Ready to learn some new words this week? Welcome to the Wondrous Words Wednesday meme, hosted by Kathy at bermudaonion.net. Join me, Kathy, and a bunch of other bloggers sharing words that we looked up recently.
My favorite word from last week was one of Kathy’s: termagent: an overbearing or nagging woman. This word can also be used as an adjective. Very cool. We all agreed that we never wanted to be called a “termagent.”
This week I’ve started a new book: Code Name Verity, by Elizabeth Wein. I felt pretty sure I knew what verity means, but I wanted to double-check.
verity \’ver-ə-ty\ noun from Latin veritas, true; something that is true, especially a fundamental and inevitably true value, such as honor, love, or patriotism; the quality or state of being honest
This book has started off very slowly; it’s about a young female British spy caught by the Germans in WWII. She’s writing her “confession”, but it’s a long, rambling, and often interrupted story. The reviews on Goodreads and Amazon give it four out of five stars, so I’m hanging in there.
Word Nerd Workout
Name a “verity” or inevitably true value besides the three I listed above. Think of books that you have really enjoyed- did they have a theme that centered around a verity or “big idea”? What was the truth that meant something to you or the characters?
Also, has anyone read Code Name Verity and if so, am I right to stick with it?
Thanks for stopping by!
Julia
Oooh–this has been on my TBR for a while! An agent I met at a conference last fall recommended it to me and it’s been languishing in my “to read” list on Goodreads.
I’ll have to scope out your review after you’ve finished! 🙂
Wow! An agent recommended it, huh? Well, then I’m glad I’m sticking with it. I think it’s complicated and takes awhile to get into. I’ll definitely post a review.
Honesty & forgiveness: To Kill A Mockingbird
thank julia! 😉 Hester,
Given everything happening in the news this week, I second Kathy and Debbie’s additions of compassion and grace. The world needs more of both!
Thinking about human nature, and all of the virtues and faults that make us human, the word ‘desire’ comes to mind. Desire is fundamental part of being human.
As a noun, desire is ‘a strong wish for something.’ As a verb, desire is ‘to have an earnest wish to own or enjoy.’ Does a day go by that we don’t have a desire for something?
Good, Nicole, but taking Debbie’s argument into thought, I could see desire as a destructive force as well. Hmmm.
Maybe the question is whether truth itself is inherently good. Is something true because it’s good or is something true because it is.
Also an excellent point. We are really getting deep here- I love it. I agree, true doesn’t necessarily have to mean good. And yet, in this age of relativity, what is really true?
Don’t get me wrong- I believe in absolute truths, like love, compassion, etc, but sometimes I worry about this world we live in. People like to mold things to suit their best interests.
Thanks for adding to the discussion!
Another verity: grace
I would argue, however, that, if “true” is to be taken to be as meaning “good” as implied by “right; correct” then patriotism is not necessarily a verity. How many wars have been fought, are still being fought, in its name?
An interesting argument, Debbie. Especially since the book that I took my word from is about WWII. And we would have a hard time making the argument that “grace” or “compassion” are not inherently good. Thanks for playing Devil’s Advocate. I love a discussion like this!
I’m always excited when my sprinkling of Latin kicks in and I know the word 😉 I haven’t read the book, Julia, but good for you for sticking with it! And I have a sentence today:
The world denies the verity of the Gospel.
Have a great day!
Awesome sentence, and one that should inspire us. Thanks Susan!
We need more verity in this world. I’m going to add compassion.
Here, here Kathy! So true. Compassion is a wonderful suggestion.