Clubbable – Wordplay Wednesday™ 02/27/2019

A Night of Revelry … A Mugger’s Prey … Neither 

Oh sure, you’re acceptable enough to have friends and maybe even one with benefits. And you’re sociable enough to mingle at parties and dabble on @Netflix. But are you truly …

CLUBBABLE (klubʹɘ bɘl) adj. – suited to membership in a club; sociable. [WW #205]

Per the dictionary, clubbable was “coined (early 1780s) by Samuel Johnson,” who arguably wrote the first modern “word-book” published in 1755, Dictionary of the English Language. “Dictionaries are like watches, the worst is better than none and the

best cannot be expected to go quite true.”

Do you look at a word that you’re unfamiliar with and kind of make up your own first impression of what it might mean?

Spotting clubbable, your first thought may have conjured an innocent person vulnerable to a mugging. Not unusual in our current society. (Or on a lighter note … you’re ready for a night of clubbing!)

Because I matured in an era before crime was so pervasive, my first thought was of a scene from caveman days—something along the lines of The Flintstones. I try to think in terms of humor rather than brutality.

It was a relief to find that clubbable defines a personality or lifestyle, rather than an act of violence. Although it can smack of discrimination, “suited to membership” also denotes possessing certain skillsets, traits or artistic abilities that resonate with others of the same ilk, and makes you clubbable for their organization.

The best way to ensure you are clubbable … start your own club.

Word Challenge: CLUBBABLE. We do tend to gather with others complementary to our general nature.  Consider what makes your group clubbable as you fit it into your week of sociable writing.

Learning knows no prejudices or boundaries, and it isn’t fattening! Expanding your mind is a no-cost, simple joy. Do you feel that way too? What’s your inspiration? Share your creative genius and Wordplay Wednesday comments below.

Write first for yourself … only then can you write for others. (L.Rochelle) 

Cheers to learning a new word on Wordplay Wednesday!

           

@PenchantForPen

@Irishwriter

LinDee Rochelle is a writer and editor by trade, and an author by way of Rock & Roll. She has published two books (of three) in her Blast from Your Past series about pioneering R&R Radio DJs. The true behind-the-mic tales make GREAT Holiday Gifts available on Amazon (eBook and print): Book 1 – Rock & Roll Radio DJs: The First Five Years 1954-1959; and Book 2 – Rock & Roll Radio DJs: The Swinging Sixties. Coming soon … The Psychedelic Seventies!

E-N-Dzzzzzzzz

Brazenfaced – Wordplay Wednesday™ 07/18/18

Defiance in the Literary World 

Sometimes a word comes along that you think, apparently, once upon a time, it must have been used quite extensively to make the dictionary annals.

Many words, while not ancient, have outlived their glory, yet still not acquired “archaic” in the dictionary. Ever wonder how long it's been since someone wrote or called another …

BRAZENFACED (-fāstʹ) adj. – having, or uttered with, a brazen expression, impudent, shameless. [WW #173]

Oh, no! Not that! If I ever used brazenfaced, surely I was tipsy, trying to make a point in my drunken fog. But there it is, in dictionary black-and-white. Even Microsoft Word’s extensive thesaurus ignores it.

Of course, we still use brazen. It’s a great word for tempering a description of an obnoxiously bold person. But brazenfaced is rather awkwardly long and gangly. Just to say it, forces you to slow down and truly think about it.

As I write this, it’s kinda growing on me. Makes me want to find a place to use it—a word especially suited for fiction, don’t you think?

After his rude denouncement, the brazenfaced Irish redhead turned on her heel with nary a word and stomped off before he could utter another sound.

Your turn!

Word Challenge: BRAZENFACED. Think sassy, as you fit brazenfaced into your week of lively writings. And feel free to share your creative genius with us!

Learning knows no prejudices or boundaries, and it isn’t fattening! Expanding your mind is a no-cost simple joy. Do you feel that way too? Share your comments below, about Wordplay Wednesday or learning in general. What’s your inspiration?

Write first for yourself … only then can you write for others. (L.Rochelle) 

'Til next time ... Cheers to a wonderful "wordful" week … 

                       

@PenchantForPen

@Irishwriter

LinDee Rochelle is a writer and editor by trade, and an author by way of Rock & Roll. She has published two books (of three) in her Blast from Your Past series, available on Amazon (eBook and print): Book 1 – Rock & Roll Radio DJs: The First Five Years 1954-1959; and Book 2 – Rock & Roll Radio DJs: The Swinging Sixties. Coming soon, … The Psychedelic Seventies!

E-N-Dzzzzzzzz

Orotund – Wordplay Wednesday™ 04/18/18

A Word by any other Name is … Confusing 

Oh, I just don’t know. Can’t make up my mind. Is it vibrant and pleasant, or irritatingly arrogant? Neither … both …

OROTUND (ōrʹɘ tund’) adj. – 1) clear, strong, and deep, resonant, said of the voice; 2) bombastic or pompous; said of a style of speaking or writing. [ WW #160]

Thinking back to language origins, I’m sure they were meant to develop simply, presenting an orotund and easier way to communicate than hieroglyphs and petroglyphs.

Question #1: At what point did languages become so complicated and convoluted?

Apparently, when we began traveling around the globe and merging various languages to communicate. You would think by now, we'd all understand each other, wouldn't you?

Our word this week is a perfect example. On the one hand, orotund is pleasing in its robust voice, from the Latin “ore rotundo,” or “with round mouth.” However, use it to describe an onerous person or acrimonious writing, and it becomes rather irritating. How did it attract two oddly dissimilar meanings?

More to the point, in writing especially, how are we to know which meaning is meant or appropriate when the context is vague?

Consider Question #2* below in which I use orotund in a vaguely descriptive way. Not all minds think alike. Some of you might perceive it as a “clear and strong” description, while others consider it “pompous.”

By 1792 we already had “pompous” (14 c.) and “resonant” (1590s). Why add anything to the mix? Such could be said of many words in the English language. Just another example of humans going to the extreme, overdoing and overthinking, as usual, don’t you think?

Let’s face it. It’s been centuries since we have needed more words to describe anything. Most of our “new” words come about as colloquial or slang that eventually muscle their way into the dictionary.

*Question #2: Why not establish a dictionary of core words that comprise accepted, orotund language, and let the slang terms run their course, as they generally do?

Imagine how thin the dictionary would be if we stripped out the superfluous words to what is truly necessary to communicate satisfactorily and effectively. (Hmmm, an action that also should be applied to our governments …)

Of course, I’m saying all this with tongue-in-cheek as I foist upon you yet another word for your voluminous vocabulary. Do as I say, not as I do—right parents (and politicians)?!

Word Challenge: OROTUND.  Sometimes Spring Cleaning shouldn’t be relegated only to the house. Choose your cleansing actions carefully as piles for recycling and trash grow. How can you simplify your life as you fit orotund into your week of streamlined writings?

Learning knows no prejudices or boundaries, and it isn’t fattening! Expanding your mind is a no-cost simple joy. Do you feel that way too? Share your comments below, about Wordplay Wednesday or learning in general. Look forward to cyber-meeting you!

Write first for yourself … only then can you write for others. (L.Rochelle) 

'Til next time ... Cheers to a wonderful "wordful" week … 

                       

@PenchantForPen

@Irishwriter

LinDee Rochelle is a writer and editor by trade, and an author by way of Rock & Roll. She has published two books (of three) in her Blast from Your Past series, available on Amazon (eBook and print): Book 1 – Rock & Roll Radio DJs: The First Five Years 1954-1959; and Book 2 – Rock & Roll Radio DJs: The Swinging Sixties. Coming soon, … The Psychedelic Seventies!

E-N-D