Time for the next installment in a periodic ramble about words, phrases, and sentences I’ve happened upon recently and find amusing. Some may be familiar to you already; others probably aren’t. Here’s hoping you’re mildly entertained.
First, a few new-to-me words:
--petrichor; a pleasant smell triggered by rain after a warm, dry spell. I know this wonderful aroma.
--socarrat; the crusty, flavorful rice layer at the bottom of the pan when making traditional paella. I’ve made authentic paella twice this year. In one it formed, in one, it didn’t. (Both meals were well received.)
--tzedakah; a Jewish tradition to help the less fortunate. When Senator Ben Cardin (D-Maryland) announced he’d not seek reelection, he cited tzedakah as motivation for his longstanding public service. This word and this motivation should be much more widespread.
--bricolage; in art, meaning roughly ‘do-it-yourself’, a French term describing the use of diverse, non-traditional materials, as in a collage. This intriguing concept makes me want to become an artist.
I’ve encountered several smash terms so apt I wish I’d created them:
--“angertainment”; describing the antics of Congresswoman Boebert (R-Colorado), applicable to politicians across the ideological spectrum.
--“hatriots”; like the above term, politicians practicing anger while wrapped in the flag.
--“streeteries”; makeshift structures and pop-up tables lining the roadways during the pandemic.
--"flurona”; (speaking of which…) a combination of influenza and coronavirus. Apparently, they can strike simultaneously. Sigh.
--“fraudit”; an unnecessary, flawed review driven by potential political gain, not substance.
Sometimes two words merge -- with or without a hyphen -- creating compelling results:
--“over-egg”; meaning more than is necessary, shortened from the phrase “to over-egg the pudding” … basically, spoiling something by trying too hard to improve it. Often, this is me, with memories of my mother, reminding me, “… just leave ‘well enough’ alone.”
--“meet-cute”; a term first applied when Claudette Colbert’s and Gary Cooper’s paths crossed while shopping for pajamas in the 1938 film, “Bluebeard's Eighth Wife”. A well-worn device, yet I first encountered this term only months ago.
--“vainglory”; basically, what it sounds like -- cocky and egotistical. “In an amoral world, cruelty, dishonesty, vainglory, and arrogance are valorized as survival skills.” (David Brooks, NY Times, 4/27/23). According to C.S. Lewis, the cause of vainglory is pride, the root of ALL sin. Methinks it’s an underutilized word; I wish this trait were similarly rare.
--“vouchsafe”; courtesy granted in a gracious, yet often condescending manner, suggesting something positive can be partially offset by a negative tone. Can one vouchsafe in vainglory?
--“lovingkindness”; a beautiful word created 500 years ago by Myles Coverdale for the King James Bible, conveying tender, benevolent, merciful affection arising from love. My definition: the emotional reaction whenever I see photos of my grandchildren.
Just as new concepts are constructed by gluing words together, fresh, snappy terms are formed by lopping off syllables, bonus points awarded when shortened terms rhyme. Hence, familiar “rom-com” (for romantic comedy) is joined by “cli-fi” (climate fiction) for outreach to an increasingly “multi-culti” society. Additional poetic phrases: “recklessness coupled with fecklessness” and the “raucous caucus” led by Speaker McCarthy. Journalist Maureen Dowd (NY Times) recently contrasted two Georgians: “brainiac” President Carter with “maniac” Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene.
From Germany comes a modern, redundant-sounding word, “freudenfreude,” the opposite of schadenfreude. It’s finding joy in another’s good fortune, pleasure derived through someone else’s success. A psychology professor called the concept “social glue” that can make relationships “more intimate and enjoyable.” Cumbersome word; positive notion.
Finally, two alliterative sentences captured my attention. “I don’t want to yuck anyone’s yum,” from actor Lukas Gage, in a recent interview. The line’s origin is elementary school cafeterias, where I haven’t dined for quite some time. And writer Molly Jong-Fast, “America is stuck in yet another summer of suck,” also praiseworthy for rhyming.
Meanwhile, I’m committed to another unforgettable, terrific summer. How about you?
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