Skip to main content

It's not what it seems so don't wander

Lazaruz Vault by Tom Harper tells of knights and castles; a 12th century poem kept deep in a Scottish forest. The star character, a gradschool student lured by old world affluence, is wondering about what lies on the 6th floor of her employer's headquarters as much as I furrowed my brow over some words in the story. There could be more as I haven't touched chapters 20 - 53 yet. I make each vocabulary simple with just the obvious term of the definition and reminders intended to warn my mind against wandering off.

1. hauberk is a shirt not a partner in crime

2. bittern is a bird not a betel nut

3. fascia is tissue not a hue

4. vavasour is a tenant not a sour guava

5. breton is a horse not a variant spelling of briton

6. brigand is an outlaw not a brigadier

7. declension is an inflection not necessarily a decline

8. donjon is a keep not a dungeon

9. seneschal is a butler not Senegal in the 2000 FIFA World Cup

10. fewter is a holder not Harry Potter's cauldron

11. letch is a satyr not the grub in Lion King

12. tannoy is a loudspeaker not a tan alloy

13. proscenium is a wall not "Mr Van Helsing, your reputation precedes you."

Megan and Janet hosts Thursday 13.
Labels:

Comments

Xakara said…
I only recognize 1, 2, 3, 6, 9 and 11. Thanks for expanding my vocabulary!

Happy TT,

~Xakara
13 Quotes from the Coda Series
17 February 2011 at 21:16
Hazel said…
Ah good for you. I was clueless you know, lol! But yeah, expand, expand, expand the vocabulary. Not the waistline :D
17 February 2011 at 21:18
Anya said…
Never heard from those words :(
Thanks for telling what it means ;)

:-)
17 February 2011 at 21:35
I am Harriet said…
I knew I think 2 of those. Too funny.

Have a great day!
http://harrietandfriends.com/2011/02/february-is-american-heart-month/
17 February 2011 at 22:07
Mary Quast said…
A Scotsman could speak jibberish to me and I'd still be turned into mush. Thanks for the list.

Happy TT.

http://maryquast.blogspot.com/2011/02/thursday-thirteen-13-love-surprises.html
18 February 2011 at 00:04
Anonymous said…
The real feat would be to use one of these words in a real-world conversation with someone. Gives new meaning to "word of the day."
18 February 2011 at 00:50
Anonymous said…
Isn't it funny that a brigand is the opposite of brigadier?
18 February 2011 at 01:30
Mercy said…
All very new to me, thankyou for sharing. Have a great day and happy T13!
18 February 2011 at 04:29
Hazel said…
Anya, I'm glad you now do. I am too :)

Harriet, you better off than i. i knew nothing, lol

Mary, awwww ... now if a Scotsman turned up... :D
18 February 2011 at 11:22
Hazel said…
Twobarkingdogs, I've done a similar thing with former classmates (English Literature 101) about using new words in real life conversation. It was sooo much fun.

Alice, exactly!

Rogue, you're welcome. Thanks for stopping by.
18 February 2011 at 11:24
Unknown said…
I love 'new to me' words. Great list. I'd only heard a couple of them before.
20 February 2011 at 11:55
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Thirteen 13-word Quotes

1. I may be wrong , but I have never found deserting friends conciliates enemies. Margot Asquith , British Political Hostess (1864-1945) 2. Man's love is of man's life a thing apart; Girls aren't like that Kingsley Amis , English novelist and poet (1922-1995) "A Book Idyll" ~ see possible origin, also a 13- word quote: M an's love is of man's life a thing apart, 'Tis woman's whole existence Lord Byron (1788-1824) 3. An autobiography is an obituary in serial form with the last instalment missing. Quentin Crisp , English writer The Naked Civil Servant (1968) 4. Happy the hare at morning for she cannot read the hunter's waking thoughts. W.H. Auden , English poet (1907-73) Dog Beneath the Skin 5. Kissenger brought peace to Vietnam the same way Napoleon brought peace to Europe. (by losing) Joseph Heller, American novelist (1923- ) 6. Guns aren't lawful; Nooses give; Gas smells awful; You might as well live. Dorothy Parker ,
13 comments
Read more

A little boy's tiara

It's a week abundant with life's little pleasures, and I'm enjoying such a great Friday mood with the FFF ladies over at Susanne's Living to Tell the Story . If you are dropping by from Mommy Moments, please scroll down a bit; thank you. Now the highlights of my week -- 1. Birthday dinner at Cabbages and Condoms . A friend put up with my fondness for dining out and exploring restaurants. C & C supports social development programs of the PDA, an organization that complements the Thai government's effort to promote family planning. 2. Cafe de Tu . We took the sky train to get to a posh mall for dessert. There's a lovely ambience for a slice of chocolate banana cake and a long glass of iced lemon tea. It was sheer relaxation verbalizing ephemeral wishes. From the high ceiling pretty lamps cast off a warm, soft glow making the place conducive for twilight dreams. 3. Work over lunch at Fuji . Now comes a hard, raw bit. I had to carry work to one lunch bu
31 comments
Read more

Newborn Days and Foggy Mornings

Friday's Fave Five: Foggy Mornings (Please scroll down for Mommy Moments) i. Refund . The business office refunded my visa problem expenses. I had to pay the fine but they took care of everything else which was a pleasant surprise as I didn't expect them to and I already conditioned my mind to face a few deprivations. A colleague who is privy to the vice president told me, "They refunded you because they need you." I don't know whether I should believe it. Foreign employees are sometimes treated like necessary evil around here. But well, it's the refund that's the fave. ii. Foggy mornings . I counted two early mornings of fog. I could not see buildings 2 minute-walk away. The illusion of cold made me smile. iii. Bible Heroes , Ceejay's new DVD interest. He never wanted to watch it when he was 3. I'm glad he's back to christian stuff. For now it's goodbye, Buddhism. iv. Phone conversation with Mama . Mozart's (on left side
21 comments
Read more