I love this weekly meme sponsored by Kathy at Bermuda Onion’s Weblog. It has helped me pay attention to the new words I come across as I’m reading.
This week I read Calvin Trillin’s American Fried (review here). I came across these new words.
Anarchosyndicalism. Whoa – not even in the dictionary! But – I did find it at Wikipedia. It’s a branch of anarchism that believes labor unions should be the force behind revolutionary social change. Used in the book this way:
“They seem to loom over the crowd — casually piling on the corned beef, keeping a strict eye on the line in front of them, and passing the time by arguing in Yiddish about what I have always preferred to think was anarchosyndicalism.”
Grandiloquence – pompous or extravagant in languarge, style or manner, especially in a way that is meant to impress. Used in the book like this:
“Garrison’s smoke-ring technique includes remarkable motion . . . and between rings he announces his performance with the kind of grandiloquence he must use on the magic stage . . .”
For more Wondrous Word Wednesday, go here.
I might be able to sound out the second word, but there is no way I could even begin to pronounce the first one. Thanks for playing along.
Those are some big words
How about a pronunciation of these words. How am I to sound smart using these words if I can pronounce them.
Anarchosyndicalism was definitely a new one for me!
Wow, those are a mouthful.
What excellent words! I had a vague idea what “grandiloquence” meant, but “anarchosyndicalism” was really new to me. Great, mind-stretching words.
Mind are here.
Hi Margot,
I’ve got your new place put into my blog list. I like it! It seems so much bigger, if that’s possible! Have a great evening!
Sherrie
Great words. I could very well apply Grandiloquence to my villian in my current WIP. He is pompous. Thank you so much for all the positive feedback. I really appreciate it.