I want a word
I'm looking for a Regency-friendly word to describe a woman who prefers to spend most of her time at balls and parties. Not morally disreputable or quite silly, just someone who does nothing more...
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I think "butterfly" is good. It suggest someone primarily decorative and easily directed by larger forces. And since some butterflies are carrion-eaters, you can have some fun with that, if you want....
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Lizzy,I believe the word "socialite" was used as early as the 18th Century, and would, in that case, have been in use during the Regency.JIM
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According to the OED, it wasn't used until 1928, in Time magazine.I was trying to think of words last night, but really couldn't come up with anything with that exact meaning. Depending on your...
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How about flibberitgibbit? I believe it was in use then but I now have How do you solve a problem like Maria? going around in my head
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"flibbertigibbet" means an irresponsible, silly, gossipy person. I'd say it's a better description of Mrs Bennet than the person Lizzy C was talking about.
View ArticleNow on Kindle!
THE COMPANION OF HIS FUTURE LIFE is available for Kindle! Just go here.As for Nook, I'm afraid you'll have to wait. Sorry.
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Yeah, I'm looking for a word for a woman who has enough sense and intelligence to do something more than hang out in a ballroom, but is too addicted to entertainments and the social scene. Not someone...
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You know Lizzy, I'm getting super super curious to read this story you're working on. How soon until you're done?
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Too bad, flibbertigibbet is such a great word.How about a seasoned philosoiree-eress?
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Sigh.I am done with the first draft. It had one major problem which I've finally finished working the kinks out of, though I have to go back through the rest of the piece and make minor edits.There is...
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Congratulations! Especially on the speedy writing. I wish I could write things quickly. Editing can be a pain (and rewriting is the worst), but my experience is that if I don't take the time to edit...
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I think that's wise. When I first finished it I was really excited and wanted to post right away, but the longer I looked at it the more I felt I just didn't quite want to send it out into the world...
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I went searching for definitions of the word and they differ but Flibbertigibbet as I understood would to refer to someone who flutters from one thing to another without stopping for long...
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I think that the problem you have is that since going to balls and dinners is what most young women of the Ton did as a normal part of their daily lives, there may not be a specific word for what was...
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Yeah, it's tricky. I'm looking for a word that implies that's ALL she does, while she could do better. I may have to circumlocute a bit.
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I'm actually using it to describe a mistaken impression of Elizabeth herself. Not that she's mentally vacuous, but having scolded Mr. Darcy for being unsociable, he will naturally misunderstand that...
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The applicability to Mrs Bennet is questionable at best. I wasn't aware that one of the attributes of the word was youth - I've always heard it applied equally to silly women regardless of age (and...
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How about the French word mondaine? The people of the higher circles probably used French words in their conversations. I don't know if mondaine was used in Regency times, though.
View ArticleTrust someone whose name is Marks to be on target
You know, I think Marks makes what may be the essential point. While from a modern point of view, a woman during the Regency period whose focus was totally on party-going and making the rounds may...
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