APPENDIX:

WISE AND WONDERFUL WORDS

Agenda

What grown-ups do when they have meetings because otherwise they’d forget what they’re talking about and just argue about silly stuff the whole time. It’s a list of the topics to discuss in the meeting.

Advisement

Under advisement is just a fancy way of saying that you will go and get advice from others on this. Business people talk in language like this all the time.

Anonymous

When nobody knows who is responsible.

Arduous

Something that is difficult to achieve, like the top level on Halo 2.

Brusquely

Look it up in the dictionary. It’ll be good practice.

Circumspect

This means to be cautious, but it’s a bit stronger than that, it’s like you’ve taken every possibility into account before doing anything.

Clinical

This is the best word I could think of to describe my great mate Ben. I used it in the sense of precise, exact and unemotional.

Conspicuously

The word means clearly visible or attracting notice.

Derision

Another word would be ridicule.

Disembowel

To have all your innards and guts and stuff ripped out, like in those cool stories about knights and ancient warriors.

Emphatically

To use great emphasis in the way you speak, or move, or the words you say.

Enormity

Enormity has lots of meanings. I used it to mean something that was totally outrageous.

Ensconce

For example to tuck away somewhere, nice and safe and snug.

Excruciation

Great torment, or in other words, not a lot of fun!

Futile

Totally useless. Like my sister April.

Humility

The dictionary says humbleness. I used this word to show that Ben did not seek fame or fortune for doing something that he thought was simply the right thing to do.

Impervious

Sort of tough, and not affected by stuff around it. I wish I was impervious.

Inconceivable.

Something so far beyond reason and understanding that your mind cannot even grasp it. Like the infinite size of the universe. Or the size of an atom.

Indomitable

What a great word. Strong, unyielding, stubbornly persistent. I wish I was that, too.

Malevolent

This is a wonderful word to say out loud, just feel the way your mouth moves when you say it, mal-ev-o-lent. It means really, really evil, and wanting to do bad stuff.

Malignant

Why are all the evil words so much fun to say? Mal-ig-nant. Try it. Slowly. If you’re talking about a disease it means something that spreads quickly or is infectious. But I used it to mean nasty, or harmful.

Minutiae

All the fine details, ins and outs, ups and downs etc.

Noisome

I used this word deliberately, knowing that Blocker wouldn’t understand what it meant. It means harmful, noxious, evil-smelling, objectionable or offensive. Use this word as often as you can!

Pedantic

Just to be a little fusspot about stuff and insist on everything being perfect. You know people like that. Teachers mainly.

Persecution

To ill-treat. I guess Old Sea Salt didn’t really persecute kids, but it felt like it to me sometimes.

Perversely

Different from what is reasonable. I really mean that I liked Frau Blüchner as a teacher, when nobody in their right minds would. But I already explained my reasons for that.

Profile

When you’re talking about actors, their profile is their livelihood. It means how well known they are. Wearing a mask did not help Dad’s profile one bit. Even the producer of the show hardly recognised him later!

Succinct

Pronounce this one as suck-sinked. Short and to the point.

Testament

When someone said good stuff about you it was a testament to you that …

Tirade

Fancy word for someone going on and on at you about stuff.

Uncommonly

Means remarkably. Just a different way of saying it so it doesn’t get boring.

Viable

Spanish word for the devil. No just kidding, that’s Diablo. Viable means doable. It’s kind of the opposite of impossible.