"Our sense of wonder grows exponentially; the greater the knowledge, the deeper the mystery."


-- E.O. Wilson

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Monday, June 15, 2009

Words, Words, Words... and the NY Times


For all word lovers out there:

Not the usual "science" I pass along here, but as a word-lover have to link to this interesting survey of words that the astute readers of the NY Times most frequently feel the need to look up --- how many of these would perplex you if stumbled upon in print? A few of the 50 top stumpers: "louche," "sumptuary," "schadenfreude," "hagiographic," "dauphin," "comity," "bildungsroman," "fealty." And the word with the highest rate of looking up per use: "saturnine" ("solipsistic" a close 2nd).



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