Welcome to Wondrous Words Wednesday! Visit Kathy at Bermudaonion.net for more interesting words.
This week, I’m featuring a word from the YA novel Otherborn by Anna Silver. Anna will be here on Friday explaining how Otherborn is different from other dystopians. (When I read Otherborn, I was happy not to find a choosing ceremony of some kind.) Come back to see what she has to say and enter her giveaway!
Here’s a little about Anna’s book:
Confined within Capital City’s concrete walls, London keeps an impossible secret: she dreams. And she’s not alone. Her friends are seeing themselves in “night pictures” too, as beings from another world. Together they uncover the story of their avatars, astral shamans they call Otherborn.
Now, on to the Word Nerd Word.
In this passage, London, the protagonist of Otherborn, describes the home of one of her friends.
The upper stories of Zen’s bank had the glass blown out from a storm years ago, rendering one third of the complex unlivable. It gave her the distinct feeling of squatting under a ghost town when she was there. A sensation she found untenable.
untenable \un-‘ten-ə-bəl\ adj, from Latin and Old French tenir to hold; not able to be defended or occupied (untenable apartments)
Word Nerd Workout
Use untenable in your own sentence. My example:
The soldiers shuffled around with dread and waited for the enemy to attack the untenable position.
Thanks for getting nerdy with me today!
Julia
Julia, I’m so glad I found you through Nicole. I think I may be a word nerd too. I will be back on Friday to hear about Otherborn – sounds intriguing! I’ll use the vocabulary word next time; I’m just too tired to put together a cohesive sentence right now!
Dana, it’s great to meet you too! I love connecting with other Word Nerds! I totally understand the fatigue thing- my brain doesn’t function well after 8pm. Thanks for stopping by.
I’ve heard untenable and had a vague idea of its meaning but wasn’t really sure. The Principal found himself in an untenable position when being questioned by parents about his arrest.
Well Kathy, I hope I helped clear up the meaning for you. Judging by your “workout”, you’ve got it down!
Interesting! I didn’t know about Otherborn before, but I’m glad it’s veering away from the traditional dystopian novel.
Jennifer, when Anna approached me about doing a guest post for her blog tour, I remembered your comment about another dystopian book I featured- you basically asked if it was the “same old thing.” Anna does a great job of explaining how her book is different- and it definitely is. Come back Friday! Hope you’re well.
I hope my daughter’s Army diver boyfriend never finds himself in a untenable position!
Me too!
Ha — part of the problem of my WIP right now is why the bad guys would attack the good guys from a position that seems untenable. I think I have the motivation figured out (it’s a feint and a distraction). But physically setting up the scene when I can’t visualize it puts me in an untenable position as a writer!
Excellent use of untenable, Dianne, and I hope you get yourself out of that uncomfortable situation soon!
I like untenable. I am interested to see a review of Otherborn. I don’t read much of the dystopian genre.
Great Judy! Come back on Friday- Anna is giving away a copy of her book!
I have come across this word before. It doesn’t pop up that often in books I read.
See, me too! That’s why I had to look it up. (Love the dictionary on my Kindle!)
The situation with his work environment was full of strife and quickly became untenable. He had to leave.
It’s a Dave Ramsey word too when he talks about financial situations for people. That’s where I’ve heard it most often.
Thanks Kristen for this fresh take on my word nerd word! Perhaps more people can relate to this than battle tactics! Hope you have a great week!