I’ve been highlighting words right and left in “Cutting for Stone” by Abraham Verghese. I’m still not sure if the book will make my list of favorites, but I’m learning a lot. For example, parsimonious. Though I don’t think I’d heard the word before, it sounded familiar. It made me think of parsing words. Which in my mind somehow gets mixed up with mincing words. They both make me think of mixing and chopping. I knew it didn’t have anything to do with cooking though. Parsimonious means frugal to the point of stinginess. For example, in the story, a young boy who doesn’t talk (but can) is said to be “parsimonious with words.” It sounds very grand, doesn’t it? I certainly hope if you read this you won’t be parsimonious with your comments.
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Is it my imagination or do a majority of your bon mots sound so much better when said with
a British accent? Oh, and I do love the word “parsimonious.” (I just said it in my most posh
British accent.
Good point. I shared this with my British husband, and he offered to record himself saying each of the words. He’s so generous.
I will try to avoid being parsimonious as well as picayunish! As a young person I was subjected to frequent debate over the pronouncation of picyune. Was it picky yoon or picky you nee? One man’s tomahato… We were a well read lot desperate for verbal diversions. Mary