Words at Play : 10 Words We'd Like to See Used More Often
Definition:
: beauty or a beautiful thing
Example:
"'Why, ya-es,' observed Kit, looking hesitatingly critical, 'she is certainly an inordinate formosity at least I think I may vaynture to say so.'" Joseph Thomas James Hewlett, Peter Priggins, 1841
About the Word:
Some words, particularly those of the onomatopoeic variety, such as buzz, sound like the thing they describe. Others have come to resemble their definitions, much as certain cats or dogs seem to come to resemble their owners.
And then there are words such as formosity, which is delightfully dissimilar to its meaning. This is a useful word if you want to confuse the person with whom you are speaking. It is also a useful word if you find yourself among those who like to collect beautiful words simply for their own sake.
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