Tuesday Kuykendall

Words are cool, essential. I have favorite words. I suspect everyone does, even if they don’t articulate it. (I love articulate…and essential). Like ‘ubiquitous’. I didn’t know that word until I read it for the first time in my physics textbook. “…physics is ubiquitous…” I had to go look it up because I thought it might be saying something technical and fundamental about physics. I guess in a way it does, but not in a way that instills an understanding of the field. The simplest definition is that it means something that is everywhere. But I think it has more layers than that. It imbues a sense of permeating everything in the universe – sinking into the fabric of reality.

I love words that begin with Q. Quebec, quiet, quagmire, quarantine, quirky, quintessential. Quintessence is another word that feels like it contains layers of meaning. It means the heart or substance or vitality of a thing. I think of it as an idea or action that describes something completely, like a nursing mother – in that moment she is the quintessence of love. And ever since that scene in Secret Life of Walter Mitty when Ted Hendrick closes Life magazine and makes that awkward statement about quintessence being ‘full and so rich;’ now, when I hear the word, I have to smile. I don’t use it very often, it feels like ‘telling’ when I should be ‘showing.’

Another great word, ‘Secret.’ Classified, confidential, enigma, cryptic, discreet – just of few synonyms found in my Roget’s Thesaurus. And it has two entries! Some of those words, like enigma and cryptic, are also among my favorites – but its rare that another word is a better substitute. The word sounds and looks like the thing it is.

I’m fascinated by what makes a word so interesting. Its more than just meanings, its also how the word looks, how fun it is to spell, how it feels in my mouth when I say it. There’s lambaste, sycophant, perpetuity, ridiculous, irascible. And a new one for me, apperception which means being conscience of being conscience.

Ambiguity, bellow, bereft, catastrophe, sequester, sagacity, inscrutable, and inconceivable! (always in Vizzini’s voice). I have an ongoing list. It saves me when my brain suddenly shuts down in the middle of a sentence. It’s also what keeps me writing. I want to find the story and/or the perfect combination of words that will describe something meaningful to the human experience. I don’t know if that will ever happen. Its unlikely. But I still look for it. In my writing and in my reading because what else are words for?

I’d love to hear from you – what’s your favorite word and why?