Category: Words Seldom Seen

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Words Seldom Seen: Sonder

Sonder

Noun: The feeling one has when realizing that every other individual has a life as full and real as one’s own. It is a synonym for “Grok” a made up word from the novel Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein.

Example: “The festival and the feeling of oneness in a crowd filled her with sonder.”

The photo is of a barrel cactus of some sort in full fruit. I got the word from a Postcrossing card from Denmark the writer attributed it to German and said it was very useful. I think that to feel sonder is a gift and a blessing.

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Words Seldom Seen: Cavorting

Cavorting

Verb: To jump or dance around excitedly. but it has an informal meaning: enthusiastically pursuing sexual or disreputable activities.

Example one: “The children were cavorting around the house making the adults crazy.”

Example two: “He spent the evening cavorting in the Hollywood nightclubs.”

Photo is of some butterflies cavorting on yellow flowers heavy with nectar. Taken near Horton Springs AZ

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Words Seldom Seen: Risible

Risible

Adjective: So lacking in quality or usefulness that it deserves to be laughed at.

Example: “Israel seeking peace with Hamas is risible since Hamas refuses to accept Israel’s right to exist.”

Photo: King Charles III holding an informal audience with President Zelensky. It could be risible.

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Words Seldom Seen: Gallivanting

Gallivanting

Verb: To travel from place to place in search of pleasure, new experiences or excitement.

Example: “When they retired they went gallivanting around the world.”

Alternate spelling : Galavanting

The photo is from the American Bar in the Grand Hotel in Trento, Italy. We were gallivanting around Northern Italy.

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Words Seldom Seen: Shibboleth

Shibboleth

Noun: A phrase, word or custom that distinguishes one group from another.

Examples: “Shalom” is a shibboleth for Jews. “Allah Akbar” is a shibboleth for Muslims. “Howdy” is a shibboleth for Texans.

There is a biblical story about the use of a shibboleth to identify the Ephraimites.

The photo is one of the continuing series of Zelensky fan boy photos. this one is from a wood workers shop in the Italian Alps.

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Words Seldom Seen: Provenience

Provenience

Noun: In Archeology Provenience, refers to he actual place or findspot of an object, while provenance refers to its modern (post-excavation) history.

Example: “The photo shows beautiful examples of spindle whirls that were given to the museum but their provenience is uncertain.”

Pronounciation clue: Rhymes with “convenience.”

Provenience is often confused with provenance. They are “tell” words for archeologists. If you misuse them you are letting on that you are not well trained in the field. Sherds vs Shards serve the same purpose.

The photo is of a spindle whirls postcard made by the S’edav Va’aki Museum back when its name was Pueblo Grande.

This is being published on the same day that S’edav Va’aki is having its official name changing ceremony.

Thanks to Becca V for this useful new word. Full disclosure: I am a volunteer tour guide at the museum.

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Words Seldom Seen: Lugubrious

Lugubrious

Adjective: Appearing exaggeratedly sad or mournful.

Examples: “After the sad news he appeared more lugubrious than usual.”

“Her long face indicated how lugubrious she felt.”

We visited the Huntington Gardens in Pasadena a few weeks ago and there was a magnificent bloom of roses going on. I took a lot of pictures and will use many of them on the blog over the next few weeks. You’re welcome.

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Words Seldom Seen: Cognitive Dissonance

Cognitive Dissonance

Phrase: A sense of discomfort that comes from holding two conflicting beliefs or from acting in ways that conflict with one’s expressed beliefs.

Example 1: Loving both cows and hamburgers causes cognitive dissonance.

Example 2: Favoring government that has a balanced budget and wanting more government services and low taxes should cause cognitive dissonance.

King Charles III poses with President Zelensky during a photo shoot in Trento, Italy.