August 4, 2009

Homework of Sorts

MOTLEY

–adjective
1. exhibiting great diversity of elements; heterogeneous: a motley crowd.
2. being of different colors combined; parti-colored: a motley flower border.
3. wearing a parti-colored garment: a motley fool.




–noun
4. a combination of different colors.
5. a parti-colored effect.
6. the parti-colored garment of a jester.
7. a heterogeneous assemblage.
8. a medley.




-synonyms

1. assorted
2. diverse
3. heterogeneous
4. miscellaneous
5. mixed

Motley refers to the traditional costume of the court jester.
The word motley is described in the Oxford English Dictionary as a cognate with medley. The word is most commonly used as an adjective or noun, but is also seen as a verb and adverb. When used as a noun, it can mean "a varied mixture."



Sheesh! I had to do some homework after Emily used this word in the comment section of my last post and I had NO idea what it meant. (Umm, should I even admit that? After all, I DO tell my kids that I KNOW everything. Can't have them finding out that I don't!)

Pish, some people and their big, fancy smancy vocabularies. Makes me have to do homework and use some very rusty, out of shape brain cells. =)

But I laughed. I think its a pretty accurate use of the word, don't you?

Thanks for the workout Emily!

5 super cool people speak:

ldsjaneite said...

Ha ha--and here I was thinking you looked up those words just to show HOW motley your family is. Great pictures!

Sara Lyn said...

Great word! Don't become lexiphanic, though. :)

Serene is my name, not my life! said...

Oh, you did that on purpose!! Time to go look up what "lexiphanic" means....

ldsjaneite said...

No, no--don't join the dark side!!! :-)

Madame Coin said...

Hehe, happy to give your brain a workout anytime!

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