My daughter told me the other day that I was a slow reader. This from the girl who has spent many hours this summer lounging on her bed consuming novels. I’m not unhappy about her extensive time spent reading. Just jealous.
I had to defend my reading rep. “I’m actually a fast reader. I just don’t have time to read because of” I circled my arm, indicating all my offspring in the minivan “you people.”
Maybe one day this week I won’t do anything (no cleaning, chauffeuring, or dinner prep) but read. I have a 550 page novel to finish before book club next Tuesday. It could be nice. If I hadn’t been so fecund in my 30s, perhaps, dear daughter, I’d have more time to read.
Which leads me to my wondrous word for today. If you like learning new words, join Kathy’s Wondrous Words Wednesday meme. Bloggers share words from their reading or just interesting ones they’ve found.
My word comes from The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton, the 550 page whopper I mentioned above. It’s part mystery, part historical fiction, part fairy tale. So far, at page 297, an enjoyable story.
I came across fecund in this sentence and felt I should know it:
The smell was the first thing to hit her, damp and fecund, and rich with animal droppings.
Fecund /’fe-kǝnd/ adj, from the Latin fecundus, fruitful
- Fruitful in offspring or vegetation
- Intellectually productive or inventive to a marked degree
Yes, this mother of four should definitely know this word.
Word Nerd Workout
Can you name a synonym for fecund? (besides fruitful) Join in the Wondrous Words Wednesday fun. Don’t forget to visit Kathy’s site to learn more interesting words.
Thanks for getting nerdy with me!
Julia
Synonym 1: fertile
Synonym 2: the smell of rotting fruit & vegetables
The use of this word confuses me. It’s often used to describe the smell of over-ripe, rotting vegetation or fruit & vegetables, but it actually means fertile. I can see how it could be both. Rotting vege makes good compost. If I dared use the word to describe a person with many children, like you did, could it be misconstrued as me calling that person smelly? Silly, I know. I guess I need just be careful of the description around the word, but on its own you could be forgiven for being confused as to the meaning.
I had a vague impression that fecund had to do with soil and plants, but for some reason I thought it was a description of an earthy smell. *game show wrong answer buzzer goes off*
I enjoyed the Forgotten Garden, and I was excited that I already knew your word today. That’s not usually the case!
I would say fertile as a synonym too. I haven’t never actually said “fecund” aloud – it’s hard to fit into daily conversation!
Great word and so apropos for a mother…”fruitful in offspring or vegetation” – that made me laugh out loud! I was just telling my sister that I wish I could have just one really long and boring summer day so all I had to do was lay on a bed and READ. Heaven. And yes, I’d finish books SO much faster this way!
The first word that popped into my head was prosperous but I don’t think that’s quite right. I think Elizabeth got it right with prolific.
I’ve heard this word before in books I have read. That’s a great cover on The Forgotten Garden.
prolific, propagate Or forms of these?
I feel bad you don’t have time to read The Forgotten Garden. I have no kids so was able to just sit and read it in 2 days. I didn’t care for her next one, though. However, I do want to give the latest a try. Forget the title.
I remember this word from a book I read too. I always think fertile or green and mossy, but my garden could be described as “fecund”, in that it is overgrown with weedy vegetation!
The weeds are taking over my garden too, Judy. Maybe tomorrow I can tackle them…
Oooo, I love that book cover! I wish my current novel was written in 3rd person, so I could slip ‘fecund’ in it. But it’s from the perspective of a 12YO Irish boy in the 1830s, and I don’t think he’d know that word. Darn you, 1st person! When I first saw the word in your post, I immediately substituted ‘fertile’ in my head 🙂
I’m pretty sure fecund wouldn’t be in a modern 12 yo vocabulary either! It’s hard to slip in vocabulary with first person middle grade! But there are so many other fun things about first person… 😉