Wondrous Words Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Kathy aka Bermuda Onion where we share new (to us) words that we’ve encountered in our reading. Feel free to join in the fun.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?
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! :--)
ReplyDeleteThose are all new words to me. Scrofula sounds awful - I wonder if it's still around. Thanks for playing along today!
ReplyDeleteThe only one I know here is aurochs.
ReplyDeleteAll of these words are new to me!
ReplyDeleteWhen 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
ReplyDeleteI 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