Words from Paige's Pages: Fortuitous, Irony and Lexicon

     SMYRNA -- Have you ever scratched your head trying to figure out what certain words mean and how to use them? Motlow Smyrna Librarian ("Ms. Wordsmith") Paige Hendrickson continues her column called "Words from Paige's Pages" that provides tips on how to use her favorite words. For this issue, she has selected the words fortuitous, irony and lexicon.

fortuitous

for·tu·i·tous

/fôrˈto͞oədəs/

adjective: Happening by accident or chance rather than design.

Synonyms:

chance, adventitious, unexpected, unanticipated, unpredictable, unforeseen, unlooked-for, serendipitous, casual, incidental, coincidental, random, accidental, inadvertent, unintentional, unintended, unplanned, unpremeditated

Example: Each time the Smyrna librarian encounters former Motlow students in the community, she instantly feels that these fortuitous meetings are incredible opportunities to reconnect and renew meaningful bonds.

irony

i·ro·ny

/ˈīrənē/

noun:

The expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect.

Synonyms:

sarcasm, causticity, cynicism, mockery, satire, sardonicism

      A state of affairs or an event that seems deliberately contrary to what one expects and is often amusing as a result.

Synonyms:

paradox, incongruity, incongruousness

     A literary technique, originally used in Greek tragedy, by which the full significance of a character's words or actions are clear to the audience or reader although unknown to the character.

Example: During the numerous sessions for Classroom Library Instruction, the librarian must remember that irony is not always well received; in fact, sometimes it can be mistaken for offensive or snarky sarcasm (a.k.a. ‘snarkasm’).

lexicon

lex·i·con

/ˈleksiˌkän/ or /ˈleksiˌkən/

noun:

    The vocabulary of a person, language, or branch of knowledge.

    A dictionary, especially of Greek, Hebrew, Syriac, or Arabic.

Synonyms:

dictionary, wordbook, vocabulary list, glossary, thesaurus

Example: The students often feel that their professor’s lexicon is completely pretentious and is only used to belittle them.