Welcome to the Wondrous Words Wednesday meme, hosted by Kathy at Bermudaonion.net. Join me each Wednesday for an interesting new word, and visit Kathy’s site for more great vocabulary boosters!
Today I’d like to share a word from an article called “How to Make Ordinary Characters Compelling,” by Steven Harper in the December 2012 issue of Writers Digest. I think it also popped up in A Good American.
“Old lovers, photographs from long-ago vacations and other detritus from the past can show up at any time to create conflict…”
Here’s the info from Webster’s:
detritus \di-‘trit-əs\ noun, from the Latin deterere, to wear away or impair; loose material (as rock fragments) that results directly from disintegration; a product of disintegration, destruction, or wearing away
Word Nerd Workout
Think of a synonym for detritus. Feel free to get colorful and creative. Share your ideas in the comments. Or even better, share a link to a picture!
My example: rubbish (with a focus on the destruction meaning; see photo above of the detritus remaining on the floor after a few hours of Lego play)
Word Nerd 5K Next Week!
Come back next Wednesday to participate in my quarterly Word Nerd 5K: five questions about past Wonderful Wednesday Words that I have posted. Everyone who answers all five questions correctly in the comments will be entered into a drawing for a Barnes and Noble Gift Card! The winner will also receive link love from me.
See you then, and thanks for stopping by!
I love it when I actually know the word of the week! 🙂 Yay!
I just realized that I do not use the word “detritus” well, ever. I’m definitely going to start though. Especially now that I know how it’s pronounced. What a fun topic! And I love the photo of the legos. Perfect example.
Detritus! Great word. I actually use it in conversation from time to time. A good synonym…debris? Scraps? Although I don’t feel like they illustrate the word’s specific meaning very clearly.
Hmmm. I think I will have to practice this word a few times before I feel comfortable using it in a sentence.
I think a few of us have young men, or perhaps older ones showing us the meaning of detritus every day- I can look around and see quite a lot of it right now.
Just now, with the renovations in full swing, I never stop using the word. 🙁 But my absolute favorite detritus is a troll night watch officer called Detritus in Terry Pratchett’s Diskworld series. Also, it’s a fun word to say, isn’t it?
What a great name for a character! Implies a lot about his personality. Hope the renovations will be over soon!
I use detritus a lot – it’s a terrific word.
Detritus is a great word – unfortunately it describes my house these days!
The heating element broke in our clothes dryer last Wednesday. I’m sure you can figure out the math on the detritus sight of our laundry room! Caution tape anyone??! 😉
It’s what is left of my living/kitchen after the grandchildren go home!
My stepsons bedroom is a prefect example of detritus in action!
Didn’t know that word, thanks! for sharing.
http://tributebooksmama.blogspot.com/2013/03/wondrous-words-wednesday_20.html
Somehow you have chosen the perfect word for my day today, as I am working on my memoir and finding the detritus of the past does indeed create conflict. Thanks!
Haha, as soon as I saw the word “detritus” in your post headline, I immediately thought of how often I use that word to describe all the “stuff” that my husband has lying around the house. Poor guy… one man’s treasure is his wife’s detritus.
LOL! Very true. And you’re not alone as you see in the comments below…
Ah, yes, Julia: ‘detritus’ is a very</i. useful word, with a myriad of meanings in daily life. Detritus of a meal, a love affair, a lively puppy's play, and so on….