my favorite $5 word ever

you don’t need a masters to enjoy a good $5 word

Special words are hard to come by. Have you ever adopted an expression because you either liked the sound of it or the definition? Yeah, I know it sounds super-geeky but I often search a thesaurus for alternatives to some of my top picks, as I otherwise tend to overuse them.

get your $5 words right here

Certainly there are people who show off an exceptional vocabulary by using $5 words. Granted, there is an appropriate time and place, but in common speech (could have used the term vernacular here = cha-ching), it comes across as pretentious.

One of my good friends Clyde (all names have been changed to protect the pompous) writes “whilst” in his tweets and other posts. Who really says that? Perhaps some stuffed-shirt professor rustling through a stack of English Lit papers may utter whilst, but that is about it.

Just to be sure, I looked up the definition of whilst: Definitely an old man word.

Origin: 1325–75; Middle English whilest, equivalent to whiles + parasitic -t as in amongst, amidst. 00:10. Whilst is always a great word to know. So is quincunx.

dictonary.com

now for my favorite…

As a student, I understood certain professors had buzz-words that would garner me positive attention resulting in higher grades. My go-to word of choice became (drumroll please) hubris, which is defined as:

excessive pride or self-confidence.

(in Greek tragedy) excessive pride toward or defiance of the gods, leading to nemesis.

          Oxforddictionaries.com

Not only does hubris have an unusual sound to it, but it pretty much defines most flawed heroes throughout literature. Generally underused and overvalued, I found that any sentence where I could insert hubris was a winner.

Although hubris is older than whilst (can you say Oedipus) I find it’s meaning to be relevant in today’s world. Prideful, arrogant, over-confidence and lack of humility all lead to a tragic end. Gouging eyes out of your head is optional.

lesson learned; never underestimate the power of a $5 word

Even if there is a remote possibility you might come across as a pompous ass, you shouldn’t be afraid to broaden your vocabulary. You never know when it can raise your grade. It might even elevate your understanding of the human psyche.

What $5 word is your favorite. Admit it! You know there is at least one tucked away in your brain. Why is it your favorite? Please share your thoughts and stories.

 

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