Monthly Archives: April 2020

Vinaceous (adjective)

Definition

  1. of the color of red wine.

(Ref: Merriam-Webster Online, Word of the day, 15 February 2020)

Use it in a sentence

She laughed at first, to see the blood, her blood, seeping from the great gash on her knee. The pain hadn’t hit her yet. The car had, but not the pain. Her bike lay free of her, the pedals still. “It’s quite vinaceous”, she said to a stranger who had seen the whole thing and pulled over to see if she was ok.  

He looked at her blankly and a little alarmed. Had she, perhaps, hit her head as well?

“What?”

“Vinecous. You know, deep red wine-coloured. The blood. Vinaceous.”

He shook his head impatiently, frowning a little as he stood up and dug his hands in his pants pocket. “I’ve got a clean tissue here, but … I don’t want to … I mean, I think you should do it yourself.” He stooped a little to hand her the tissue and then watched as she pressed the tissue first gingerly and then with some pressure. Was that bone? She saw the stranger’s alarmed face, saw him reach for his phone, as the world gently tipped to one side in a whirl of patterns. Then she passed out.

Gustatory (adjective)

Definition

  1. relating to or associated with eating or the sense of taste.

(Ref: Merriam-Webster Online, Word of the day, 13 February 2020)

Use it in a sentence

He prepared dinner in the order in which it would be eaten. He first layered see-through waifs of prosciutto gently over halved figs, finishing with a drizzle of balsamic glaze. He nudged some crusty olive bread, still warm from the oven, towards the centre of the dish, but really it needed nothing else. Then the spaghetti. He couldn’t cook that until she arrived, but the plump cherry tomatoes and fragrant basil were ready to go. Just a few slices of garlic, a dash of salt and some good oil, and the sauce would be ready in no time. Finally, he spent a good deal of time creating a rich chocolate mousse with salted caramel sauce, candied walnuts and just a couple of raspberries for a touch of colour.

Nigel was extraordinarily pleased with his gustatory preparations. He smiled broadly, fussing with the table settings, humming quietly. She would probably guess right away – they never sat down to a three-course meal. Candlelight, flowers. All the clichés. He smirked as he flipped open the jewellery box one more time. The diamond ring glinted at him. She would forgive him the clichés.

And all the other crimes he’d committed. She had to.

He caught his breath as the doorbell rang. He paused, smoothed his hair down and pocketed the jewellery box, before he went to the door.

Fusty (adjective)

Definition

  1. British : impaired by age or dampness: moldy
  2. saturated with dust and stale odors: musty
  3. rigidly old-fashioned or reactionary

(Ref: Merriam-Webster online, Word of the Day, 20 March 2020)

Use it in a sentence

She knew the rehab staff referred to her as that fusty little old lady, set in her ways. But Hilary couldn’t help it – all she wanted was her own settee and a nice cup of tea. She just knew that a lovely hot drink and perhaps a nice scone with jam would do the trick, not all this nonsense with sleeping pills and physiotherapy. If it wasn’t for her broken collar bone, she’d already be at home watching The Price is Right before an early dinner of boiled eggs with toast. Back in her day, someone would’ve thrown her arm in a sling and told her she’ll be right in a few weeks. But now someone was always poking and prodding her, forcing her to lift her arm this way and that, and squeeze a stupid ball, shouting in her face as though she was deaf. Nothing wrong with Hilary’s hearing. She sighed and rubbed her neck. What she wouldn’t do for bit of peace and quiet.