Reasonably intelligentā.Ā It was the wordĀ reasonablyĀ that stung then, and still does now. Ever done one of those ā360-degree appraisalsā at work? You know, when people at all levels in your organisation give anonymous feedback about what they think of you? I canāt remember the rest of the comments but that one still lingers.
To be fair, I knowĀ I can lower the average IQ in a room by 50 just by walking through the door.Ā I was doing a crossword over lunch the other day, with my brother and a knowledgeable and well-travelled friend of his, and as usual I was simultaneously stumped and astounded by their intellect, when suddenlyĀ my moment in the sun arrivedĀ āĀ āThe centrepiece on a timepieceā. They were momentarily stunned by my knowledge of the wordĀ gnomonĀ I had stumbled across and noted a few days previously.Ā I then resumed my monastic silence for the rest of the puzzle.
I have always loved words, so determined to get more than one clue right next time we meet,Ā I have set myself a challenge. To write a meaningful piece of less than 150 words, containing 20 neologismsĀ I have encountered recently (at least new words to me) . You may know them already, but to save you the pain I had of looking them up, the definitions are underneath. Enjoy:
āSitting in the cafĆ© I tucked into a veganĀ salmagundi, aĀ brindleĀ mix of tofu andĀ seitan, listening to aĀ carpet baggerĀ at the next tableĀ finagleĀ his way to a free lunch, while entering into aĀ rodomontadeĀ on his personalĀ eschatologyĀ which struck me rather asĀ scatology, and wondering about the gapingĀ lacunaĀ in my ownĀ epistemology. I paid theĀ moietyĀ of the bill inĀ fungibleĀ cash as my personal rebellion against the digitisation of our lives, and filled with post-prandialĀ ubuntuĀ andĀ eudaimonia, left the cafĆ©āsĀ zigguratĀ with its lakeside view complete withĀ catafalque-like artwork. Using the handgel as we left, to remove any lingeringĀ fomites, aĀ solipsisticĀ gesture towards virtue, as we walked up the valley by the lake I pondered on the important difference betweenĀ entomologyĀ andĀ etymology, especially if you are a flower.ā
gnomonĀ ā centrepiece on a sundial that casts the shadow
brindleĀ ā the brownish or tawny colour of animal fur with streaks of another colour
salmagundiĀ ā a dish of chopped meat, anchovies, eggs, onions and seasoning
seitanĀ ā a high-protein vegetarian food made from cooked wheat gluten (not to be confused with Satan or you will get into trouble)
carpet baggerĀ ā a political candidate who seeks election in an area where they have no local connections
finagleĀ ā obtain something by devious or dishonest means
rodomontadeĀ ā boastful or inflated talk or behaviour
eschatologyĀ ā the part of theology concerned with death, judgement and the final destiny of the soul and humankind
scatologyĀ ā an interest in or preoccupation with excrement and excretion
lacunaĀ ā an unfilled space or interval/gap
epistemologyĀ ā the theory of knowledge
moietyĀ ā each of two parts into which a thing is or can be divided
fungibleĀ ā exchangeable
ubuntuĀ ā a quality that includes the essential human virtues; compassion and humanity
eudaimoniaĀ ā A Greek word ā of good spirit
zigguratĀ ā a rectangular tower in ancient Mesopotamia
catafalqueĀ ā a decorated wooden framework supporting the coffin of a distinguished person during a funeral
fomiteĀ ā a particle contaminated with an infection agent
solipsisticĀ ā selfish
entomologyĀ ā the branch of zoology concerned with the study of insects
etymologyĀ ā the study of the origin of words
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Thank you for reading.




From one word-lover to another, I really enjoyed this!
Loved reading this charming and original piece. It made me laugh, learn, and surprise myself with the words I already knew.