G.S.’s answer to “What is your favorite word?” > Likes and Comments

Check out what Wikipedia has to say about "perspicacity" (the opening paragraphs). I thought I knew the word (have never used it), but my understanding was very approximate. I just love words, and we English speakers are lucky to have more choices than with most other languages.

Here's a favorite word for you: omphaloskepsis. Not really my favorite word, but I have fun asking people what they think it means.

About your final point, it's just like a writer to leave readers with a cliff-hanger. Now, we have to wait for "what happens next."

Wonderful! It *is* interesting that "perspicacity" had such a precise meaning, at least initially. Its intended meaning makes it a synonym for "spunk" only in the very loosest sense. Of course, as with many things, words come to mean what society/culture decides they mean, irrespective of the creator's intent.

I would not have guessed the meaning of "omphaloskepsis" - but having looked it up, I now must add it to my vocabulary, as I've accused more than one person of that behavior ;).

I love the word "scintilla" and had forgotten about it until you used it in your book ... can't remember which one ;)

I agree - scintilla is a fantastic word! Such a lovely, graceful word to describe something so tiny ;).