QUIRKY WORDS (WORDS # 41)

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A LOVELY GROUP OF FLOWERS FOR MY READERS!

These are Tagetes.

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Source: 4028mdk09 CC BY SA 3.0. Wikimedia Commons 

WORDS.

Another interesting list of English words!

QUANDARY

Noun, usually used as a phrase: to be in a quandary – To be uncertain of the decision to take about something

The parents were in a quandary over changing their child’s school.

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QUAY

Noun, countable – A hard surface next to a sea or river, where boats can tie up.

The children went down to the quay to meet the fishing boat

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 QUERULOUS

 

Adjective, mostly literary – A querulous person complains often and in a way that annoys other people.

She was a very querulous old lady.

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QUIXOTIC

Adjective – Ideas or plans that are quixotic are not practical and usually do not succeed.

My uncle is very quixotic, and I love him just as he is.

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MY COMMENTS ON THESE WORDS.

I think these words are really “quirky”!”  Some of them are used under special circumstances.

“Quandary” is not often used nowadays; at least, I haven’t heard it or seen for along time. I think modern speakers would use another expression, such as “I don’t know what to do about…”

I think I would probably find this word in fiction writing, but I don’t really know if this is so at this date.

“Quay” is a much used word for activities that are related to ships, boats, seas, rivers and so on. It’s a strange word and it doesn’t appear to be used so much in the United States, where the term ”wharf” is preferred. The origin of “quay” is thought to be French, which in turn derived the word from the Celtic language. From there it was transferred to Britain. 

“Querulous” is another word that I have not seen used except perhaps in fiction. I think in normal life we would say that the person is always complaining or whining about something. However it is a very descriptive word, the expression “querulous old lady” brings the character to life immediately.

And finally on this list we have the term “quixotic”. Now this one is easy for Spanish speakers, because of the literary association with the famous knight who fought with the windmills! He was Don Quijote!

Nowadays a person or a gesture is termed to be “quixotic” when they are related to idealistic ventures that are as “impossible” as the windmill fighting was. It is, however a very descriptive word: when it is used, the meaning becomes immediately clear. 

The bad news for Spanish speakers is that the only expression that they can relate to, is the last one: “quixotic”. 

The other three have no similar sounding word in the Spanish language

So there you have them: four more words taken from the lists that are recommended for the graduate entry tests, such as GRE, GMAT, IELTS, TOEFL and so on. 

This post aims to help you improve your scores on these tests, so do practice using these words, and I’ll see you on the next post!

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 A FAREWELL FLOWER FOR MY READERS! ENJOY!

A solitary Tagetes!

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Source: Algiridas, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons

© 2013  joveron (Joan Robertson)

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