More Word Love

Welcome back. Falling in love with words is like falling in love with marble figurines. Basically, it is a narcissistic experience. Still I can't resist. Continuing on from last month, here are a few more words that have managed to worm their way into my heart.

Clutch: Of course as a noun it is a woman’s purse or part of an automobile, but I love it as a verb because one cannot clutch anything without there being passion or strong emotions involved in the holding of that thing, whatever it is.

Clenched: Whether it is a fist or teeth that are clenched, emotions run deep with this verb, which is also why I love it.

Downcast: In this iPhone age, we have all forgotten that we needn’t always write, ''He walked looking down.'' If we choose, we can write, ''He walked with downcast eyes,'' thereby causing the style of our writing to look up.

Harsh: Whether we are speaking of a harsh winter or harsh penalty calls in a sport, this admittedly old-fashioned and somewhat under-used word provides a wonderful alternative to old standbys such as punishing, strict, draconian, or unfair.

Seldom: Today this word is seldom used yet it exudes dignity, honor and a sense of importance. What a colorful alternative to ''rarely'' and ''infrequently.''

Slender: I put it to you, dear reader: Would you rather have a slender figure, a thin figure, a slim figure, or an emaciated figure? I rest my case. Yet today the word ''slender'' is rarely used. You can make your writing distinctive by calling upon it every once in a while.

Winnow: To drive or blow (chaff, dirt) away by fanning; to blow upon, fan; to separate. Note: the word parse that we covered last month also means to separate out, but applies to analyzing a sentence by its grammatical parts of speech.

Ephemera: The plural of ephemeron, which refers to anything that is short-lived or ephemeral.

Specious: Pleasing to the eye on the surface, but lacking genuine merit. Plausible. Usually used in reference to ideas or thinking.

Comely: Pleasing in appearance, attractive, fair. Usually used in reference to people, e.g., A comely maid.

Abhorrent: Detestable or loathsome.

Odious: Deserving hatred, detestable.

Sophistic: Fallacious, logically unsound.

Cohort: A companion or associate.