September 2006

Notable and Quotable

Critic and writer Dorothy Parker was born August 22, 1893. Her biting wit is well-known, but did you know her words also illustrate seven entries in the Unabridged Dictionary?

It's easy to check on writers whose words are quoted in the dictionary. First, choose your reference, then click on Advanced Search. Type the last name of the author in the Authors Quoted field, and click on Search.

coquet verb
"she coquetted with the solid husbands of her friends"

downturn noun
"the downturn of her mouth became a habit"

lorn adjective
"never vaunted her lorn condition"

snotty adjective
"you were so snotty when I called you up, I was afraid to talk you"

syncopated adjective
"cleared his throat . . . producing a small, syncopated noise"

tinkle verb
"skipping and tinkling through all the social events of the town"

tumble noun
"you wouldn't even give me a tumble"


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