Wondrous Words Wednesday is a weekly feature sponsored by Kathy of Bermuda Onion. This is where we gather words we discovered this past week in our reading.
I’ve been learning to read screenplays as a result of a challenge made by Michael. Even in screenplays there are new-to-me words. From the screenplay The Big Sleep. (See my review here.)
1. shamus:
CARMAN
(beside the chair now)
That’s a funny name. Are you a prize fighter?
MARLOWE
No, I’m a shamus.
Shamus means a private detective.
2. sardonically:
MARLOWE
(not moving, smiling sardonically)
Sardonically means grimly mocking or cynical.
Humphrey Bogart played Marlowe in this 1946 movie. I hope Bogart had a dictionary handy when he studied his lines.
How about you – did you find any new-to-you words this week?
Your comment about Bogart is very funny. Often we note the difference between the impression we get when we see movie stars playing very intelligent characters on screen and then going on stage for the Oscars or whatever and seeming very, very dumb! …which all goes to show what good actors many of them are! I don’t know much about Bogart in real life, except that it seems it would not have been a stretch for him to smile sardonically, whether he knew the definition or not!
I’ve never heard shamus but I sure do love to read about them! My sister says people always get sardonic and sarcastic confused. Thanks for being such a faithful participant in this meme.
Didn’t know that’s what shamus meant. Now I do! Thanks.