This blog is for everyone who uses words.

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



Tuesday, 8 April 2014

Thing Not To Do Today: be pusillanimous.

Pusillanimous might not be the most elegant word in the English language, but it's useful because it takes a long time to say and so you can get a lot of feeling into it.

Pusillanimous.

It means cowardly or lacking in determination. So those who by some miracle of genetic engineering are both chicken-hearted and lily-livered are prime examples of pusillanimity, especially if they also happen to have a yellow streak down their backs.

Do you know someone pusillanimous? Or, at least, do you know anyone who is acting in a pusillanimous way?

All right, then. I dare you to tell them. But do make sure they really are pusillanimous before you do, or else you might get yourself into really serious trouble.

File:Chicken March 2010-1.jpg
Photo by Alvesgaspar


Word To Use Today: pusillanimous, This word comes from the Latin pusillanimis from pusillus, weak, plus animus, spirit.

Posted by at

2 comments:

  1. Jingles8 April 2014 at 23:30

    A lovely old word.
    It's a good adjective for insults. I know of a person I would love to call a pusillanimous pipsqueak!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sally Prue9 April 2014 at 08:18

      Well, that'd have them quaking in their boots, Jingles. I think you should do it.
      'You're just a dirty rotten coward and a...and a...and a pusillanimous pipsqueak!'
      It would have to be one of the crowning moments of your life!

      Delete

All comments are very welcome, but please make them suitable for The Word Den's family audience.

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)