There are words that, due to lack of use, have fallen by the wayside of our vernacular highways. They are still defined in the dictionaries, and they remain tucked into thesauruses, but they now hold more honor on lists in books such as Jeffrey Karcik’s The Word Museum. I love these words. I love the fact that someone somewhere determined that a word was going to be made official and hence put it to use in the English language. Notice that I said “someone” rather than specifying a linguist or a language expert or some such professional character. As you’ll soon discover, many of the words that I will be discussing were created out of necessity due to a pressing situation or condition, or simply an inadequacy or vacancy in the existing language.
Call me a quidnunc full of quignogs if you will, but I can’t seem to get enough of stuff like this and I find myself assuming that there are others like me out there who also want to know these things. So this month, as my theme for The Blogging A to Z Challenge, I am going to re-introduce these words back into use, even if it is only long enough to complete the alphabetical challenge that I have undertaken.
Join me, then, if you will, on a journey through AN ABECEDARIAN APRIL. It is my pleasure to revive, in alphabetical order, a few (twenty-six or so) antiquated words that still pack a little pizzazz.
ABECEDARIAN – noun 1. A person who is learning the letters of the alphabet. 2. A beginner in any field of learning. Adjective 3. Of or pertaining to the alphabet. 4. Arranged in alphabetical order. 5. Rudimentary; elementary; primary.
And of course I’ve thrown in a few extras to tuck into your belt:
Quidnunc – An inquisitive person, always seeking for news. The Latin words translated simply signify, “What now?”
Quignogs – Ridiculous notions or conceits.
hello, love the theme of your A to Z challenge. Abecedarian. Good scrabble word
[...] A is for Abecedarian [...]
OOOOOOOOhhh!!! I love this!!! I’m a word girl too, but you totally have me beat, hands down. I shall be back for more — thanks for reintroducing such awesomeness to the bloggy world!
Andi-Roo /// @theworld4realz
http://www.theworld4realz.com/
theworldforrealz@gmail.com
[...] A is for Abecedarian [...]
Love this word–very appropriate to the Challenge at hand. I too love oft neglected words but use them sparingly so as not to confuse readers with limited vocabularies. I know I don’t like having to spend a lot of time looking up words when I’m reading, but it’s nice to be surprised with a unique word. It’s like finding a jewel in a gravel pile.
Excellent them for the A to Z.
Lee
An A to Z Co-Host
Tossing It Out
[...] A is for Abecedarian [...]
Lee – thanks for the thumbs up! This challenge has been good for me – I let my poor little blog get a little “dwizzened” in recent months.
[...] A is for Abecedarian [...]
[...] A is for Abecedarian [...]
[...] A is for Abecedarian ~ B is for Blepharon ~ C is for Cabobble [...]
[...] A is for Abecedarian ~ B is for Blepharon ~ C is for Cabobble [...]
[...] A is for Abecedarian ~ B is for Blepharon ~ C is for Cabobble [...]
[...] A is for Abecedarian ~ B is for Blepharon ~ C is for Cabobble [...]
[...] A is for Abecedarian ~ B is for Blepharon ~ C is for Cabobble [...]
[...] A is for Abecedarian ~ B is for Blepharon ~ C is for Cabobble [...]
[...] A is for Abecedarian ~ B is for Blepharon ~ C is for Cabobble [...]
[...] theme for The Blogging A to Z Challenge is AN ABECEDARIAN APRIL. Join me as I revive, in alphabetical order, a few (twenty-six or so) antiquated words that still [...]
[...] theme for The Blogging A to Z Challenge is AN ABECEDARIAN APRIL. Join me as I revive, in alphabetical order, a few (twenty-six or so) antiquated words that still [...]
[...] While the rest of the world ponders the AWESOMENESS of ABECEDARIANS: [...]