A Word on the Words

I had the pleasurable experience of learning a new word this week.

In a news report on the health of the heaviest and lightest alcohol consumers, a doctor mentioned the top “decile” and bottom “decile”.

He meant the 10% of Scots who are the heaviest drinkers and the 10% lowest drinkers.

I swiftly looked up “decile” to discover it means: “Each of 10 equal groups into which a population can be divided according to a particular variable”. The “dec”, as in decimal or decimate (decem is Latin for ten), gives it away.

I greatly enjoy learning new words. “Tyro” (a beginner or novice) was another that took my attention recently, as did “griskin”, which is a cut of pork.

Adding these words to my vocabulary, and others like Boliviano (the currency in Bolivia), falcate (curved like a sickle), and telos (an ultimate aim or object) makes me believe – rightly or wrongly – that I am widening my intelligence.

I’m long past the point where I could be described as young, but am a firm believer in the idea that an open-minded person never stops learning no matter how old he or she becomes.

I hope to continue to learn delicious new words for many years.

Do you have a great word that you’ve learned recently? Please share the fruits of your good fortune with me: sfinan@sundaypost.com