Wednesday Word Skills ... on Thursday

I just finished reading "The Magicians" by Lev Grossman. It's not a fast read but very enjoyable.

In fact, I was surprised because I'm not a real big fan of fantasy. Lev's book was well written and fun to read.

This isn't my review for the book. I'm just setting up for a series of posts on all the interesting words I discovered in "The Magicians." There are way too many for a one-time post, so I'm dividing them up over the next few days.

I hope you enjoy learning these new words as much as I did!

limn = to paint or draw; to portray in words, describe; to illuminate
bodega = in Hispanic communities, a small grocery store, wine shop or bar-tavern
allee= a walk or passage between two rows of evenly planted trees
flense = to cut blubber skin from a whale, seal, etc.
frisson = a shudder or shiver, as of excitement, fear or pleasure
eidetic = designating or of mental images that are unusually vivid and almost photographically exact
graphology = the study of handwriting, especially as a clue to character, aptitudes, etc.
horological = of a time piece, clock, hourglass, sundial, etc.
lintel = the horizontal cross piece over an opening, as a door, window, usually carrying the weight of the structure above it
mattock = a tool for loosening the soil, digging up and cutting roots, etc. It is like a pickax but has a flat, adz-shaped blade on one or both sides.
obstreperous = noisy, boisterous or unruly, especially in resisting or opposing
ormolu = an imitation gold made of an alloy of copper and tin, used in making ornaments, moldings, cheap jewelry, etc.; imitation gold leaf

Aren't these great words?! Watch for more over the next few days, as well as my review of the book and (yay!) an interview with Lev right here on Reading Frenzy!