My book club is reading Orphan Train this month, and it’s a great novel for discussion. It also has a few words I had to look up, including pusillanimous. Whew, that’s a mouth full, isn’t it? I’ll include a pronunciation guide. 😉
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Here’s the quote from Orphan Train:
Ralph hovers, uncertain. As always. She knows he’s caught between her and Dina, and utterly unequipped to handle either one of them. She almost feels sorry for him, the pusillanimous wretch.
Pusillanimous \pyü-sǝ-lǝ-’la-nə-məs\ adjective from Latin pusillus very small (diminutive of pusus boy) + animus spirit
- lacking courage and resolution : marked by contemptible timidity
from Merriam-Webster
Word Nerd Workout
Can you think a synonym for pusillanimous or share a pusillanimous character from movies or fiction? I suggest the Cowardly Lion from The Wizard of Oz.
Thanks for getting nerdy with me today!
Ooh, I really liked reading Orphan Train. I love that I got a glimpse of history while being immersed in the story.
I agree! The author did a great job of blending historical information with a compelling story.
Love this word. For characters id def say Shaggy and Scooby doo. 😀
Aha! Excellent examples.
It’s a big word, thanks for sharing.
I’m with Kathy on this one; I’d have to use a synonym because I don’t think I could pronounce this one. Taking a cue from Margot, ‘chicken’ sounds like a good choice.
My book club read Orphan Train and loved it. Hope yours does, too!
In my youth we would have said that Ralph was “chicken.” I can’t think of a character to match the word right now, but I’m sure my brain will come up with a couple before the day is over.
I would definitely have to use a synonym because I don’t think I could pronounce that word without stumbling. How about craven?
The first character hat popped into my head was Piglet from Winnie-the-Pooh but I’m not sure he really fits.
Piglet is quite timid, but pusillanimous conveys a sense of the pathetic, so I agree, I’m not sure about the fit. But a good try, I think. Craven is a good synonym.
What a great word! I’ll try to incorporate this in my next conversation…:) It’s a mouthful.