Lexical Longings

I get quite perturbed when I encounter a word that I do not know the meaning of. It is not enough for me to infer the meaning via context, I need to know details such as etymolgy and pronunciation. I pride myself on my vocabulary and I use it less often that I should. One might say my normal language is colorful and masks the real deal.

Tonight's proverbial thorn was mephitic. I'm swapping back and forth between the World Series and a book about the development of currency in the 1600s. (Don't scoff, it's really more action and science than dry fact.) I had to uproot and come downstairs, abandoning the lovely nest of down nestled opposite a liquid crystal portal into the south-side of Chicago just to look up the damned word. It meant roughly what I expected but has a slightly more green feeling to it. It reminds me of acrid only less... biting?

There are two morals to this story. Number One: I need a bookcase and I need it to reside in my bedroom. Number Two: I need a Dictionary. I capitalized that word because I don't want the Cliff's Notes of American English. I want a tome. Something with thousands of pages. Something that arrives with pieces of wood and various screws used to shore up your storage facilities for the various stresses and problems something of it's weight presents.

A girlfriend once gave me a Word of the Day calendar. This was probably one of the most thoughtful gifts a girlfriend has ever given me because it showed how much attention she paid to me and the things I enjoyed. Unfortunately I am not good at of-the-Daying anything outside of myself. As a side effect the calendar languished, only occasionally receiving the careful observation if required. That's no way to treat a word of the day. A word of the day should be savored. Rolled around the pallate even. When 10 missed words are fired in unison you cannot take the time to afford each the luxury of use. Such an unfortunate waste of talent.

UPDATE: Again! This time for indefatigable. What a great word!