OT- The Abecedarian

Apr 04, 2008 10 Replies
J

An off topic post from a few weeks ago made me think of a book I had when I was a child. It was an alphabet book that didn't go the 'a is for apple' route and instead skipped straight to 'a is for antediluvian.' At the time, I couldn't even remember what n was for, much less the correct spelling of the book's title.


Now, with the wonders of the Internet, I've tracked down the book, bought a copy and can supply a list of words.


antediluvian bioluminescent cacophony characteristic diagnostician encyclopedia flamboyancy gerrymander heliotropism innovation journeyman knowledgeable lunarian malapropism mnemonics nostalgia onomatopoeia pusillanimous philanthropy pneumatotherapy quintessence ruminate sesquipedalian transcendentalism umbrageous valedictorian wamderlust xenophobia yachtsmanship zoological


There's a short essay on the etymology of each word.


I'm sure my guild wouldn't go for it, but I'm tempted to make this the show challenge for next year. Each member would be given a word for inspiration for a quilt. The quilts would be displayed together.


--Lia



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P

That's great, Lia. Thanks for printing them out. (Two for a couple? - interesting). Perhaps 'pusillanimous' quilt would turn out to be a square of plain grey fabric! Boy, some would be difficult - how on earth could onomatopoeia be represented visually? Phew! . In message , Julia Altshuler writes

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J

I hadn't thought of it until you asked, but what if you did a quilt with different size bells on it, depicted as moving, some large ones at the top and more and more crowded small ones at the bottom. "How they tinkle, tinkle, tinkle, / In the icy air of night ... To the tintinnabulation that so musically wells / From the bells, bells, bells, bells, / Bells, bells, bells - / From the jingling and the tinkling of the bells."

But you're right. It's a great project for someone, but I don't think there are 30 in my guild who would be interested.

--Lia

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M

Way cool! But why are there three words for P?

I do love ABC books. My two favorites are "Aardvarks, Disembark!" In which a whole host of oddly named animals exit the ark. Kinkajous, fennecs, taigas, and the like. Another features an animal skull for each letter of the alphabet, and the reader has to guess from the shape and written clues what the critter is. For some reason, that one also has tiny little portraits of presidents doodled into the drawings.

Monique in TX

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J

No explanation is given. It's just 'P is for pusillanimous' and 'Ph is for philanthropy.' Works for me.

I just checked Amazon for _Aardvarks, Disembark_. That does look like fun. --Lia

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I

That sounds like a fun book to have. My DD and her husband are high school English teachers. I'd like the book's title and info on where you found it, please.

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S

What a great idea! I just wouldn't want to be the person given gerrymander or pusillanimous. ;)

Sunny

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B

If any one of us could do it, it'd be you Pat! You are probably a whiz at words as well as mathematical theories

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J

_The Abecedarian Book_. Ferguson, Charles W. Boston: Little, Brown, 1964.

It has been out of print for some time, so your best bets for finding it are to try google, ebay, amazon, or alibris.

--Lia

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P

That wouldn't be a challenge would it, Bronnie? >g

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