Pulchritudinous

I couldn't pronounce it let alone understand what it actually meant.
But there it was in black and white
On the blog written by a gay man, I was actually described as Pulchritudinous.
At first I presumed it was a side swipe at my chunky bear outline or even a reference to my overly scabby knees or ruddy outdoor complexion but no, it was , in fact,  a positive remark
I was actually described in a positive if not exaggerated light
But, I was pleased.
And rather flattered.

63 comments:

  1. Clearly a discerning man of impecable taste x

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  2. Come on then. What does it mean?

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    1. Flutters eyelashes........

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    2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfXuBylYuBg

      You forced me to look up this, and I I feel a little sick...

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    3. How VERY dare you! I will have you know my arse won best bum in Prestatyn high school sixth form 1979

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    4. Anonymous11:08 am

      ....Callipygous

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    5. Isn't that in the Indian Ocean ?

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  3. Who said it? I'd like to read such a wonderful description of you! (No I didn't know what it meant either, had to google it).

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  4. Thank Google we agree, you are pulchritudinous.

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  5. Do you remember the game played at school sometimes when you tried to get as many smaller words out of one big one? Our class swot would always suggest 'Constantinople' and she would always win because she knew the list off by heart. I want to go back in time and wipe her smug face with 'pulchritudinous'. xx

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    1. I would too much I can't pronounce it

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  6. It certainly doesn't sound good........too close to putrid! so I'll take your word for it actually being flattering and go and look it up

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  7. google is my friend...and google and I agree!

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  8. It's something I'd guess that few of us have ever been called (and no, I don't need to look it up - nah, nah na-NAH nah!) I wonder if said blogger was referring to your inner or your external, visible being. I'd be content with either.

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  9. When in the 6th grade we all had to vote... for the most athletic .. etc... you get the idea... One category was the most enthusiastic... I won that one...only because at the time no one knew what it meant... I didn't and i was an avid reader.. lol If it puts you in a positve light then i'm all for it... now i'll go look it up...uuughh... its too early in the morning for this.. Hugs! deb

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    1. I got Best Sportsmanship. Small school, on every team, not very good.

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  10. You are also erubescent.

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  11. I googled Pulchritudinous . . .
    Couldn’t pronounce it . . . still can’t . . .
    I agree . . .

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  12. Good...You deserve a compliment...

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  13. I think he's a little in love with you, John - just like many of your readers. What a lovely compliment and thoroughly deserved, may I say.

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  14. What a fun little read, with a big word. Wear it proudly !

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  15. Anonymous11:05 am

    I has been edjicated. I thought it was a comment about your rather gross blog posts, but there you go, someone loves you, but don't fall in love with someone who uses big words and is probably very well educated. Ok, not love. At this point it must only be lust on his part.

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  16. never heard of that word had to look it up. Very nice of that person to say that about you!

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  17. MaggieB11:21 am

    I googled it; lovely compliment. I see your blog showed up on later pages, but your Flatterer’s didn’t appear to. I wonder why. How else are we going to learn who it is. Are you going to let us in, on this mystery?

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  18. It sounds bad, but it's beautiful!

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  19. That blogger was right. Your speaking voice and looks make you altogether breathtaking. -Mary

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  20. "pulchritudinous. Even though it looks (and sounds) like it would describe a disease or a bad attitude, pulchritudinous actually describes a person of breathtaking, heartbreaking...beauty. Let's be honest: Your opportunities for using this word in casual conversation are probably pretty slim." I wish someone would call ME that!

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  21. I had to look it up. How wonderful and a great word for Scrabble !

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  22. Anonymous12:10 pm

    Was it on your own blog?

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  23. I remember the word from our spelling tests in school (age 11 - my teacher believed in challenging us!), but I didn't know what it meant. Congratulations!

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  24. Savour the compliment! And thanks for teaching me a new word!

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    1. I'm having a t shirt made with it on the front

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  25. pulchritudinous [puhl-kri-tood-n-uh s, -tyood-]

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  26. I had to look it up. I thought it meant something with a bad smell!

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  27. Isn't it said by a man who's only fond of linguistics? ;-)
    Just kidding, true or false, I would have been flattered too.

    https://ruraltownliving.blogspot.com/

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  28. Just a fancy word for plump! Glad to know you're not one of the over-sensitive lot who find any word remotely suggesting excess weight to be offensive.

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    1. I think it means beautiful, Nick. Comes from the Latin, don’tcha know. (All that money my parents spent on my private ejucashun has just become worth it!!)

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    2. Plump! How VERY dare you

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    3. Ooh I stand corrected. So I've been getting that word wrong for my entire life! But I must say, it doesn't sound anything like a synonym for beautiful.

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  29. I read that blog! I could pronounce it but I didn't know what it meant. I wandered off and totally forgot about it. I would like to thank Kate for defining it here. Thank you, Kate! I am way too lazy too google sometimes. Boy, that sounds kind of naughty.

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  30. Of course I had to go straight to Google to look it up. He's quite right though isn't he?
    Briony
    x

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  31. My dictionary says breathtaking, heartbreaking beauty. Nothing plump about it.

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  32. Well he is quite right John isn't he - one of your major strengths is your beauty both inside and out. You are one of nature's lovely men and don't you ever forget it. The dogs will all endorse it for a start.

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  33. Barbara Anne3:05 pm

    What a lovely compliment and that blogger found a way to use it, too.

    Thanks to Kate for the definition and to rhymeswithplague for the guide on how to pronounce it. It's a new word for me, too.

    Bask in the glory, John!

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  34. That you are, John, pulchritudinous! Beautiful, indeed! Congratulations! You are now a word of the day!

    I haven't seen this word since the SAT prep days of high school!

    Don't worry if someone calls you plump. Take it as a compliment! In many parts of the world, being big is beautiful! And in the art world, such muses inspired masterpieces, and they were immortalized in many priceless paintings and sculptures by the great masters. These magnificent models are called Rubenesque, probably for their love of Reuben sandwiches...

    Cheers!

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  35. What a kind thing to say and I do agree! Of course I had to look the word up first so thank you for increasing my vocabulary!

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  36. Jan B4:35 pm

    You are most importantly a pulchritudinous soul on the inside !

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    1. Lol and look like a bag of spanners on the outside

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    2. Hahahaha! "bag of spanners"... now that is hilarious, wrong of course ... but hilarious.

      Jo in Auckland, NZ

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  37. What a fab compliment!

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  38. Had to google it, but what a lovely compliment - and true x

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  39. What a nice compliment! Not to mention a bit of an educational experience . . . for many of us, it would seem :)

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  40. Awww how lovely and how true..... xxxxx

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  41. What a scrummy word! I’m going to make a concerted effort to casually drop it in to conversation ASAP and see if anyone notices! (Or admits they don’t have a clue what it means!) Hehe!
    Glad someone gave you a happy-making compliment :)

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  42. What a lovely well deserved compliment John.

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  43. It’s always the first word that comes to mind when I see your face.

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  44. Anonymous5:18 am

    Latin meaning: pulchritude: beauty. However, colloquial meaning; "sexy"!

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  45. It's a highbrow way of saying you're hot.

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