words....

'...words will never hurt me', well that's a lie, but i've been thinking a lot about words recently. Why? well, let me explain. The past few months i've been reading adult writings. be it the memoirs of jen lancaster or Good Enough to Eat by stacy ballis my reads have taken a grown up turn. as i've made my way though these reads i've came across some words i really really liked. i liked them because they set the tone, communicated the feel of the situation. i liked them because they were not simple. they were what an english teacher would call 'power words'. and powerful they are.

all throughout school k-12 kids are introduced to new vocabulary. and weather they like it or not they tend to pick up new words to add to their vernacular. fight it as they may new words good & bad find their way into use.

when i arrived at indiana central university (aka u of i) i met a girl named stacy who was valedictorian of her class. she was also an english major. really? i thought, who majors in english. so she explained to me her love of words. and how like paint, crayons, markers etc...they too could create a beautiful picture. a word picture. so to assist me in my desire to increase my vocabulary she took it upon herself to enhance my brick dorm room walls with words. daily she added new words. they were placed randomly around the area where my bed was situated and i would locate the word and proceed to look up the definition and a few synonyms and write the information beside the new word. the words were random and fun and it was a great way to increase my vocabulary. it was 18 at the time.

now at the ripe old age of 44 i'm wishing stacy was around to challenge me. it wasn't until i got into the grown-up books that i realized my vocabulary could use of enhancement. so i've decided starting today i'll begin my own attempt at enhancing my vocab.

today's word:
sardonic - adjective
characterized by bitter or scornful derision; mocking; cynical; sneering: a sardonic grin.

Syn: acerbic, arrogant, biting, bitter, carping, caustic, cynical, derisive, disrespectful, evil, irascible, mean, mocking, mordant, nasty, offensive, salty, satirical, scorching, scornful, sharp, smart-alecky, sneering, taunting, wise*
Notes: sarcastic means 'derisive, tauntingly contemptuous,' while sardonic means 'bitterly scornful, cynically disdainful'


with highlighter in hand i'll continue reading and adding to my new words. i'd love love love it if you would play along too! so with that said, please comment and leave me a new word. i can use all the help i can get!

this should be fun & who knows perhaps we'll all learn a thing or three!