Fun with Words: The Finale

While on vacation this week in Barcelona, I went to the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya. I did get on an underground tram that went in the opposite direction, but I managed to get there on time (in my defence, who doesn't find underground tram maps confusing?). The plaques in the museum were striking. The variety of words made me reflect on what it means to see a word for the first time, or to become more aware of a word for the first time.

There are over 273,000 words in the Oxford English Dictionary. The English Wiktionary, features over 711,000 words. Language is vast; there is much to learn. I have no idea what portion of the 273,000 words I have seen, but I do know one thing: there are many words out there to surprise and intrigue us.

It is with this sentiment that I announce this will be the final edition of Fun with Words. Over the course of the 20 posts in this series (not including this one), we have traversed many corners of the English language. We defined aborgated, which means to repeal a rule or law. We spoke about the word "errata", a list of errors in writing or print. We hopefully groked new words like grok, which means to understand. Language is beautiful.

I have procured a few words for your editfication in this final edition of Fun with Words. I hope you enjoy. Let's go word spleunking!

• Luminescence: The quality of emitting light without being heated.
• Principally: Mainly, for the most part.
• Equivocation: Using ambiguous language to avoid committing to something, or to mislead.
• Ennui: Feeling dissatisfied or wary, a result of boredom.
• Saunter: Walking slowly, leisurely.

Now for the time in which I take the featured words in the series and collate them into a single sentence. Let's give it a try!

The student sauntered down the street; principally, things had been going well, until they started to feel the need to equivocate over assignments as a result of a persistent feeling of ennui.

Four out of five ain't bad! (Sings the song "Two out of three ain't bad" in his head)

I hope you have enjoyed this series and the many words we have covered!