Word: pulchritude
Pronunciation: PƏL-krə-t(y)ood
Part of Speech: noun
Definition: (poetic/literary) beauty
Source: Oxford Dictionaries
I stumbled upon this word while looking through some old vocabulary flashcards, and I distinctly remember the first thought that came to mind when I read it: What an ugly word. It didn’t just look ugly; it sounded ugly. In fact, as soon as I saw it, I assumed it meant something along the lines of “disgust” or “repulsion”. To my surprise, the other side of the card proved me very wrong: “beauty”. “Beauty”? Seriously? How could such an ugly word have such a lovely definition? It was strange, to say the least. But then again, who am I to judge the quirks of language?
“Pulchritude” is a poetic and literary term meaning “beauty”. The word comes from the Latin noun pulchritudo, which also means “beauty”. This, in turn, stems from the adjective pulcher, meaning “beautiful” or “handsome”. “Pulchritude” dates back to Middle English, possibly explaining its poetic uses.
The word “pulchritude” is certainly interesting, I’ll give it that. Having said that, I highly doubt you’ll ever see me use it in my writing. I just can’t get past that harsh tone; there are definitely much softer words I’d prefer to use as synonyms for “beauty”. That’s not to say you shouldn’t use it, of course. If you like unusual poetic words, then by all means, write about the “pulchritude” of a woman in her prime or a cherry tree in spring. If you can appreciate the literary history behind this word, I’m sure you’ll be able to use it well. Have fun!
What are your thoughts on this word? Any suggestions for future “Word of the Week” featured words?
I think this is the worst case of mismatched word and definition. 😀
I agree. They don’t go together at all! 😛
And the race is on!! I can’t wait to tell Inion about this word. She’s so funny, as soon as she finds a new word, she’ll wait & wait until she finds the perfect place to use it. lol This one I have to say, J.C, was news to me. So you’ve taught this old dog a new trick. Or perhaps a bone to hide. LOL Yes, I like you, don’t think I’ll be using {pul..ch-ri…t.***ude..- yikes} did I spell it right?! Oh yeah, I’m definitely steering clear of this baby!
But I’ll give you a heads up when Inion finds a home for it. (Lol) See, this is why I like to take my time, & spend one night at your blog & read, read, read! I always leave with a smile on my face, & something new to share with the world. Great post & great word J.C.
Haha, yes, I do find this to be a rather ugly word! I’m sure Inion could get creative with it, though! I look forward to seeing how she works it into a story! Thanks for reading! 😀
It does indeed sound a bit ugly it kind of spews form the mouth as you’re tongue is forced. However it is nice to be introduced to a new word. I could use it when describing a glistening fish I had just caught in my net.
My thoughts exactly! It’s a bit “choppy” for my taste, but it’s still fun to learn new words. That sounds like an interesting use for it. Good luck! Thanks for reading! 🙂