Sunday, August 3, 2008

Fun Monday - I Swear

This week's Fun Monday task is to tell about our favorite words. Actually, we are instructed to keep the words in our list G-rated. Our lovely and clean-minded hostess is the Mothers of Brothers. Actually, I do not swear as such, and I do not equate swearing with saying X-rated words. Swearing to me means to take an oath or proclaim that something is true. On the other hand, profane or obscene words are ...okay, all right, that should be another post.

I do have a few favorite words that I like to use in writing. When speaking of many things, I like to use the word, myriad, but I dislike using plethora. If possible, I will try to weave the word burgeoning into my formal writing to describe growing or expanding processes. If I speak about something that is everywhere, ubiquitous is a grand term. In letters to inept bosses and disreputable businesses, I explain that I am befuddled and bewildered.


There is another category of words that I favor because of their intrinsic meaning. Love, grace, hope, forgiveness, patience, understanding, compassion, empathy are such words with profound meaning.

If you like words, visit our hostess at Mothers of Brothers to see the list of other word fanatics. You also might enjoy the word game at Free Rice, a website that donates 20 grains of rice for every word you can define correctly in an online multiple-choice quiz.

38 comments:

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful post! You have set the standard for everyone else!! I, too, love ubiquitous. And I think I will substitute myriad for plethora going forward. Plethora sounds like some sort of condition. Thanks for joining!!

Margaret said...

I love your words, especially ubiquitous.

Big Momma said...

The two deadly B's: befuddled and bewildered. Two words that I know very well. Great post.

Anonymous said...

wow! you have big words, my word is love too. thanks for leaving a comment on my teeth post. He has started biting me while nursing, I was hoping the teeth would have waiting a little longer :-)

willowtree said...

Ok, I have to admit, this was a good post. There were a myriad of ideas, a virtual cornucopia of plethoras. Sadly though, with my burgeoning literary skills, I tend to use ubiquitous way too often, in fact I use it everywhere, leaving both me and my readers bewitched, bemused and befuddled.

Jan said...

You're right about plethora, myriad is a better choice, and I'm going to amend my ways. I like all your choices, great post.

daddy d said...

You word smiths really know your words. That is a very good thing, in that words have meanings that can move ahead connections between people.

Alison said...

I love your list of words..they are some of my favorites also..but, I do like the word plethora!!

Faye said...

I'll join you for "myriad" Molly and am heading over to your Rice webpage to try my luck right now.

Sauntering Soul said...

I love all of your words....but I do use plethora from time to time. I also love Free Rice and visit it quite often when I have a few minutes of downtime.

Faye said...

Okay, I just checked out your Free Rice and it's addictive. I now know what a "shellback" is--but when will I ever get a chance to use the word?

amanda said...

I'm bewildered by your list of big words...
Great post, and have to agree I am addicted to the Free Rice site too!

Pamela said...

ha ha ha ... you used such wonderful words.

I love Free Rice game.

Jientje said...

Learned a lot here, I like ubiquitos and myriad best! Thanks for sharing!

Irish Coffeehouse said...

Oh yes "ubiquious" is a great word! I use "bewildered" too. :)

ChrisB said...

now myriad isn't a word I've used for a while, whereas befuddled is frequently in my vocabulary and empathy was a word 'I did' when I was a nurse and again as a social worker :)

Unknown said...

I forgot about ubiquitous, dang! Sorry, I like plethora, but myriad does sound prettier!

Kaytabug said...

I actually enjoy using plethora, but I only enjoy it when talking! Great post!!

Gattina said...

In which context can you use such words like myriad or ubiquitous ? ubiquitous sun, sea and sand ? I have no sun, no sea and no sand it would be difficult for me, lol

Molly said...

Gattina - I can think of a myriad of circumstances to use both myriad and ubiquitous as there are ubiquitous opportunites to use both terms.

Molly said...

That reminds of a Latin joke from my 9th grade Latin teacher in 1961.

Semper ubi, sub ubi.

A 2008 addition..."unless you are going commando"

Hootin Anni said...

Me being of blond roots, can understand befuddled and bewildered. Truly. I don't even have to say the words...they just float somewhere above my blond noggin'!! LOL

Great FM...thanks for the visit for my 'special' word and hope your week is good for you.

Anonymous said...

I love the word ubiquitous oooo well done, wonderful blog, love Judyx

Sayre said...

Free Rice is so much fun! I can spend HOURS there (donating LOTS of rice). I like burgeoning quite a big and befuddled has ALWAYS been a part of my vocabulary.

Tiggerlane said...

Wow...one of your "non favorite" words is one of my favs...however, I like "myriad," too.

Ari_1965 said...

I like the word befuddled.

Aoj and The Lurchers said...

Plethora! Oh yes, that's a good one!

storyteller said...

How intriguing to read of your preferences in speaking & writing … something I’ve not given much thought to but suspect I’d find true for me as well if I did. Myriad is a word that flows trippingly off my tongue … while ubiquitous isn’t one I’d SPEAK but is a word I’d write. As for the ‘intrinsic value’ of the words on your final list … I agree that the meanings are profound indeed. I do prefer the word 'befuddled' to 'bewildered' ...
Hugs and blessings,

Robocop said...

Nice list of words. I had the opposite problem of coming up with a G-Rated word.

Baba said...

Hi Molly, the fun word from your list is befuddled.... I will go and try the rice game....thanks for your visit to my place today...Baba

JennV said...

I love your words and how they just roll off the tongue! I'm going to have to integrate a few of these into my vocabulary more often. Thank You for visiting my site today! Have a Fun Monday!

Anonymous said...

I must admit to using the word plethora, even though it sounds like a disease... but myriad is a much better word indeed. I agree with you there.

Cruise Mom said...

I love myriad and ubiquitous - such great words....

Anonymous said...

Excellent post I want to you all the best

karisma said...

Oh sure you don't swear! I do believe I have SEEN a few choice words come out of you young lady! Hmmmmmmmm!

Anonymous said...

I wanted to thank you for your comments on my blog - all comments received via the blog/email have been interesting and helpful. Thank you for your time. Judyx

debi said...

You use of the right words is one of the things that makes you so fun and interesting to read.

Rebecca (Ramblings by Reba) said...

"Myriad" is another one I use a lot. It's been fun to look at everyone's words.