this post was submitted on 02 Apr 2024
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Word of the Day

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This is a place to post words you read and had to look up or simply enjoyed the rare word drop in something you read.

Post only the word(s) in the title bar, and the definition(s) in the post body along with the title/author of what you were reading when you encountered it. Posts are not intended as book reviews, but the comments section is free game.

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Couch, Irascible, Shirking, Diffident, Obsequious, Humdrum (self.wotd)
submitted 8 months ago by j4k3 to c/wotd
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  • couch - to formulate in a particular style or language
  • irascible - easily provoked to outbursts of anger; irritable
  • shirking - the evasion of work or duty
  • diffident - showing modest reserve
  • obsequious - attentive in an ingratiating or servile manner
  • humdrum - not challenging; dull and lacking excitement

The Bicentennial Man and Other Stories by Isaac Asimov

Short story: The Bicentennial Man

The following are from my own research, writing, and notes to use more often:

  • pert - (of a person) attractive; (comparative perter/superlative pertest)
  • pudic - easily shamed; having a strong sense of shame; modest; chaste (anagram cupid)
  • pudendum - usually plural - pudenda - human external genital organs collectively especially of a female
  • saucy - alt sassy - bold and spirited; somewhat sexy and provocative
  • sibilate - to speak with a hissing sound
  • scritch - to make a small scratching sound like a small animal boroughing
  • cantankerous - given to or marked by an ill-tempered quarrelsome nature
  • crotchety - cranky, disagreeable, or stubborn, especially if prone to odd whims or fancies
  • temerity - reckless boldness; foolish bravery
  • affront - to insult intentionally; to meet defiantly
  • effrontery - an act of insolent and shameless audacity
  • chutzpah - nearly arrogant courage; exaggerated self-opinion
  • captious - tending to find and call attention to faults unreasonably, petty
  • cavil - to criticize for petty or frivolous reasons
  • pettifogger - one who quibbles over trivia and raises petty annoying objections; unethical lawyer of lesser skill
  • shyster - someone disreputable especially a lawyer; to act disreputable; to exploit someone in this way
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[โ€“] Lommy241 4 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I've only ever seen the word obsequious once. While reading the count of Monte Cristo. And I've been looking for a chance to use it ever since.

[โ€“] j4k3 4 points 8 months ago

The Bicentennial Man and Other Stories by Asimov, page 164.

"When not at his work, he wandered among the robot population, every one of which treated him with the robotic obsequiousness due a man."