo, tuk-tuk, trishaw, auto, rickshaw, autorick, bajaj, rick, tricycle, mototaxi, baby taxi or lapa in popular parlance) is a usually three-wheeled cabin cycle for private use and as a vehicle for hire. It is a motorized version of the traditional pulled rickshaw or cycle rickshaw. Auto rickshaws are an essential form of urban transport in many developing countries, and a form of novelty transport in many Eastern countries.
Actually, not long after writing this particular post, I happened to catch the end of a television programme, where the presenter was actually highlighting the use of Tuk-Tuk’s in a part of India, where they are predominantly small tractors pulling an open cart for passengers!
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3. DISCOMBOBULATED
Two minutes later, she was in her taxi travelling home, shoes off, thoroughly discombobulated by the fact that not only had she enjoyed the kiss, she had also responded in kind.
DISCOMBOBULATED:
- Confused, embarrassed, upset.
- After months of preparation for a new sign ordinance, the Planning Commission appeared discombobulated over the idea of adopting the new regulations when confronted by a few members of the public.
- Broken, mixed up.
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Yvonne
Hi Yvonne 🙂 Nice words. I do use discombobulated, it’s one of those ‘fun’ words to say. I like tuk-tuk!
Hi Naida,
I love the thought of a Tuk-Tuk, but after seeing them on the television reprt from India, they do actually look quite unsafe and lethal, The drivers seem to throw both the vehicle and its passengers around, with scant regard for the safety of either!!
I have never come across ‘discombobulated’ before, but as I have reached that age where I seem to be permanently confused and disconnected from reality, then perhaps I should try throwing it into a conversation or two, just to see what kind of reaction I get … Also, it sounds so much better than just telling someone that I am totally confused about something!!
I knew discombobulated but the others were new to me. I may have to try to use fillip today! Thanks for participating!
Hi Kathy,
That’s two of you who knew ‘discombobulated’, now I am getting seriously worried about the state of my vocabulary!
‘Fillip’ is a great sounding word, isn’ it? although I am not quite so sure about dropping it casually into a conversation! … the best of luck with that challenge.
I just realised that ‘Fillip’ also keeps your theme of the ‘F’ words going, so perhaps that is a good omen for you being able to use the word today!
Thanks for hosting and taking the time to respond to all your participants.
I like the word tuk-tuk, a cute vehicle.
http://tributebooksmama.blogspot.com/2012/07/wondrous-words-wednesday_25.html
Hi Mary Ann,
I guess that the Tuk-Tuk is a great little vehicle for getting around the city in the traffic, however I am not so convinced that they are a very safe way to travel, nor something I would be all that keen to try.
It’s a bit like cycling, isn’t it? Many roads here in the UK have special cycle lanes, however having witnessed just how close the cars and lorries get to the cyclist, I think that I shall either stay in my car, or on terra firma walking on the pavement!!
Thanks for stopping by, I always like to receive your comments.
Fillip is a word I see occasionally, but not one I use in regular speech. I can see how it’s used now and I want to add it to my vocabulary. How about this sentence: Your post has been the fillip I needed to add new words to my everyday speech.
Hi Margot,
I have to admit that I have never come across ‘fillip’ before and I was struggling to think of an occasion when it might come in useful, however your great example shows me just how easy it is to drop it into everyday conversation.
Your excellent response to this post, has given me the fillip to keep on with my blogging, at a time when I have been seriously considering giving it all up.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, I always value your comments.
Hi Yvonne- I knew tuk-tuk from a documentary. and, discombobulated I actually use when I am discombobulated – LOL! But, ‘fillip’ – not a clue! Cool word though 🙂
Hi Libby,
I came across tuk-tuk, just the other day, when watching a television documentary about India, so I did know of the word when posting, although not when the post was in the preparation stage.
I am obviously seriously lacking in my English skills, as I have never come across discombobulated, until I read it in this book. Just you wait and see, I shall be coming across the word all the time now!!
Thanks for visiting and leaving your comment, it is always appreciated.
I didn’t know fillip. I’ve heard of a tuk-tuk, and used discombobulated for years.
Hi Vicki,
I was in two minds about being able to use ‘fillip’ in general conversation, but after talking about it with one of your fellow commenters, Margot@Joyfully Retired’, it actually isn’t that awkward to use it as a substitute word and in fact it sounds rather good.
It will be a good test of whether people actually listen to a conversation enough to query a word they don’t know of, or like most of us, you get the general gist of the content and ‘make the rest up as you go along’.
Your thoughts and comments are much appreciated and have given me the fillip to persue the opportunities for using the word in general conversation!!
I have never heard fillip before but I knew what a tuk-tuk was and I actually use discombobulated!
Hi Meg,
‘Fillip’ certainly seems to have been the word which has caught everyone out this week, so I fully expect to see posts being published on all your blogs, with ‘fillip’ being used at least once!!
Thanks for stopping by to leave a comment, I always love to receive them.
Three great words. Fillip is such a great sounding word, I’ve heard it before, but it’s one of those words that I can’t quite remember the meaning. I knew tuk-tuk and discombobulated too. I think discombobulated is one of my favourite words. I’m going to use it this week as often as I can.
Hi Louise,
Given the sudden and unexpected heatwave we have been experiencing over the last few days, following on from the wettest and coolest May and June on record, I have been feeling discombobulated all week long!!
You mention that you had heard of ‘fillip’, yet couldn’t quite remember where, or its meaning. I too, often find that I put a word into the WWW post, then have a funnny feeling that I might have actually mentioned it before, so have to go back through my posts and check!
So much for improving my vocabulary, improving my memory might be a slightly more pressing issue!!
Thanks for the great comments, always lovely to receive.
Of the three I didn’t know tuk-tuk, so it was good learning it.
I like how ‘fillip’ even sounds energetic and brisk.
Hi HKatz,
These little tuk-tuk’s don’t look all that safe to me. We have a version of them in use on the streets of London and judging by the way they weave in and out of the traffic, they seem to be used in much the same way as a bicycle but with scant regard for the safety of their passengers. I think that I would rather stick to either the four wheels of a car, or my own two feet!!
Thanks for stopping by, your comments are always valued and appreciated.