Vocabulary

[varjohaltia]

Within about 80 pages of Jack Vance's novel Lyonesse, I've amassed the following list of words I had to check for meaning or secondary meaning:

Obstreperous
Deportment
Sepulchral
Chert
Gonfalon
Lack-witted
Furze
Pavanne
Fane
Replete
Larch
Awhisper
Frousting
Uncial
Comportment
Hoyden
Slantwise
Dint
Irascible
Lighter
Remonstrance
Dismast
Forepeak
Adjudge
Dropsy
Unction
Indisposition
Nonce
Abnegation
Collation
Bullock
Bung
Troth
Flibbet
Lambent
Involuted
Lummox
Kirtle
Escutcheon
Consonant
Bucolic

Whatever illusion about fluency in the English tongue I thought I had has been steadily eroded -- but I shall learn!

(Okay, I lied. I did know what a lighter was, and guessed right on some of the others. But I still figured the list might demonstrate why I like Vance's prose.)

Comments

[roguer.livejournal.com]

There are very few words on that list that I don't know, but the very first one, "Obstreperous", is certainly one of those few. What the hell?

If I had to guess, it might be some sort of dinosaur. Or perhaps something that obstructs your progress to a preposterous degree. I don't know; maybe I'll start using it randomly; like, throw it in there without it actually making sense. "I was going to stay late and study, but an Obstreperous wind left me with no clothes." Or perhaps: "A rather Obstreperous police officer gave me a Frousting ticket for speeding down the Pavanne."

-Roguer