Wondrous Words Wednesday
Wondrous Words Wednesday is hosted by Bermudaonion’s Weblog. Kathy says: “Wondrous Words Wednesday is a weekly meme where we share new (to us) words that we’ve encountered in our reading.”
My word this week is from American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America by Colin Woodard in a passage about the late 1600s when the English crown was trying to establish control over the independent-minded and strait-laced Puritans.
Anglicans and suspected Catholics were appointed to top government and militia positions, backed by uncouth royal troops who witnesses said “began to teach New England to drab, drink, blasphemy, curse and damn.”
I know drab as an adjective meaning dull, but not as a verb. According to my Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary, there’s a noun form, too. A drab is a slattern or harlot, so the verb to drab means “to associate with prostitutes.” It’s easy to see why the Puritans might have a problem with that.
I have never heard of this definition before. How funny that it is practically the exact opposite of what we think when we hear drab.
Count me puritanical but I didn’t know that either. I’ll bet there is something interesting in the connection between the two meanings.
Love it! I absolutely love it when I find a new meaning for a common word. (Last week, I talked about a “crocodile of children”.)
My words are here.
That is so neat!
Wow, I knew the adjective form of the word, of course, but never knew the verb – they are very different meanings!!
Interesting! I enjoy learning about words that may be used as different parts of speech.
That usage is quite astonishing! I’d never heard of it either. Even the word slattern is a great word.
I love Wondrous Words Wednesday! This meme is new to me, and I’m loving it
Pingback:It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? | Joy's Book Blog