Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Wondrous Words Wednesday!


Wondrous Words Wednesday is a weekly meme (hosted by Bermudaonion's Weblog) where we share new (to us) words that we’ve encountered in our reading. If you want to play along, grab the button, and join the fun! (Don’t forget to leave a link in your comment if you’re participating.)

  This is a new meme to me, and I couldn't pass it up! Whenever I come across a new or interesting word, I write it down to look up or work into my vocabulary later1.
 
  These wondrous words were found in the first half of The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carry Ryan. I'm sure to come across more as I continue to read.

Bastion:
"That the world ended with the Return and we are the last bastion."2
Pronunciation: \ˈbas-chən\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle French, from Old Italian bastione, augmentative of bastia fortress, derivative from dial. form of bastire to build, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German besten to patch
Date: 1562
1 : a projecting part of a fortification
2 : a fortified area or position
3 : stronghold 2

Acquiesce:
"Not having to acquiesce to the Sisters, to acknowledge that I'm wrong about them."3
Pronunciation: \ˌa-kwē-ˈes\
Function: intransitive verb
Inflected Form(s): ac·qui·esced; ac·qui·esc·ing
Etymology: French acquiescer, from Latin acquiescere, from ad- + quiescere to be quiet — more at quiescent
Date: 1651
: to accept, comply, or submit tacitly or passively —often used with in and sometimes with to

The words listed below are some that stuck in my brain from the Twilight Saga4.

Sentient:
Pronunciation: \ˈsen(t)-sh(ē-)ənt, ˈsen-tē-ənt\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin sentient-, sentiens, present participle of sentire to perceive, feel
Date: 1632
1 : responsive to or conscious of sense impressions
2 : aware
3 : finely sensitive in perception or feeling
— sen·tient·ly adverb

Irrevocably:
Pronunciation: \i-ˈre-və-kə-bəl, ˌi(r)- sometimes ˌir-(r)ə-ˈvō-kə-\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin irrevocabilis, from in- + revocabilis revocable
Date: 14th century
: not possible to revoke : unalterable
— ir·rev·o·ca·bil·i·ty \-ˌre-və-kə-ˈbi-lə-tē, ˌir-(r)ə-ˌvō-kə-\ noun
— ir·rev·o·ca·ble·ness \-ˈre-və-kə-bəl-nəs, ˌir-(r)ə-ˈvō-kə-\ noun
— ir·rev·o·ca·bly \-blē\ adverb

Neophyte:
Pronunciation: \ˈnē-ə-ˌfīt\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Late Latin neophytus, from Greek neophytos, from neophytos newly planted, newly converted, from ne- + phyein to bring forth — more at be
Date: 14th century
1 : a new convert : proselyte
2 : novice 1
3 : tyro, beginner

Knowledge is power! :9
Zombie Girrrl

footnotes________________________________________________
1  Yeah, I'm a nerd, so sue me!
2  Page 72
3  Page 100
4  I can no longer recall the passages featuring these words, so I won't attempt to quote them5.
5  I lied. Yes I will. "The neophyte opened her eyes and realized her conversion to vampirism was irrevocable. Not that she wanted to go back; no, from her first taste of blood to her first throw-down with a sentient being, Bella was hooked," or something like that.

5 comments:

bermudaonion said...

I really want to read that book - I'll have to come back here if I do! I love your footnotes - they're so much fun! Thanks for participating!

Heather G. said...

Awesome words! I love your footnotes! I'm just too lazy; they remind me of English papers! But yours are great! Oh, and I love your new look. I wish blogger had three column templates...I'm just too deficient in html to deal with three columns!!!!

Natascha De Marco said...

Award at my blooog!

Zombie Girrrl said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Zombie Girrrl said...

Whoo! Thanks, Taschima!

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