One of the best parts about writing the Meddlin’ Madeline series is playing with words that I grew up using and reading, but most people don’t use anymore.  I had parents of a literary turn of mind, so I grew up being told to, “Slow down and enunciate.” This began at age 3. So while other kids were told to “go potty,” I was told to “use the facilities.”  I’ll never forget in second grade telling a classmate, “That’s your prerogative,” when she said, “I don’t like you.”

Add to that the fun slang of the day, not to mention a quirk I’m not giving away, and I can honestly say I had a blast writing this book.  However, I know not everyone is fond of sesquipedalian words or erudite language.  😉  So, with that in mind, I decided to write this glossary of words you will find in the book.  Please note: definitions are mine and written with my tongue super-glued to the inside of my cheek.  If this works as I hope it will, a Depends or two might be in order. You’ve been warned.  (note: links are affiliate links and provide me a small commission at no extra expense to you!)

Madeline’s Glossary

Diffidence: noun

1. Pretending to be reserved in an attempt to hide the truth. Desperate. A misguided notion that pretending not to notice someone will create interest.

Vicissitude: noun

1.  The quality of never being able to make up your mind. A woman.

Multi-eloquent: adjective

1.  The misguided notion that one must be like Nellie Olson in These Happy Golden Years and allow one’s tongue to go “flippity-flop.”  Example: Gossips are often multi-eloquent.

Jitney: noun

1.  Slang for a nickel.  Also, a horse-drawn “cab.” Because it has fewer syll–nope.  Not that.  Because people like to confuse one another in speech.  “Hey, do you have a jitney?”  Gee… let’s see.  I’ve got a nickel, but I left my horse and carriage in my other pants at home…

Copacetic: adjective

1. Doesn’t matter, because I had to remove it from the book. I didn’t read the entire dictionary entry when I chose the word, and only saw 1880 mentioned.  Alas, the first known use is 1919.  Eighteen years after this book takes place.  I consider the coiner to be tardy, and would appreciate that in the future, words be coined by the dates I need.  Thank you.  (Do you see the amount of research I have to do.  I have to check if words were even IN USE before I use them.  And I still almost flubbed it.)

Recalcitrant: adjective

1.  Madeline… wait.  That’s not quite right.  But close enough. Okay.  Madeline Brown when she has a bee in her bowler. Resisting authority or convention.

Dialogue de sourds: noun (French)

1.  Literally: a worthless conversation where both parties speak to a glass wall, hearing only themselves.  Example: political conversations, theological conversations, ideological conversations, Facebook wall “discussions,” and arguments with toddlers.

Asinine: adjective

1.  Ridiculous or silly–like the assertion that someone saying the word is using foul language.

Penurious: adjective

1.  Marked by an inability to part with money. A lickpenny.  (see how I did that?  😉 )

Scintillating: adjective

1.  A word meaning amusing or extremely interesting that lends itself more to sarcasm than plain speaking.

Hawkshaw: noun

1.  A nosy person who gets away with it under the guise of “helping.”  Sometimes known as a detective.

Fustian: noun

1.  Um… yeah.  This glossary.  Madeline does lend herself to the fustian.

There you go.  It’s just a taste of what’s ahead. Happy reading!  Feel free to stop by for the “official” definitions of the words Madeline uses in her story.  Or not. And yeah.  That Depends?  Don’t think you’ll need it. It was amusing, but not a detriment to the bladder.  Drat.