Saturday, April 9, 2011

Hemidemisemiquaver!

I found this word in a wonderful little book called The Lexicon, by William F. Buckley Jr. I skim through it occasionally, looking for new words that I might introduce to my own vocabulary as well as my WIP. Upon doing so, I discovered one very important thing. If there is wine involved, never ever use this word in a sentence. Better yet, just don't use this word in a sentence, period.

If, however, you're feeling geekish (like me most of the time). The word is hemidemisemiquaver, and it means thoughts or frustrations lasting for only passing seconds. It also means a sixty fourth note in music but the word is generally only used by the British. We Americans just call it the sixty fourth note. Go figure. I know you stand enlightened. You're welcome.


Happy Weekend.

4 comments:

  1. Being a classically trained musician (*grin*), oh and English, I know hemidemisemiquavers. I remember learning about them and saying that name over and over and over. Fun word.

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  2. Wow, that's quite a word...good one to have in your arsenal.

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  3. This is an awesome word. I have a father in law who's a music teacher. I wonder if he knows this word? Can't wait to try it on him. Incidentally it's no accident that it also means a frustrating thoughts lasting only seconds. If you have ever seen a page full of 64th notes or tried to play them, there's a bit of frustration involved. But you don't have time to dwell on it before worrying about the next note!

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  4. Nice word, but I don't suppose I'll ever have the chance to use it in a sentence. :D

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