Magnetic or Mesmerizing

I feel exultant today, Sunday, October 7! I attended the Bagel Talk Toastmasters Club this morning at 9:30 AM. I was one of the 3 speakers scheduled for today. The word of the day was "exultant."

My speech was entitled, Franz Anton Mesmer, A Magnetic Personality.

Mesmer was a doctor in France, in the 18th century. He developed his own healing methods, using magnets and iron rods, based on his theory of "Animal Magnetism." He believed that all living things contain an invisible magnetic fluid and any blockage of this fluid would cause disease.

Although he called his method "Animal Magnetism," his followers referred to it as "mesmerism," and coined the word "mesmerize." So I'm puzzled as to whether to call him a Magnetic Personality or a Mesmerizing Personality. Wouldn't it be redundant to say Mesmerizing Mesmer? It makes the origin of the word more apparent, and is more mellifluous than "Magnetic Mesmer." Which do you prefer, magnetic or mesmerizing?

exultant -- jubilant.

magnetic -- attractive.

mesmerizing -- enchanting, entrancing, charismatic.

Festooned

I like to use my pocket dictionary as a reference for these posts, but recently, I discovered that the definition for festoon in my pocket dictionary was different from the one in the grammarian’s dictionary. I prepared for my Toastmaster's meeting last week by looking up the word of the day, festoon.

My dictionary is Funk and Wagnell's Standard Dictionary, so there is no subtitle necessary, but the first page says "Your Perfect Pocket Guide to the English Language."

Inside it there is a definition for the word FESTOON.

As a noun it lists the meaning as, a bunch of flowers.

And as a verb it says to adorn with flowers.

So I put on a flowered dress and went to the meeting, thinking myself appropriately festooned. As Toastmaster for the Day, I even mentioned that I was festooned.

Then the grammarian stood up and gave the definition as to drape or adorn with draperies. I was nonplussed. I felt like I had shown up dishabille instead. I could've worn a drape!

My Peccadillo

So many words, so little time!

I was asked to be the grammarian for my club and come up with an inspiring word. The Toastmaster complimented me on my previous choice of words, so the pressure is on to choose judiciously, without plaigarizing another.

I am the philologue. I can do this. But there are so many choices! I wanted to pick "impeccable." Yet I suspect most members are already famliar with it. So I'm going with a related word, "peccadillo." Now how do I illustrate it?

Peccadillo comes to us from Latin, through Spanish, peccadillo means a little sin in Spanish.

My pocket dictionary says "a slight or trifling sin."

Underneath that is peccant, which means sinful.

And of course, the pecc in impeccable comes from the same root, and means without error, flaw or fault.

Thes words are all related and a point will be given to anyone for using any of these 3 words.

So what is my peccadillo? I love words. It is impossible to choose just one!