There is a word that I like very much, but have thus far found impossible to fit into a spoken sentence with a straight face. I have long wanted to slip it in casually, but my nerve hasn’t held. It is almost like I am scared of it.
I’m not worried about misusing it, you understand, as its meaning is clear. It’s a word regularly see in literature. Over the years I’ve seen it in print, and even in the odd quasi-religious text, which may have contributed to keeping me away.
The only person that I’ve personally seen slip it in to casual conversation is the formidable VINCE, whose personality really does demand Caps Lock, and is the sort of person happy to use such a word.
Perhaps that’s it. Perhaps I need to work up a more imposing presence, and then whack it on the table. It is a difficult decision. I don’t seem to struggle with others, but I’ve built up a reverence for this one.
All right then, the word:
crepuscular
It’s a doozy, isn’t it?
So here are my questions for the world:
[And here I was complaining about people complaining!]
I’m not worried about misusing it, you understand, as its meaning is clear. It’s a word regularly see in literature. Over the years I’ve seen it in print, and even in the odd quasi-religious text, which may have contributed to keeping me away.
The only person that I’ve personally seen slip it in to casual conversation is the formidable VINCE, whose personality really does demand Caps Lock, and is the sort of person happy to use such a word.
Perhaps that’s it. Perhaps I need to work up a more imposing presence, and then whack it on the table. It is a difficult decision. I don’t seem to struggle with others, but I’ve built up a reverence for this one.
All right then, the word:
crepuscular
It’s a doozy, isn’t it?
So here are my questions for the world:
- Do you have a similar such word?
- How might I just ease it in to casual conversation?
- Would you be prepared to give it a go to popularise it, and thus ease my burden?
[And here I was complaining about people complaining!]
Comments
The use of such words always has a slightly 'The Office' air to it I reckon.
2. Use it in reference to cats. Your brother has cats. I see an opening there.
3. I have often said "our couch wouldn't look so rubbish if the cat weren't crepuscular".
I wouldn't want a 'The Office' air about me. I will admit to finding that show bewildering. I watched the first three eps years ago after the Brother and a friend raved about it, and just sat there thinking 'am I supposed to find this funny?'
I am assuming that I just didn't get it. That said, I find Ricky Gervais's stand up abysmal, so I think that it must be a taste thing!
I shall put it to him.
USelaine, I have always enjoyed sheep, and fish as words. I did blog sometime ago about my efforts in getting 'platypussies' accepted as the plural for the wee beastie...
OK OK, if I can find the chutspa I will try to help you popularise crepuscular.
My favorite doozy is hapax legomenon. Miraculously, I just had occasion to use it two days ago after I used one of those Biblical hapax legomena. Fortunately my interlocutor was a visiting Dutchman who studies Hebrew Bible at Hebrew Uni, so he did not laugh at me.