prolix
Prolix, an adjective, means verbose, wordy, diffuse and redundantly executed language.
I chose it today because it looks interesting. Honestly, it has an x in it... so that automatically means it's on Jillian's list. And... we're all guilty of prolixity from time to time... but I believe it is our license as writers to be as prolix as possible in our first drafts to see where the surfeit of words is actually aiming us.
Oxford Dictionaries indicates that it is late Middle English (which of course means it has roots in Old French) and has a connection to the Latin word proxilus meaning "poured forth and extended," a combination of the words "pro-" (outward) and "liquere" (to be liquid). Words as liquid, spilling out across table, into a conversation, making a mess even if the color of that liquid happens to be pretty. The wasted words must be sponged up. The difference between actual liquid and words is that the words are reusable and will definitely return.
No comments:
Post a Comment