Ready to learn some new vocabulary? You’re in the right place! Join me for Kathy’s Wondrous Words Wednesday meme and nurture your inner word nerd.
Today, I’m sharing another word from the mysterious novel, Code Name Verity, by Elizabeth Wein. My book club buddies tell me to stick with it; everything comes together by the end. It’s one of those books with plot twists that really make you think.
So I’m reading and thinking and maybe I’ll start taking notes too!
In the novel, a young woman held prisoner by Germans during WWII writes about one of her captors:
Would Engle be happier as a spy, glamorous and deadly? I just can’t imagine her in any other role other than Beastly Punctilious Official.
Ah, punctilious. That has a satisfying sound, doesn’t it?
punctilious \pən(k)-‘til-ē-əs\ adj, from Italian punctiglio, a point of honor or scruple; concerned
about precise exact accordance with the details of codes or conventions
In short, obsessed with details. Oh dear, this could describe me!
Word Nerd Workout
Think of a punctilious character- either from fiction or your own life- and tell us about him or her.
The punctilious habits of our board president always led to excessively long meetings.
Also, finish this analogy. Let’s see what we remember from last week!
punctilious:informal:: parsimonious: __________
Thanks so much for stopping by and working out!
Julia
What is the page number?
In my copy, it’s page 49. It’s in the section called “Coastal Defense, Damn It”, when the girls are at Maidsend during an air raid. Hope that helps.
You rock! Yet another word that I didn’t know!
I hope I don’t get a complex visiting your blog (because I think I’m such a smarty pants and I don’t know so many of these words)
I’m punctilious. It’s how I got through law school. LOL
Don’t get a complex! I aim to help you. Thanks for stopping by!
I suspect those of us who are punctilious are also punctual to a fault!
Yes! I think it comes from the same Latin root.
So, could I use this word in the same sentence with OCD? 😉
Bless you Julia! I hope you have a wonderful week. Love, Hester 😉
punctilious:informal:: parsimonious: generous
The opposite of a parsimonious person is a giving person.
Hmmm…a punctilious character? Felix Unger from The Odd Couple comes to mind.
Julia, I hope you’re enjoying Code Name Verity.
Great job with the analogy Suko and Kathy!
generous
I don’t think I’m as punctilious as I used to be but I could have been described that way in my younger day!
punctilious:informal:: parsimonious:generous
A good word, thanks! for sharing.
http://tributebooksmama.blogspot.com/2013/05/wondrous-words-wednesday.html
Ahh, I finally got one: Parsimonious = Stingy 🙂
And my hubs has worked with punctilious salesmen who can’t put a proposal together because they’re get too detailed with illustrations.
Enjoyed our lunch last week!
Me too Susan!