vocab

[kev67]

It seems to be an obscure word even in German, not used very often, theological (or philosophical probably).

Zeno.org (via de.academic.ru)

die Weltlust: plur. inusit. in der Theologie, Vergnügen an irdischen, sinnlichen Gegenständen.

i.e.
plural, arch. in theology, pleasure in earthly/worldly, sensual things/objects.

So Hardy didn't make Weltlust up, but maybe it was known to the educated classes because of German philosophy? Or he just wanted to show he was very cultured .

I read somewhere that Hardy read a lot of Schopenhauer. Maybe it was a word he used.

It's just such nasty German word again that means so much and that cannot be expressed otherwise than in German. Like Schadenfreude or my favourite 'darstellen'. You can use it anywhere and everywhere in German and you'll be looking all over your brain how to bl**dy well say it in English. I tear my hair out sometimes.

I have a friend who sometimes uses the word Zeitgeist, but he pronounces it Zeetgeist. I have corrected him once or twice, assuming I pronounce it correctly myself.

[kev67]

louring - looking angry or sullen
loth - reluctant
invidiously - incurring resentment or unpopularity
spoliation act of despoiling or plundering
tole - laquered or enamelled metal

[kiki1982]

I read somewhere that Hardy read a lot of Schopenhauer. Maybe it was a word he used.



I have a friend who sometimes uses the word Zeitgeist, but he pronounces it Zeetgeist. I have corrected him once or twice, assuming I pronounce it correctly myself.

Well, you see, Schopenhauer could have done it.

As long as you pronounce it 'tsaitgaist', you're alright .

louring - looking angry or sullen
loth - reluctant
invidiously - incurring resentment or unpopularity
spoliation act of despoiling or plundering
tole - laquered or enamelled metal

Hmmm, 'louring' has something of the Dutch 'loeren' (pronounced 'looren') which means kind of looking but with malicious intent...

He was loth to means indeed he didn't really want to i.e. reluctant.

The rest I don't know but I'll have to remember 'tole' because that's no doubt what all those enamelled bowls were made of.

[kelby_lake]

I've never found myself stumbling too much when reading Hardy's novels, so I don't think the vocab is too distracting.