In reading Martin's opus,
A Dance With Dragons, I find myself having to look-up words. This is one thing I'm grateful for with the iPad e-reader (I would assume it is the same for others as well). I just highlight a word, select "dictionary", and it gives me the definition. I think my vocabulary is vast...but George owns me when it comes to words (another reason why he's clearly a better writer than I). Here's my list as of 7/14/2011. Test yourself to see how many you know:
- niello - (n.) a black metallic substance, consisting of silver, copper, lead, and sulfur, with which an incised design or ground is filled to produce an ornamental effect on metal.
- ascetic - (adj.) exceedingly strict or severe in religious exercises or self-mortification.
- courser - (n.) a swift horse.
- anise - (n.) a Mediterranean plant, Pimpinella anisum, of the parsley family, having loose umbrels of small yellowish-white flowers that yield aniseed.
- garron - (n.) a small sturdy pony.
- merlons - (n.) in a battlement, the solid part between two crenels.
- hirsute - (adj.) hairy or shaggy in appearance.
- rectitude - (n.) rightness of principle or conduct.
- vair - (n.) A fur much used in the lining and trimming of garments in the 13th century.
- effusive - (adj.) pouring out or overflowing.
- genial - (adj.) warmly and pleasantly cheerful; cordial.
- roister - (v.) to act in a boisterous manner.
- breechclouts - (n.) a loincloth.
It may sound odd that as I go along I keep track of words, but I think it helps me to learn them so that I can use them in my own writing. Do you think that's silly and how many of these did you know?
