The intellectual equivalent of a ham sandwich.

A Brief Rodomontade

Recently I read Of Human Bondage by Somerset Maugham. That’s one smart fella. While reading the book I ran into a number of words I did not know, so I made a note of them in my phone. Generally when I run into a word I don’t know I will look it up and usually I think, “huh, ok” but sometimes I think, “seriously, that’s a word?”

Perambulate

1. To walk through.
2. To inspect (an area) on foot.

Maunder

1. To talk incoherently or aimlessly.
2. To move or act aimlessly or vaguely; wander.

Vituperation

1. The act or an instance of vituperating; abusive censure.
2. Sustained, harshly abusive language; invective.

Slatternly

1. Characteristic of or befitting a slattern.
2. Slovenly; untidy.

Yclept

vb

1. a past participle of clepe
adj

2. having the name of; called

Rodomontade

n

1.

a. boastful words or behaviour; bragging
b. (as modifier): rodomontade behaviour.
vb

2. (intr) to boast, bluster, or rant

The English language … What a weird thing.

(P.S. If you decide to read Of Human Bondage, go for it! But, having tried to describe the book to the lady who gave me my haircut and ended up making her think I was reading porn … Careful how you describe it. If you say something like, “it’s about relationships and the human spirit and how some people you end up just sort of BOUND to you know? Like … some people have such an impact on you and you can’t release yourself from them” you might think at the time you are being artistic and talking about the SOUL but the hair cutting person may think you are talking about actual physical bonds and think you are inviting her to your house with a basement. Just a warning, choose your words carefully.)

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