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The ordinary-sized words are for everyone, but the big ones are especially for children.



Sunday 18 May 2014

Sunday Rest: pulverulent. Word Not To Use Today.

Pulverulent?

Is that some sort of a cross between pulverise and virulent?

Well, no, it's not. But it still sounds jolly nasty and dangerous, doesn't it.

And it is dangerous, too. Dangerous, and almost certainly lurking near you.

Under the bed, perhaps.

Oh, yes. All that sneezing, those red-rimmed eyes, that blocked-up nose, the absolute need to spend several hours cleaning before your mother-in-law comes round?

Yes, I said mother-in-law. That's because mothers-in-law are the the traditional scourge of the pulverulent.

So. Listen to me. You're going to have to get to work, aren't you. A pair of old underpants will do if you can't find anything better.

Good luck.

File:House Dust Mite.jpg
That's a dust mite.

Word Not To Use Today: pulverulent. This word, which means crumbling to, or covered in, dust, comes from the Latin pulverulentus, from pulvis, dust.

2 comments:

  1. I should be able to remember this word, because 'dust' in Spanish is 'polvo'. I never can, though, and my mind always immediately goes to something that either pulverises or can be pulverised. Which is incorrect. Very, very incorrect.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ah, but incorrect in an interesting and intelligent way, Eddie. Like the time one of my daughters spelled clumsy clumbsy, which I've always thought was actually better than right.

      Delete

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