A.W.A.D. - Words to Describe People

After reading a bedtime story to my daughter, I sometimes ask her, "So, what do you think of the book?" More often than not, the answer is a simple "Good." I tell her that the word "good" is banned. The book could be funny, boring, interesting, scary, lovely, awful, awesome, delightful, ...or a combination of terms. Anything but good. It's time to give the tired words "good" and "bad" a well-deserved rest.

I think the same applies for people. People are rarely just good or bad. This week's words will show five words to describe them.

ebullient
(i-BUL-yuhnt, -BOOL-) adjective
Bubbling with enthusiasm or excitement

[From Latin ebullire (to boil up), from bulla (bubble).]

tremulous
(TREM-yuh-luhs) adjective
1. Trembling
2. Timid; nervous

[From Latin tremere (to tremble).]

pusillanimous
(pyoo-suh-LAN-uh-muhs) adjective
Lacking courage; timid

[From Latin pusillus (weak, very small), diminutive of pullus (young of an animal) + animus (spirit, mind).]

pavid
(PAV-id) adjective
Timid; fearful

[From Latin pavere (to be frightened). Ultimately from the Indo-European root pau- (to cut, stroke, or stamp) that is also the source of amputate, compute, dispute, and count.]

piker
(PY-kur) noun
A stingy person, a cautious gambler, or one who does things in a small way

[Of uncertain origin, possibly from Middle English pike (to leave).]

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