Wondrous Words Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Kathy at BermudaOnion's Weblog where we share new or unfamiliar words encountered in our reading. If you've come across some interesting words this week, feel free to join in the fun.
My words are all from The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes, and definitions come from dictionary.com.
susurrus: a soft murmuring or rustling sound; whisper.
Over a susurrus of awed mutterings, he told us that Robson had been cut down in the flower of youth, that his demise was a loss to the whole school, and that we would all be symbolically present at the funeral. (p.13-14)
nonpareil: having no equal; peerless.
(it's always meant small sugar pellets used for decorating cookies, etc. to me - definition number 3)
Also between Veronica and Brother Jack, whose life and deportment she clearly regarded as nonpareil: he was the appointed judge when she asked publicly of me - and the question gets more condescending with each repetition - "He'll do, won't he?" (p.47)
solipsistic: of or characterized by solipsism, or the theory that only the self exists, or can be proved to exist.
My first reaction was, I admit, solipsistic. (p. 150)
