Words, words, words

As you have probably assumed, today's Writer's Block is all about words. It probably won't be the last post about words, as I have a deep affection for words, and most of the Writer's Blocks are based on writing exercise. I have two today that I would like to share.

First, find five words you did not know the definition of, them use them to write a few paragraphs.

The words*

lassitude-weariness of mind/body; a condition of indifference.

indolent-having a disposition to be lazy; causing little pain/benign.

adust-scorched/burned

biblioclast-someone who destroys books.

gelid-very cold

The paragraph

 Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury is the story of a certain biblioclast named Guy Montage who must face what destroying books really means. At first he views what he does as most of his profession, as a favor to the world. But when he meets a young girl, Clarisse McClellan, he begins to realize that in truth the way he has been living is marked with lassitude. At first indolent, but soon growing to a dangerous proportion, Montages feelings of revulsion and disgust at what he does grows. Much like the he has burned laying in scorched heaps, he feels his living in a word adust, marked by burned out lives. As things come to a head, Montage must leave his home, and step out in an abandoned world that at first feels gelid to him, empty, and without hope. But as he finds some unexpected companions, he realizes that is the very place hopes lies.

*All definitions are paraphrases with Webster's New Universal Unabridged Dictionary from 2006 being the original source.

Second, make up definitions for five words you did not previously know the meaning of.

kibitz-the child version of a monkey. 

The kibitz would often play rough with the others around his age.

nabe-a foolish and often mean person.

The bully was quite the nabe.

perdition-being a person/object that fills a prophecy.

In the fifth book, Percy Jackson realized it was in truth Luke who was the perdition to Delphine's prophecy.

regrate-a piece of art that only became famous after the artist has died.

As sad as it is to say, most of Van Gogh works ended up regrates.

sumac-a move in karate

John surprised his attacker by taking him down with a powerful sumac.