Book Reviews

‘The best moments in reading are when you come across something - a thought, a feeling, a way of looking at things - which you had thought special and particular to you. And now, here it is, set down by someone else, a person you have never met, someone even who is long dead. And it is as if a hand has come out, and taken yours.’ Alan Bennett

“Many a book is like a key to unknown chambers within the castle of one’s own self.” ― Franz Kafka

Wednesday 10 September 2014

Wondrous Words Wednesday



Wondrous Words Wednesday is hosted by BermudaOnion and is a weekly meme where you can share new words that you’ve encountered or spotlight words you love.  

I'm highlighting words that are new to me/that I really like/that struck me for some reason..!

These came from The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett, which I read recently.


1. equerry (noun)

1. A personal attendant to the British royal household.
2. An officer charged with supervision of the horses belonging to a royal or noble household


2. divagations (verb)

1. To wander or drift about.
2. To ramble; digress.


3. amanuensis (noun)

One who is employed to take dictation or to copy manuscript.


4. adumbrate (verb)

1. To give a sketchy outline of.
2. To prefigure indistinctly; foreshadow.
3. To disclose partially or guardedly.
4. To overshadow; shadow or obscure.


10 comments:

  1. I love this meme as I love obscure but interesting words.

    I am currently reading Michael Chabon's The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay and it is full of these odd and fun words.


    I think that my favorite entry on your list today is "adumbrate." There is something that I like about the way that it looks.

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    1. Thanks very much for visiting and commenting Brian, I enjoy taking part in this one though haven't managed it for a while. I love the title of that novel you're reading, hope it's a good read.

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  2. Wow, I didn't know any of these, although I had a good guess for divagations. (Have never heard it used in books or speaking, though.) Thanks for "playing"!

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    1. Thanks very much for visiting and commenting Julia, glad you enjoyed these ones.

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  3. All were new to me too. I like adumbrate as I do that quite often when I'm describing a story or plot outline. I'm glad you joined in today.

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    1. Glad they were interesting ones to you too Margot, thank you for the kind comment and for visiting.

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  4. An amazing book. Our Readers Group read it a while ago and it was one of those rare novels that we all enjoyed which is something that doesn't happen often.

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    1. It's brilliant isn't it! I'm so glad you enjoyed it too Tracy. I thought it was so enjoyable and so well written.

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  5. Nice words. I've come across all of them fairly recently. Useful to have reminders to the meaning though :) Welcome back to WWW.

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    1. Thanks for visiting and commenting Jane, glad you enjoyed these and thank you for the welcome back.

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Thank you so much for taking the time to visit and leave a comment. It's great reading your comments and I really appreciate them :)