You look simply frabjous today, darling!
Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com
Uh-oh.
Now I’ve done it.
I’ve put you in one of those awkward positions,
like when someone has a scrap of spinach in her teeth,
and you can’t quite decide if it’s your place to point it out.
Don’t worry, I know what you want to say, and I can take it.
You think I misspelled “fabulous,”
made a mess of it,
a mockery
(all modesty aside).
Alas, my dear, I haven’t sworn off spellcheck.
In fact, I didn’t actually misspell the word “frabjous.”
Well, not exactly.
According to Dictionary.com (which cites Lewis Carroll’s kooky 1871 classic, Through the Looking-Glass),
frabjous \FRAB-juhs\
is an informal adjective meaning wonderful, elegant, superb.
See?
Frabjous is a perfect fit for you!
Pretty girl posed with camera, circa 1909, Library of Congress.
What a great word. Few people would even know what you meant if you said it. I wonder if the Walrus ever told Alice she looked frabjous? Love, love, love that cute photo from 1909!
O Frabjous Day! Callooh! Callay!” We have The Jabberwocky in a gorgeous poetry anthology, and I love to read it aloud! “Twas brillig and the slithy toads…” And, of course, for anyone who has grandboys: “Come to my arms, my beamish boy!”
Oh I can find many opportunities to use this word, but first, thank you to Karlyne for mentioning The Jabberwocky!! I feel a fun reading experience coming on.
Just re-reading my comment, and I immediately thought, “It’s not toads-it’s toves!” So I went and checked and it is indeed “toves”. And they’re gyring and gimbling in the wabe, by the way…
Anyway, Cindi, be sure to read it out loud, even if you can’t find an audience!
Yep recognized that work instanter ( 20’s british slang for instantly)
Mis-spelled words help us be creative and invent new ones. That’s what the dictionary is for; those of us who invent. Love it kid….keep writing and inventing!