100 Words Every Word Lover Should Know (100 Words)

This book was a waste. If it were better written, it could be reduced to 5 pages and not lose any of the words.

Admittedly, I am a word freak. Because I fear losing words, I bought this little book as a refresher. A mistake: There are fourteen words I did not know and two that drew less than satisfactory definitions from my mind. Now should I really admit this to the public after claiming I love words? Absolutely, an honest wordaholic is the only kind with respect.

Gravamen
Nope, could not define, but can now: "the part of a legal charge that weighs most substantially against the accused."

Nictitate
"To wink. Used especially in connection with birds...a transparent eyelid that closes to protect and moisten the eye."

Sesquipedalian
"Given to or characterized by the use of long words."
Ex., "the sesquipedalian prose of scientific journals."

Gemutlichkeit
"Warm friendliness, amicability."
Derived from the German "congenial" and "spirit or feelings"

I thought I knew gravamen, but could not adequately define the word, so it is one of the 16. The other one--not a clue, although "sesqui" is 16, and "ped" is foot, so 16 feet, but that did not take me any further.

I am keeping "100 Words" in an advantageous spot to pick up and review the old words and learn the new. Even though I am not given to using sesquipedalian words in daily speech, I can locate it in a sentence and will try to do so soon. Otherwise, I am just nictitating the reason for learning them. If taken to a jury, I would suffer the gravamen of negligent use. Even so, the judge and jury might exhibit gemutlichkeit toward me, but such an act will change nothing and I will begin spewing glossolalia toward them and the audience in defiance.

So much for time off for good behavior! I am behind before I even begin! Bon mot! That pretty much means Word up!

I enjoy this book. I just place it somewhere where one of us (my family) might sit down to relax, and it's fun to pick up and page through. Often I learn a new word -- or a more accurate definition/new usage for a word I already use.

It's inexpensive fun.

Word lovers know or should know almost every word in this book. It's really a book for people who don't love words but think they want to. The format is good and the price is right. Maybe it's a good stocking stuffer for a young person who likes to read and write.

Some words are wonderful to know. Others are once-in-a-lifetime kind of words and they should not really be included as one of the 100 words. And some of the examples they use by quoting actual text from old writings do not make these words any more useful in the modern context. Over all, not very useful.