farouche

[sardith]

Dr. Goodword~

Oooh, give me your take on this word, pretty please. It bewilders me that one word can mean 'fierce' and 'shy' at the same time, and am awaiting your insight.

I will consider this a Christmas present from the Dr. Goodword office.

Thank you,
Susan

[Slava]

Great word, sardith. Wherever did you come across it?

After looking at the etymology, my theory on the definition dichotomy is that wild things can at times be ferocious, and at others quite skittish. I'm not a professional, though, so who am I to talk?

[sardith]

Dear Slava,

It was dropped in my email box by Dictionary.com this morning and I could not resist it! Isn't it awesome?

Susan

[Slava]

Most assuredly a great one. It's also used as the name of a perfume and some beauty salons. The double-entendre is quite effective in these contexts, don't you think?

[sardith]

You bet!
There are many women who pride themselves in keeping their men 'on their toes', and believing that a particular hairdo or perfume would give them some advantage, could be an opportune marketing tool.

Susan

[LukeJavan8]

I liked 'dictionary.com's statement:

Solitary and farouche people don't have relationships; they are quite unrelatable. If you and I were capable of being altogether house-trained and made jolly, we should be nicer people, but not writers.
-Elizabeth Bowen.