Today I have had my mind wonderfully expanded. I’ve been looking up the meaning of some words on a blog post. I believe the words I have been looking up were used as examples of less well known and understood words and I have had fun finding out meanings using the website dictionary.com
So today’s new words for me are:
Zaftig meaning buxom, full bodied or curvaceous. It is Yiddish according to dictionary.com and derived from the German word saft – juice. I really like this word so don’t be too surprised if I start using it.
Epithalamium meaning a song or poem in honour of a bridal couple. Another lovely word although I’m not sure I’ve got the pronounciation right. I do know that I had one composed by a freind for my own handfasting although I didn’t know that’s what it was until now 🙂
Chryselephantine meaning made of gold and ivory as certain types of ancient Greek sculpture. Can’t see me using this but it’s nice to know what it means.
Self-abnegation meaning self denial (this one I could guess at but worth looking up to check.)
Shibboleth meaning a password or word that distinguishes one group of people from another. I’m glad I looked this one up as I thought it had something to do with monsters!
Many thanks to Bo who posted all these wonderful words and helped me learn a few things today.
Musings of a Scottish Hearth Druid and Heathen 
Glad you enjoyed them—I learned 'zaftig' last year; it's quite a common American term but very underused here. It describes my friend Mel perfectly!
Chryselephantine I can never forget cos it was the weirdest word I learnt at school—the monstrous tycoon in Waugh's hilarious 'Scoop' has a statue of himself made in chryselephantine!!
Bet you you'll now come across at least one of these in the next few days—I always seem to when I learn a new word.
Sorry again for having such a foot-stamping temper. You've been very patient.
LikeLike
Shibboleth – masonic passwords, whatever next :O)
LikeLike
Bo said “Sorry again for having such a foot-stamping temper. You've been very patient.”
That made me laugh Bo. I just had this image of you throwiing something across the room and then lying on your bed kicking and screaming like my son did at the weekend bless him. Nah – your temper ain't so bad as that! 🙂
LikeLike