WELCOME TO WORDY WEDNESDAY!
I love words! And I love to read! So each Wednesday I’m going to grab an unfamiliar or unusual word I’ve discovered in some of my favorite books. I’ll post the meaning and the paragraph I’ve found the word to show its usage. If so inclined, check out the book and author’s website by clicking on the links below the paragraph. Happy Reading, Cyndi
Coquettish:
Adjective:
1) As a young, flirting girl.
2) Characteristic of a coquet.
Synonym: Flirtatious
“Coquettish.” - Wiktionary. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Oct. 2012. http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/coquettish .
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, by Washington Irving
“Ichabod only lingered behind, according to the custom of country lovers, to have a tete-a-tete with the heiress; fully convinced that he was now on the high road to success. What passed at this interview I will not pretend to say, for in fact I do not know.
Something, however, I fear me, must have gone wrong, for he certainly sallied forth, after no very great interval, with an air quite desolate and chapfallen. Oh, these women! these women! Could that girl have been playing off any of her coquettish tricks? Was her encouragement of the poor pedagogue all a mere sham to secure her conquest of his rival?
Heaven only knows, not I! Let it suffice to say, Ichabod stole forth with the air of one who had been sacking a henroost, rather than a fair lady’s heart.”
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Read more: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow , by Washington Irving.
I love this word! Now I have to figure out where I can use it in my daily life
It’s too good to let it slip away!
I agree! Have a great day, Tara!
Irving’s archaic phrase …I fear me… in the excerpt above is the only example I have seen of a reflexive in English. Nowadays ‘me’ would be omitted.
Intersting, Roy. I absolutely love this writing style and word choice. I actually picked this piece for the word Chapfallen, but changed my mind at the last minute. Thank you again for posting! Cyndi