I Like That Word

I've had a list going for a very long time titled Some of My Favorite Words. It's just a dog-eared scrap of a paper which I fold into my notebook to refer to from time to time. Some words are crossed off with a different spelling added in a different pen ink. Others are deleted entirely. Some have partial meanings scribbled in the margins. Or include an asterisk* which refers me to a reason for its inclusion, the moment in time I've decided upon this word, or the way in which I came across it. This often entails some personal recollection. A word like "irregardless" would have an asterisk referring me to my awful Algebra 2 teacher, Mr. Parker, who often used this word (as in "a x b + c - d = negative 5, irregardless of sign"). I'd be seated at my desk rolling my eyes, because "irregardless", regardless of anything you could ever tell me, is not a word. I don't care what your dictionary says. At my undergraduate school we celebrated the University's susquicentennial, that calls for an asterisk (to save you time, it means the 150 year anniversary). However, most of the words on my list I enjoy because their pronunciations just tickle me or roll off the tongue so freely or because they do not roll off the tongue in any pleasurable way whatsoever. The meaning of the word is not necessarily a factor in my listing. Susurrus is simply beautiful in meaning and sound. As is syzygy and mystery. Somnambulism, gallimaufry and brouhaha require the engagement of a few more muscles to voice. But it is so well worth the effort. Pajamas is easy to say and are easy to wear.

Apparently, I am not the only one out there with lists of words squirreled away in a notebook. I'm not sure if I am relieved to learn this or a bit unnerved, but post your favorite words here for our few Latent readers or check out the numerous other sites which are devoted to this very specific subject. My favorite My Favorite Word site promises to post the best entries before publishing a book on the subject http://www.myfavoriteword.com/index.html. If you are like me and refer to your dictionaries quite frequently, you'll be engaged for some time.

*on my list of favorite words.