I recently purchased a book on a subject I find fascinating: words! I know you’re not surprised since I love to participate in Wondrous Words nearly every week. The book is called Grammar Girls 101 Words To Sound Smart by Mignon Fogarty. The book highlights only 101 words the author has determined are “familiar to most people, but convey an especially deep meaning when the reader has an understanding of history, different cultures, or philosophy.”
To tell you the truth, there are only eight words in this book I have used in conversations. The others I need to work on. Over the months ahead I’m going to challenge myself to learn one or two words at a time and, somehow, use them in real conversations. Here are the first two words I want to master:
1. abjure: “I have from an early age abjured the use of meat, and the time will come when men such as I will look upon the murder of animals as they now look upon the murder of men.” - Leonardo da Vinci
Abjure is a verb meaning to solemnly renounce a belief, cause, or claim.
2. coterie: ”It is not that our legislators are ill-behaved by nature but in due course, thanks to the coterie that surrounds most of them, they are on a massive ego trip.” - An anonymous official quoted by journalist Umanand Jaiswal in The Telegraph.
Coterie is a small group of people with shared interests or tastes, especially one that is exclusive of other people.
Wondrous Words Wednesday is not a snooty coterie. It’s a weekly meme open to all who share a love of words. Visit Kathy at Bermuda Onion for more..
Great words this week, Margot! Thanks for sharing.
I really like Grammar Girl!
To understand English is so simpe for me when words are French ! Thanks, Margot !
Interesting! Your post makes me think about the difference between being able to understand a word when reading it as opposed to feeling comfortable using it in conversation. I’m not sure I’d use either of those words, because most people I know would look at me strangely. Actually, I’d probably look at someone strangely if they used them, even though I know what they mean (now).
I wonder if anyone has ever studied how many (or actually how few) words we use in everyday conversations!
I think I could get myself to use coterie. I use entourage, occasionally. I just looked them both up in my Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary. It seems entourage would be used for people who are paid to be hanging around (a legislator might have a publicist, a body guard, a personal assistant, an intern acting as gopher, etc). A coterie would be the people who are there because of a shared interest (other legislators with shared agendas, lobbyists and others supporting causes that the legislator champions, constituents with political ambitions).
I’ve heard both of those words but don’t think I’ve ever actually known their meanings. I need that book too – I’d like to sound smarter!
One out of two ain’t bad…I knew coterie but not abjure.
Thanks for dropping by and commenting!
Wonderful post! I kind of knew these words but now I know them better–thanks!
I love these words we have in French, I adore them, especially when used by English-speaking persons
“Coterie” reminds me of my high school history classes. ^^
That sounds like a really interesting book. I think it’s a great idea for you to be actually putting into practice. I am familiar with both those words but really only knew the meaning of coterie. I feel it would be easier to drop into conversation than abjure. I hope you get to use them both soon.
I actually knew #2….these meme is always so informative!