WORDS OF THE WEEK – WEEK 6 2017
THE VALENTINES DAY SPECIAL EDITION ENGLISH VOCAB
FOR THE LOVERS:
Resplendent – If you call someone resplendent you are giving complimenting them with an adjective that embodies great beauty and is a pleasure to be in the presence of. When people or things are resplendent, they are dazzling, splendiferous, glorious, or lovely.
Splendiferous – Ok it does sound like a fake word but you can actually use it in a scrabble game. Use splendiferous when you want to say something is splendid or wonderful. You can see a splendiferous sunset or wear a splendiferous wedding dress for the big day.
Cloud 9 – if you are “on cloud 9” or “living on cloud 9”, it means you are essentially living in the heavens because of some event or something that has brought you overwhelming joy. So if you are on cloud 9 then someone is making a very nice impact on your wellbeing. Now it is very commonly used but no-one really knows it’s origins. Some people think it has come from meteorological reference to 'Cloud (type) Nine' which as the lovely fluffy nice white clouds you want to sleep in. The other one is because it is the connection to Budda’s 9 stages of enlightenment – 9 being the ultimate.
Cherub – We cannot have a valentines day list without introducing you to the word cherub. A cherub is the little fat kid with wings that shoots you in the butt with the arrow that makes you fall in love. You can also use it as an affectionate nick-name for someone your are fond of.
Gorgeous – If you want just a word to use when describing complete jaw-dropping beauty, then use this word.
Infatuation – To be infatuated with someone is a great word to describe the feeling when you get all hot and bothered, stumble with your words and generally turn into a goose when you are around someone you like. Think childhood crush… it is something that is fleeting and in a way is playful, foolish and childish.
Captivated – if you are captivated you are captured by someone’s beauty, presence or general awesomeness. If someone is captivating they are trapping you so you cannot move or cannot escape the joy and splendour they make you feel.
Pulchritudinous – (PUL KRO TOO DIN NUS) OK this is the million dollar word for this list. If you are writing a love letter (because trying to pronounce it is nearly impossible) drop this one. In fact please send me a message to highlight how you used it! As you can see it looks like the name for some type of extinct form of plant, and if you manage to say it to the one you love, they might think you are accusing them of having some kind of obscure venereal disease. However trust me, it actually means that something is of such beauty and magnificence it’s breath taking - so beautiful it is in fact heart breaking. So you can always say “wow you are so pulchritudinous” or “it is your pulchritudinousness (PUL KRO TOO DIN NUS NESS) that captivates me every time I am graced with your presence”.
FOR THE HATERS
Lament – If you are lamenting you are extremely upset and sorry about something. It is used to describe the kind of sorrow you feel after the can be the death of your dog, close friend or relative. Think regret, grief, tears and lots of tissues. A nice one you hear occasionally is “to lament a mistake” which means you really stuffed up and regret it from the bottom of your heart.
Loathe – to loath - If the word hate does not describe your feelings enough then use loathe. When you use it also get in there and clench up your face and stretch it out “LLLOOOOWWWWWTTTTHTHTHTHTH”. A cat loathes getting bathed and if you really want to drop one on your ex, you can say you “loathe them from the deepest bellows of your heart”.
Animosity – essentially animosity is more subtle than hatred. It is kind of that left over lingering bad feeling you have once the hate has expired or the stage when dislike is growing to hatred. “even though we broke up 10 years ago, there is still a lingering animosity there”.
Detest - If you are reaching for a synonym for hate, use detest. You can detest someone, detest Finland’s weather in winter or aeroplane food.
Abhor – this is a great synonym for hate if you want the other person to not know what you mean. If in your Valentines Day card or text uses the line “I abhor you”, the other party may think you are offering some sweet, lovely compliment. You are not! Essentially you are saying you despise, detest and find them repulsive.
Despise – If you despise someone the hate burns, it is that kind of hate that you want to do lash out and hurt the thing or person that is causing you the feeling.
Repulsive – If you are repulsed by someone you find them so revolting and disgusting you could almost throw up. Think rotten meat when you think of repulsive. Think of that “pulse” your stomach makes when you are about the hurl up your last meal, that is what repulsive feels like.
Repugnant - like repulsive, if something is repugnant it makes you sick inside. However while rotten food can be repulsive (because it is rotten), it cannot be repugnant. Repugnant is for things or actions that shock you in the most negative way. Behaviour can be repugnant and so can people. So “you are so repugnant that it makes me want to XYZ….”
Rancour – If you are experiencing rancour (RAN KOR) you are feeling deep, twisted, bitter anger that will only be satisfied through vengeance and rage. “The thought of us being together again is so repulsive and rancorous that hell would have to freeze over first”.
Leer - If you are leering at someone you are looking at them in that creepy sexual way that will get you arrested if you do it for too long.
Lugubrious (LOGU BRI RUSS) – Here is the million dollar word for the haters of Valentines Day. If you are lugubrious you are a depressed withering mess. You don’t want to be around anyone and they don’t want to be around you because you are in a dark, gloomy, love hating state. You can be a lugubrious person, which as a trait means you are depressing and grim, however if you have come out of the world’s worst breakup, chances are you are suffering from lugubriousness (LOGU BRI RUSS NESS).
