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Popinjay…

Cyranny

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I love words.

Ok, stating the obvious here… But, because of this, I subscribed to a newsletter that delivers a word “du jour” in my mailbox every morning, courtesy of the Merriam-Webster website.

That’s where I learnt about “vespertine” lately. And Biff Sock Pow said it was the first time he heard about the word. You might not know Biff personally (Shame on you… click on that link right away!!) but the man is the guardian of all the almost forgotten English words! Now, I suspect him of just being nice when he says he didn’t know about “vespertine”, and wanting to make me feel special, but hey! Anything’s possible 🙂

So… Anyway! If Biff didn’t know about vespertine, that means that Merriam-Webster’s doing a pretty good job digging to suggest me picks that are sure to impress if I ever end up playing Scrabble in English.

Today’s word is Popinjay. Ooook. Moving straight to the definition;

A strutting supercilious person.

Really? “Supercilious” person? And strutting nonetheless! Well, it seems I got an as-seen-on-tv-like 2 for 1 deal today. Cool! So I went looking for supercilious’ definition.

Cooly and patronizingly haughty.

Ok. This is a joke. I never claimed to be perfectly fluent in English, but I feel like my vocabulary is not the worst in town… Yet, “haughty” doesn’t ring a bell to me. Back to the search engine…

Blatantly and disdainfully proud.

Thank you!

I’m starting to think that I should just rely on Biff, and forget about Merriam-Webster’s newsletter. Not that it is making me feel stupid, but… Yeah, a little, still.

60 thoughts on “Popinjay…”

  1. lol I often think of a popinjay as a puffed out [as in chest puffed out with pride] strutting about like the Jay bird … bet you’re educating loads of us, I had to look up the word your mate didn’t know!

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    1. See! Why doesn’t the Merriam-Webster’s site use easy definitions like that?? I can totally picture a Jay bird going about with a puffed chest!! And that didn’t require 15 minutes of intense research online 😛 Mouahahahahahaha Then again, I can’t really complain… I did subscribe to the newsletter… and I would probably be disappointed if the daily words were too familiar 😛

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      3. LOL just checked “popinjay” on another site, and the definition is “A dandy or foppish person”… Now, how common is “foppish”?? Never read that one before, either. This is very humbling LOL

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    1. Mouahahahahahahahaha, before opening your comment, the “preview” of it let me read up to “… in question…” I laughed out loud when I opened it an read the last part! Excellent point! 🙂 And excellent example, I should mention it to Merriam-Webster…

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  4. vespertine usually is related to something moving in the night..think opossum or raccoons………DT is by far the best example of a popinjay I have ever considered…..and good old foppish was a lovely word used during regency England to denote a young stud who dressed prettier than the queen of the time……think lots of lace and bright silk coats over embroidered westcotes admiring themselves in every mirror………..lol

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    1. LOL thanks for clearing things up for me, Suze 🙂

      I hope you’re having a nice Sunday so far… If you have a minute, you should come and crash Nikki’s M&G 🙂 Lots of lovely faces there… I thought we could put a little action in da house! 😛

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      1. The sound of some words makes up part of the appeal of using the word. “Vespertine” does have a pleasing lilt to it. Thanks for sharing the link, as I had not read that poem of yours. Nicely done!

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  6. Or you could use the correct dictionary The Oxford English Dictionary (the only acceptable choice) since English only has one acceptable version. The Original. There is no such thing as “american english” that is simply full of errors.

    so the official definition of Popinjay is A vain or conceited person, especially one who dresses or behaves extravagantly.

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    1. listen buster..we do too speak good english in the states..not quite sure exactly WHAT it is good for but there ya have it..no mistakes here buddy..nope, none, nada, niet………..lol

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      1. I have no problem with the colonials speaking English, the problem is you don’t use it correctly, the spelling is atrocious, you have the incorrect usage of words and misguided belief simplification of the language

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  8. Haha- oh my goodness, ok first- I had no idea what vespertine meant so thank you for the new word!!!! Second, I loved hearing your step by step thought process through this whole word scavenger hunt. I was cracking up and DJ goes, “What are laughing about”…. “Oh you know, just Cyranny cracking me up per usual!”. XO I just adore ya!

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    1. Hey there, dear Miss Sunshine 🙂 I am so glad I could add this beautiful word to your vocabulary!! I dare you to use “vespertine” in your next post 😉

      I am so happy I could give you a couple good giggles! I’ll do my best not to disappoint you next time 😛

      *big hugs* to you and DJ

      Love ya!! xx

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