Top Ten Tuesday (30)

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Favorite Words

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. It’s awesome. Every Tuesday, the lovely folks over at The Broke and the Bookish post a top ten list topic so that book lovers like you and me can pour over our shelves and make our own lists. You can check out all the other Top Ten Tuesday‘s on their site!

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GUYS! Look what I found! This week’s TTT is a rewind, where we were supposed to pick a past topic and give it a whirl. I was looking through all of the TTTs about favorite characters and crushes and heroines and couples when I spied this gem–Top Ten Favorite Words–and got ALL EXCITED. It’s different and nerdy and fun! YAY! I particularly love the way these words SOUND, not necessarily what they mean, although there’s occasionally some of that, too. HUZZAH! 

Felicity, n.  The quality or state of being happy; especially great happiness.

Guys, this list is not in any kind of order…except for this word right here. I LOVE the word “felicity.” It’s probably my favorite word ever. I love every incarnation of it: felicitous, felicities…I LOVE IT. And I love what it means. It is my goal–often attempted, NOT often achieved–to be felicitous at least once, even if only for a moment, every day. It should come as no surprise that Felicity was my favorite American Girl doll, what with her AWESOME name AND the fact that she lived in Colonial America. But that’s a different list. FOCUS, AMY. 

Voracious, adj. Having a huge appetite. 

I always use this word when I talk about what kind of reader I am: the kind who will read anything, anytime, in massive quantities, without stopping. It’s so apropos. 

Mellifluous, adj. Having a smooth rich flow, filled with something (as honey) that sweetens.

Isn’t this a pretty word? I know it’s probably a cliche to be on here because it sounds pretty and MEANS something pretty, but still. I love it. Also, I LOVE the alternate meaning! I had no idea that “mellifluous” could mean filled with something sweet. Now I love this word even more. 

Twitterpated, adj. Excited or overcome by romantic feelings; smitten.

Did you guys know that this word was first used by Thumper in Bambi? I HAD NO IDEA. In fact, those pompous word-nerds at Merriam-Webster told me that “twitterpated” IS NOT EVEN A WORD. Psh. Thank you, dictionary.com, for recognizing such a cute, fun word that just always gives me the warm-fuzzies. Thanks, in no small part, to Thumper, the frigging cutest bunny ever.  

Fallow, adj. Land plowed and left unseeded for a season or more; uncultivated. Not in use; inactive.

So, not the prettiest-MEANING word. But I’ve always liked the sound of it, and pretty much any other word ending in “-ow.” Willow, minnow, rainbow, arrow. Couldn’t explain it if I tried, but there it is. Something about the way it rolls out of my mouth. 

Suspicious, adj. Tending to cause or excite suspicion; questionable.

Another one that doesn’t have the happiest meaning, but that SOUNDS so lovely. It’s all those Ssss together. I LOVE that sound. It’s always striking to me, especially when I hear a large group of people say that kind of word all at once. All those Ss in stereo sounds awesome, but this word by itself is pretty great, too. 

Glory, n. Very great praise, honor, r distinction bestowed by common consent; renown. Resplendent beauty or magnificence. A state of great splendor, magnificence, or prosperity.

Who could not love this word? I love saying the word “glory,” but I love what it means even more. Look at all those equally stunning words in that definition: resplendent, magnificence, honor, splendor. SIGH. Glory gives me great images in my head every time I see it or hear it or write it down: things that a bright, shining, proud, and beautiful.

Fatuous, adj. Foolish or inane, especially in an unconcious, complacent manner; silly. Unreal; illusory.

Snort. This word makes me laugh. It sounds funny to me, and it kind of has a funny meaning as well: something or someone that is foolish and silly without having a single clue or care. Snort. LOVE IT. It’s the perfect sounding word for this definition. 

Halcyon, adj. Calm; peaceful; tranquil. Rich; wealthy; prosperous. Happy; joyful; carefree.

Guys, I love ALL THE MEANINGS of this word. I want to be calm and peaceful. Also rich. And happy. And carefree. And effing JOYFUL! Plus, “halcyon” strikes me as such a dramatic word, like “the halcyon days of youth” or “halcyon times of peace.” (TOTALLY swiped those from the dictionary.) Because how often could you contrive to USE this word without sounding a little pretentious? Sadly, to me, not often enough. 

Verandah, n. A large, open porch, usually roofed and partly enclosed, as by a railing, often extending across the front of and sides of a house; gallery.

Don’t y’all go and forget that “h” now. “Verandah” just isn’t as grand without it. Guys, quick thing about me: EVERY one of my dream houses that I’ve EVER seen or imagined in my mind has a verandah. Porches are THE BOMB, and wrap-around porches are THE DOUBLE BOMB. Try and say this word without a Southern accent and it just doesn’t come out right. I LOVE IT.