Today is the Peter Mark Roget’s birthday; he was the British lexicographer and physician who penned the Roget’s Thesaurus. To commemorate the occasion, the random holidays thinker-uppers deemed January 18th “Thesaurus Day.” And since I cannot resist a dorky, word-related holiday, I’m celebrating too.
I’ve owned many books over the years, but I vividly recall my paperback thesaurus. It was thick and dog-eared, and stayed with me through college, until the internet rendered it unnecessary.
Fun Facts for Thesaurus Day
1. I learned the word plethora from my thesaurus, and it has been my favorite word ever since. If I were a word, I would be plethora.
Merriam-Webster cites the definition of plethora as “a bodily condition characterized by an excess of blood and marked by turgescence and a florid complexion.”
That’s gross. I don’t even know what turgescence means but it sounds disgusting.
M.W. also cites the more commonly used definition: “a very large amount or number : an amount that is much greater than what is necessary.”
2. Roget’s Thesaurus was first published 165 years ago, in 1852. That is also the year Daniel Webster died, which would be meaningful if you didn’t know your Websters and thought Daniel invented the dictionary. Alas, that was Noah Webster’s claim to fame. Daniel Webster was an American statesman whose mug adorned fourteen different postage stamps.
3. Roget’s Thesaurus has never been out of print. Currently, there are 55 versions available on Amazon. Webster’s Thesaurus is ranked higher, though, and it is less expensive.
4. The plural of thesaurus is thesauri. Seriously.
5. Roget was a meticulous list maker, and his thesaurus was a cumulation of this interest. (source)
Bigger isn’t always better
Using a thesaurus is easy; using it successfully is a bit more difficult. The writer cannot simply substitute small words for big words, particularly if those big words are clearly not part of the writer’s usual vocabulary.
When I was a college admissions counselor, I read a plethora of application essays. While the essay should be a strong writing sample, it should also sound as if the student actually wrote it.
Example: Throughout my high school career, I have been involved in numerous activities. The most meaningful experience for me, however, was being a part of the Student Government.
That’s a perfectly fine sentence. The following sentence is overkill and clearly the result of excessive thesaurus use:
Throughout my high school pilgrimage, I have been connected to copious activities. The most consequential experience for me, however, was being a sector of the pupil politics.
Surprise Assessment!
(That’s “pop quiz” in thesaurized speak.)
Just because you can substitute words doesn’t mean you should, as I will now demonstrate.
In 2014, The Hub celebrated Thesaurus Day by swapping words in popular YA book titles, and I’m going to play a similar game with you. Can you decipher the real titles of these books? Let me know how you do, but don’t share your answers so others can play!
Absent with the Breeze
Cherished
Unseen Guy
The Brightest Star Ascends Too
The Commander of the Hoops
Ego and Bigotry
Diminutive Ladies
Disjointed Accord
Vitality of Pastry
She’s Bifurcated
UPDATE: The answers can be found HERE.
LOooove the Thesaurus!
Before the computer, I used it ALL THE TIME.
on the other hand, I despise forced sentences! xx
That’s a fine line to walk, isn’t it?
You crack me up. I love you. I learned more reading this than i did in my library skills class in high school!
Yay! My work here is done.
And I love you too. xoxo
So interesting! For some reason The Brightest Star Ascends Too doesn’t quite work as well as The Sun Also Rises, ha ha.
Very true!
That was fun! This post was right up my side street (the least dirty-sounding synonym for alley!).
Ha – yeah, you could have gone to some dark places with that one.
Your assessment at the end is phenomenal!
Why, thank you, Bev. 😉
Thesauri! I love that Roget’s Thesaurus has never been out of print. May it never!
I’m doing the titles challenge, but I won’t post answers yet!
Just posted the answers on today’s post!
As another word geek, I love this! Let’s see:
spoiler – The rest have me stumped an dI’m running short on time!
I deleted your answers in case anyone doesn’t want to see, Lisa, but you got those right!
Agh! I was in a rush & didn’t event think about spoilers!! Sorry!
I cherish “plenty” and once even composed a blog entry about it! I regularly utilize online thesauri yet you’ve enlivened me to uncover Roget’s form. I didn’t work out quite as well as Kelly – I think I got 5 of the titles right. I’ll foresee seeing the right replies.
Stay tuned!
I had a paperback thesaurus that I wore out. Someone vandalized the front to read “the sour ass.” I swear it wasn’t me!
Yeah, right! 😉
Ha! This is awesome. I love that you posted about Thesaurus day. I still have my paperback version. I guess I should give it away but it’s so fabulous, you know? Had to laugh at the college admission sentence thesaurusized and the movie titles. I have no idea what that last one is. She’s split in two? She’s divided??? Bifurcated might be my new favorite word. It sounds dirty. (I had to look it up)
Very close…it’s a more recent book, and bifurcated is a stretch, but it made me laugh.
You know this post is right up my alley!! Love every word in it, especially “plethora”, which I, too, learned in high school and have loved to use since.
The “surprise assessment” has been great fun. I’m stuck on just a few… You’ll share the answers at some point? 😉
I channeled my Julia for this post! I will share the answers, but feel free to email me if you can’t wait.
I love the word “plethora” and once even wrote a blog post about it! I often use online thesauri but you’ve inspired me to dig out Roget’s version. I didn’t do as well as Kelly – I think I got 5 of the titles right. I’ll anticipate seeing the correct answers. (I almost said, “I’m anxious to see the answers.” Ooops!)
Haha! I think we need a Plethora Lover club 🙂
Gotta say I was quite alarmed when I read the first definition of plethora. Thought of the plethora of times I’d used it “incorrectly.” As for your list, I think I got six. Please provide the answers in the next post!
Will do!
Ha. I’m a word nerd. I think I got them all 🙂
Well done!
What a fun post and I seriously still have my very first Thesaurus from my grammar school days, which was paperback and yellow. God, how like you I loved to dog-ear pages for certain words. You totally brought me back and than some!! 🙂
I don’t have mine anymore, but I do have my dictionary from high school. I wonder how many words have been invented since then?
This makes me laugh: I love “plethora” and try to use it often.
Another favorite? “Cumbersome”.
Pet peeve? It makes me cringe when people use “anxious” incorrectly. “I am anxious for the party.” No! Anxious means nervous, not excited.
So true! Unless the person speaking has social phobia, and the party actually does make them anxious. 😉
Love cumbersome – I’m going to try to use that the next time I see you.