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.
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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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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keep sharing the exotic ones so that we can give you more mundane descriptions 🙂
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That’s a great idea!! I will keep you all posted! 🙂 xx
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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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foppish usually means a man acts a bit like a ‘queen’
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Thanks for the information, Kate 🙂 xx
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be wary I haven’t studied english, as an Aussie I’m still learning it … 🙂
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And what is your mother tongue? 🙂
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my only language is english but as Australians we bash that around quite a bit 😉
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Mouahahahhahaha okie 😉
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😉
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Good word, though. Really helps you to picture the obnoxious puffed-up poser in question without actually having to look at Donald Trump …
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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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Oh what fun! I have a love relationship with words too and am always seeking to expand my vocabulary. The only word I didn’t know was the first one you mentioned. LOL
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And now you do!! 🙂 Glad I could add one word to your collection!! (Ok, totally stealing Merriam-Websters’ credit here)
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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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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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Vespertine is new to me as well! 🙂
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Glad to share it with you, Brett! I love the sound of it… Vespertiiiine… I don’t know, it feels like a romantic word 🙂 It inspired me the following…
https://cyranny.wordpress.com/2017/12/22/dreams/
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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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Thank you Brett 🙂
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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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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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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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Nuh HUH……………….nope. no. just not even close to being even sort of correct actually, not even right…or left! so there!
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Mouahahahahahah don’t you two make me go get boxing gloves now!!
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Should I put my bikini and high heels on, and get a “round two” sign? 😛
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Oh god. Yes please
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Mouahahhahaha you’d like that, wouldn’t you? 😉 I bet Suze would too… she’d have quite a laugh!!
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Yes I would. You should totally do it
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Hehehehe considering it…. 😉
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Woo hoo
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LOL, you would be soooooooo disappointed 😛
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No i dont think I would
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Awww, you are flattering me 😉 Will you let Suze beat you, if I do? 😛
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Depends
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On what? 😉
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What I get for letting her win
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I’ll see about that!
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Well now im curious
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Thank you for the information, Giant 🙂 I’ll check if they have a “word of the day” newsletter too 😉
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The android app does
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I’ll look it up 😉
How’s your evening?
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its been not bad thanks. Yours?
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It’s been a crazy weekend… A bit exhausted, but I’m chillin’ now 🙂
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Good what you been doing g that’s so exhausting?
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Boring… work – work – work… 5 am weekend
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You need to get off that striper pole and get another job
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Mouahhahahahaha if only…. I think I’d make much more money 😛 Maybe I should leave the office and head for a dance pole! Mouarf!!
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Go for it why not? what have you to lose?
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My dignity? LOL
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You definetky wouldnt lose that
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I love words too. English has so many unused adjectives and verbs. The trend today is to use four letter words in place of these parts of speech.
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I agree… Fast food, speed dating, quick writing… it’s in the air!
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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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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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Haha, you could NEVER disappoint! XO
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Awww.. thank you Macky 🙂 Muaaahhh!!
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❤
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