ODD WORDS (WORDS # 33)

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Source: Pixabay, Public Domain

 

OBLIQUE

Adjective – not expressing something directly / not looking or pointing directly at someone or something

An oblique reference to the war

He was giving her oblique looks

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 OBSOLESCENT

 

Adjective – becoming replaced by something newer and more effective

Electric typewriters are certainly obsolescent, some people have never even seen them!

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 OSSIFY

Verb (intransitive/transitive) – If something ossifies, it becomes fixed and will not change

Some very conservative people that do not take easily to change, are said to have “ossified minds”!

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 OVINE

Adjective – Of, relating to or characteristic of sheep. Sheep like

An ovine animal.  An ovine herd

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MY COMMENTS ON THESE WORDS

These can certainly be described as “odd” words!

“Oblique” is used, but in a very limited number of situations, I think. Politicians will be referred to as having announced views in an “oblique” way.  I don’t really like the feel of this word, it sounds a little less than honest to me. Maybe if you are trying not to hurt someone’s feeling you might speak to them in an “oblique” way. A difficult word to handle!

“Obsolescent” is a useful word, especially at the present time, when innovations last for a couple of weeks and then grow old and may even finally disappear as they are replaced by newer innovations, and so it goes, on and on. Just think of the Internet, and the various web programs and applications!

“Ossify” is easily associated to “bones”. I would rather just say “bones”, but then “ossify” does describe the process through which bones are formed. It becomes a sad word when applied to human behavior, though. Who wants to interact with people who have “ossified minds”? I certainly do not.  

“Ovine” is a rather elegant and formal way of describing… sheep! I would just use “sheep”, but then it could be necessary to be a bit more formal when writing an academic paper, I suppose. 

There is good news for Spanish speakers! The words oblicuo, obsolescente, osificar and ovino all exist, sound similar and mean the same! This should be a help, I think!

So study up your words and get better results on your English graduate entry tests!

I’ll see you on the next post!

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© 2013  joveron  (Joan Robertson)

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