Language Surprises

I really enjoy being surprised by language. When I'm reading along and take in a unique word that really fits, it makes me smile even as I continue with the story. After reading the unimaginative language in newspapers, magazines and most web sites, it's refreshing to find authors who haven't become lazy with their vocabulary. To assure that don't I succumb to the plethora of mundane word usage I read everyday, I often jot down words I like; in most cases they are words about which I had forgotten. Here's a list of recent finds:

lissome
weal
sintered
bucolic (it doesn't sound at all like its meaning)
lachrymal
obfuscate
fugacious
hircine
glabrous

Many of these are best used in narration. Normal conversation doesn't often bring forth these words. In fact, a recent read of a library book had good friends in a casual setting and one character said, "It seems things have become profligate recently." My attention shifted from the story line to looking for a reason he would use this word--some reference to his stuffy language or a habit of showing off his erudition. Nothing. So why not use extravagant or lavish? Those words would have been better suited to casual Sunday morning dialogue.

Nonetheless, profligate made my list of interesting words, no matter that it wasn't presented in the best of manners. I doubt I'll use it in dialogue, unless I have some bombastic character I want to spotlight. But it's a good word. I've already scribed a few sentences with words from the list--giving them a stronger place in my word bank. I have to remember to use the words wisely and in the right way. I'm sure some readers don't like language surprises, so I know I have to temper my vocabulary for the readership and not just use it to satisfy my own philological amusement.