You see failed vocabulary in the adult world so often, and it's often because once you reach a certain age you're kind of embarrassed to go look up a word if you don't know what it means.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
When a kid can understand that a word can mean two things, there's some real thinking going on. They have a vested interest in finding out what a word means, because it's the punch line to a joke.
Many people must have noticed the intense attention given by children to the conversation of grown-ups when they cannot possibly be understanding a word of what they hear. They are trying to get hold of words, and they often demonstrate this fact by repeating joyously some word which they have been able to grasp.
We think people go to a dictionary to find out what a word means. Most people go to the dictionary because they don't want to look stupid.
I hate that word, mature, but I guess I am growing up.
One forgets words as one forgets names. One's vocabulary needs constant fertilizing or it will die.
I'm very sensitive to the English language. I studied the dictionary obsessively when I was a kid and collect old dictionaries. Words, I think, are very powerful and they convey an intention.
People only stutter at the beginning of the word. They're not afraid when they get to the end of the word. There's just regret.
A lot of children, like I did, move away from words because of the fear - which is something you have to take out of education: the fear of worrying about what marks you'll get, detention, worrying about letting people down, your parents, teachers.
At a certain point, what people mean when they use a word becomes its meaning.
My vocabulary is vast and expert, and I don't think I overuse any word.
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