Five Words You Love

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[Hampton Stevens]

We had such a fine time yesterday naming five songs in heavy rotation on our personal playlists (is anyone not listening to "Tightrope"?), that a slightly reworked version of the same premise seemed in order. Today, for a little afternoon diversion, we are looking for readers to post five favorite words. That is, five words—off the top of your head—that you just plain find fun to use. Nouns or verbs, adjective or adverb, "proper" English, pidgin, creole or street slang—it makes no nevermind. Just any five that give you a little smile to use see or hear. 


In no special order:

1. Slather
2. Pontificate 
3. Nonplussed (Meaning "to become confused and indecisive," used to nonplus those who confusedly use "nonplussed" to mean "unconfused.") 
5. Boo! (The old school term of endearment, not the scary thing ghosts say.)
6. Innumerate


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Ta-Nehisi Coates is a senior editor at The Atlantic, where he writes about culture, politics, and social issues. He is the author of the memoir The Beautiful Struggle. More

Born in 1975, the product of two beautiful parents. Raised in West Baltimore -- not quite The Wire, but sometimes ill all the same. Studied at the Mecca for some years in the mid-'90s. Emerged with a purpose, if not a degree. Slowly migrated up the East Coast with a baby and my beloved, until I reached the shores of Harlem. Wrote some stuff along the way.

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