Tag Archives: physiological

Crestfallen

funny wisdom on words that begin with a C

Crestfallen: (adj) dejected and discouraged

It is astounding to me how many words have been exiled to the “Island of Unwanted Syllables.”

They used to be popular–then somebody or a bunch of nobodies got together and decided they sounded old-fashioned. Of course, that was their death knell. Anything that sounds old-fashioned to a younger generation is immediately rejected and becomes a code word for uncool.

Crestfallen is certainly a better term to describe what occasionally happens to us humans, instead of falling back on dimmer terms, like depressed, bummed out, or under the weather.

I guess we favor the term “depressed” because it seems to have a clinical, physiological component to it, instead of just being us, greatly disappointed and discouraged. I suppose I could even give you a list of things that leave me crestfallen, which make me wish that life was different or that circumstances were changed, or people were more enlightened.

But sharing these pains and frustrations with you would only end up being depressing, with me unable to use the more effective term of crestfallen.

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Ail

Words from Dic(tionary)

dictionary with letter A

Ail: (v) to trouble or afflict someone in mind or body: e.g. exercise is good for whatever ails you.

Feeling “puny.”

That’s my favorite.

Since I’ve never had the pleasure of being small and thin, just being able to use the word “puny” to describe how I feel is a plus.

I don’t like the word “sick” because it has “ick” in it. But I guess it’s very representative.

Then we have the safe statement, where we proclaim that we’re “under the weather.” I don’t know exactly how that one got started. Basically, we’re all under the weather all the time. If you do succeed in getting over the weather, please contact me.

But probably my least favorite term for not feeling well is “ail.” Not only does it sound old-fashioned, as if you need the call the doctor three counties over and he’ll ride in on his favorite pony, toting some pills, but it’s also a little melodramatic.

It’s one of those examples of how “by our words we are justified and by our words we are condemned.”

Actually, you tend to get yelled at in our society if you don’t report your bumps and bruises, and also if you talk about them too much.

So what is the correct amount of conversation that should ensue over the fussy, physiological sensations that plague us from time to time?

All I know is that “ail” is much too serious-sounding to actually be taken seriously.

I guess I have to come back to “puny.” Even though the term isn’t very masculine, I can envision myself as possessing at least three of a six-pack.