I pity anyone who didn't grow up in an English speaking household, trying to learn the language later in life. I thought I knew how to pronounce the word Augean, but due diligence demanded, before I wrote a verse incorporating it, I should check. Imagine my surprise when the first four sources I checked pronounced it four different ways! These were as follows:

or-JEE-an (my initial assumption)
OR-jee-an
or-JEAN
or-JAIN

My confidence rattled, I was then inclined to check my spelling of "darndest" - which is just as well, as it would appear although both are acceptable, "darnedest" is the more common spelling. And, of course, both are just informal representations of "damnedest".

Conclusion? The English language is a cesspit of misappropriated and mispronounced bits of other languages, which makes today's word entirely appropriate.

Today's word: Augean (n.) horrendously filthy.

My much-treasured Christmas present for 2017 is a book by Paul Anthony Jones: "The cabinet of linguistic curiosities". Each page contains a descriptive story about some obscure or archaic word. It occurred to me it would be a fun exercise to try and write, each day, a poem featuring the "word of the day" from the book.

Thanks for reading.

P.S. If someone complains about slant rhymes or the rhyme being off, I think I just might go postal :-)

You need to login or register to write reviews. It's quick! We only ask four questions to new members.