POPE JOAN by Donna Woolfolk Cross
aurochs - The forest was dangerous; there were wild boars, and aurochs, and....wolves. (p. 145)
aurochs: a large, black European wild ox
scrofula - Her face lit with childish horror. "Is he toothless? Does he have scrofula?" (p. 145)
scrofula: tuberculosis of the lymphatic glands, esp. those of the neck.
reredos - Cautiously, Joan crept forward until her head and shoulders were out of the reredos. (p. 154)
reredos: a screen or a decorated part of the wall behind an altar in a church.
What new words did you discover this week?
5 comments:
I don't think the word "auroch" sounds scary enough. "Wild boar" clearly sounds scary. In any event, good to know in case I'm ever lost in the forest of old Europe! :--)
Those are all new words to me. Scrofula sounds awful - I wonder if it's still around. Thanks for playing along today!
The only one I know here is aurochs.
All of these words are new to me!
When I read the meaning of Scrofula, I was surprised that I had not heard it before. I worked in health care, and worked with 2 patients with tuberculosis. I had read a lot about it, but do not remember that word at all.
My new words are posted at http://lusravesandrants.blogspot.com/2010/09/wondrous-words-wednesday.html
Auroch sounds more mystical to me than scary...either/or I'd rather not encounter an auroch! lol
I laughed when I saw "scrofula" on your list because I was going to add that to my list today but I couldn't find the right page in Infinte Jest! I think it sounds like what it is, an unpleasant illness.
I had no idea about reredos & I spent half my life attending Catholic mass in church. I'm glad to be enlightened, thank you!
~ Amy
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