Wondrous Words Wednesday is a weekly meme from Bermuda Onion where we share new (to us) words that we’ve encountered in our reading. If you want to play along, grab the button, and write a post.
My words this week are from Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness.
elocution - the skill of clear and expressive speech, esp. of distinct pronunciation and articulation.
“I would be happy to give you elocution lessons, Mistress Roydon.”
prescient - having or showing knowledge of events before they take place.
“If you are so prescient, then you should have foreseen what your betrayal would mean to me.”
crenellations - the battlements of a castle or other building.
“Smoke came from chimneys tucked out of sight behind the towers’ crenellations, the jagged outlines suggesting that some crazed giant with pinking shears had trimmed every wall.”
oubliette - a secret dungeon with access only through a trapdoor in its ceiling
“When she failed, Satu threw me into the oubliette.”
hippocras - wine flavored with spices
“By the time the hippocras started flowing and a delicious nut brittle made with walnuts and honey was passed along the table, their commentary was downright ribald and Matthew’s responses were just as barbed.”
I would have totally guessed obliette wrong! Thanks for playing along.