Yawn! My initial enthusiasm for writing each day has sadly lost it’s oomph! Even the stupid daily stuff that comes out of the mouth of Trump and others has become tedious. If I never hear the word Covid-19 again it will be too soon. Unlike Brexit which we tired of over the three years it dragged on from the referendum this pandemic has quickly become tiresome and a burden. Yes I know I am stating the bleeding obvious! Perhaps it’s just the way I feel this morning, I am not alone. The continuing restrictions are becoming a grind. I do not mean to complain but I am very good at it! Naturally you will point out that I am far better off than many and you would be right.
It is easy to sit here and bemoan the injustice of everything and anything.
Do you know Susie Dent? She is the lady from dictionary corner on Countdown. I follow her on twitter. She like me is delighted by the English language and often posts words that have fallen into disuse. Today she came up with three that are strangely applicable to the current situation
Ramfeezled. Overcome with fatigue
Testudineous At the pace of a tortoise
Limaceous. In the manner of a slug
I love words big and small here are some of my favourites:
Bodkin
Machiavellian
Prestidigitation
Zealous
Bereft
Bibble
Crapulous
Outrageous
Snood
Ramshackle
Detrimental
Splendid
Just a small sample, I will leave you to find there definitions if you don’t already know? I have said many times that we have a rich language which we hardly use. Language constantly changes and words fall into disuse all the time or come to prominence only to fade into the dictionary of history.
I both speak and write using the language wherever appropriate to it’s fullest. I am by no means an expert or a linguist but I suspect I have a larger vocabulary than many. When I still worked, I despaired at the small and narrow vocabulary particularly of the young. Perhaps my expectations were to high? They would look at me blankly when I used “big” words and often I found myself explaining there meaning. There was one or two who wanted to learn the most prominent was a Romanian guy, whose English was very good but would get me to teach him words almost everyda.
Yes I am patronising and insufferable with a high opinion of my own cleverness but so what!
Stay well
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