Altiloquent?
Me?
Surely you jest!
I merely marvel at the lilt of language, the superlative subtleties of speech, the phonological possibilities present in every crisp, untrodden page that lies like an open road before me.
Okay, I may be prone to pontificating about the grandeur of garrulousness, especially when it’s gussied up with frilly frivolities. Ah, the ambience of adjectives, the succor of a superb simile, the …
I’m doing it, aren’t I?
Altiloquent, you say.
Hmmm …
It could be you’re right.
But who doesn’t love a great word?
And who among word lovers can limit their love to just one?
Alas …
From now until the end of this entry, I will restrict myself to touting the term altiloquent.
Focus.
It’s all business now, baby.
Al·til·o·quent:
An archaic adjective meaning “high-flown or pretentious” language.
In a word, highfalutin.
Rhymes with … ?
Oops, I said I wouldn’t stray.
Yep.
Guilty as charged.
This word is totally new to me! Hmmm, I wonder if you said it in daily conversation if anyone would have a clue as to what you were saying? Maybe in a salon with Oscar Wilde? It is true that most of us limit our word choices to a very narrow slice of the possibilities. One thing I loved about doing the MJF Grammar Badge was learning a new word every day for a month. It opened my eyes to the fact that I could be doing a whole lot better in the use of the English language!
A salon with Oscar Wilde? BIG smile.
Hi, just had a look at your site from a prompt in my facebook and wondering if it you really mean ‘Gleaming word a week’ or ‘Gleaning word a week’
gleaming present participle of gleam (Verb)
Verb:
1.Shine brightly, esp. with reflected light.
2.(of a smooth surface or object) Reflect light because well polished: “gleaming limousines”.
gleaning present participle of glean (Verb)
Verb:
1.Extract (information) from various sources.
2.Collect gradually and bit by bit.
Just wondering… Thanks. Catherine x
Gleaming was intentional, as in smile, shine. But thanks!!!!
Hi MaryJane
Glad I cleared that up and anyway, both words work well since you and all your readers, including myself, are gleaming about gleaning such lovely words! I enjoy your posts very much! And have voted for you – ‘More Magazine’. Thanks for all you do.
May God bless you. Catherine x
Gleaning is such a cool word. Have you seen the 1857 Jean-Francois Millet painting, The Gleaners? It’s three peasant women gleaning a field of stray grain. And thanks!!! for your More vote!
Gosh! ‘The Gleaners’ and ‘Angelus’ by Jean-Francois Millet c1857 are two of my favourite paintings! And you’re welcome – The Vote… You do a wonderful thing for our world… And for us Gals! x