Yay! The first official Wondrous Words Wednesday! This is going to be a tough meme for me – I had to really look for words I didn ‘t know. I guess I’m going to have to be on the lookout. A couple of these are words I was familiar with, but found that I wouldn’t be able to give a good definition if someone called me on it. Hopefully, you’ll learn some new words, too.

1. carrycot – from The Angel Maker by Stefan Brijs: “Victor Hoppe opened the rear door, ducked into the car and re-emerged a few seconds later with a large navy-blue carrycot, from which there arose a terrible wailing.”

A carrycot is box-shaped baby bed with handles (for a baby to sleep in while being carried) .

2. pranging – from The Gone-Away World by Nick Harkaway: “We learn where to avoid pranging your own car in the course of an auto duel.”

Pranging means crashing. A prang is an accident involving a motor vehicle, typically minor and without casualties.

3. obtrude – also from The Gone-Away World: “I have been careful in this context not to obtrude upon his notice.”

Obtrude means to thrust forward or to force oneself or one’s opinions on others. When I first read this, I thought it might be a typo, so I was compelled to check it out.

4. determinist – also from The Gone-Away World: “Old Man Lubitsch’s horrible determinist bee society…”

A determinist believes that all actions are determined by the current state and immutable laws of the universe, with no possibility of choice.

So, were these familiar to you? I feel smarter already!