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Sometimes your gut instinct about a word’s meaning isn’t right, and you need to check the dictionary. Or Google.
Salacious had tricked me a few weeks ago. Based on the context, I thought it meant “obnoxious.” Well, that wasn’t exactly right. Glad I looked it up! (Do you know what it means? Learn more about salacious.)
Here’s another word that fooled me: confabulation. When one of my friends used this in conversation, I thought it meant “a lie.” I was focusing on the “fab” part, as in “fabricate”.
This week’s Word Nerd Word
confabulation \kən-,fab-yə-‘lā-shən\ noun, from Latin com together + fabulari to talk, from fabulastory; a discussion, casual conversation;
also from psychology: the replacement of a gap in a person’s memory by a falsification that he or she believes to be true
I wasn’t completely off with the fabrication idea, but I’m glad I took the time to look the word up and learn the subtle meanings.
Word Nerd Workout
Use confabulation in a sentence. My example:
After Gretchen slipped and fell in the middle of the lunchroom, confabulation about her mishap spread throughout the school.
This actually happened, but fortunately, Gretchen has a great sense of humor.
Your turn! Leave your sentence in the comments below, and thanks for stopping by!
Other Word Nerd Words:
Julia
“Trying to remember most of what happened the other week must have been more confabulation because most of my days at work isn’t so exciting and my story somehow got everyone rolling on the floor. Shrugs.”
How’s that? lol
His barely believable confabulations could not explain what really happened during his alcohol induced black-out.
Great sentence! Thanks for “playing”!
When my friend Cynthia and I get together, we confabulate late into the night.
Your blog, Julia, is one of my favorites & it could be for anyone who likes both words & books. I would love for you to get more readers – especially guys. Do you have a “blog filter” that keeps the guys out? LOL!!
Thanks for the compliments Monique! I’m so glad you like my blog. No, I don’t have a guy filter- I guess it’s the topic. I did have one guy comment on Banned Book Week- Adam, a devout reader and adamant book lover. Yay!
Julia, I love words SO MUCH and I love how you explore them here and tease all of the meaning out of them.
Yes you did- just turned it into its verb form. Nicely done!
Whenever I remember my childhood, I wonder if I’m remembering correctly or confabulating a memory based on a photo.
Hmmm…did I use that right?? Good word!
“When Hester turned 35,confabulation about her obvious crows feet created quite a discussion with her Grandma.”
I like this one, but I’m not sure I even used it right?
Love, Hester 😉
I think so, and I hope Grandma told you not to worry!
Neat word.
My confabulation with a friend turned into something serious instead of the casual time we wanted to spend together.
Elizabeth
Silver’s Reviews
http://silversolara.blogspot.com
I always learn something new here! Here goes:
The woman’s confabulation helped her make sense of the two weeks she lingered in a coma.
~Debbie
I’m so glad you find useful stuff here! That is my goal!