Words David Foster Wallace circled in his dictionary revealed[David Foster Wallace was never in wont of literary admirers before his suicide in 2008, so it's no surprise people are curious what he circled in his dictionary. Which is why the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas-Austin's list, of words that the late American author David Foster Wallace had circled in his copy of the American Heritage Dictionary, is even more curious. It's difficult not to scan these words, many of which would make even the most garrulous pundit blush, and wonder about Wallace's ultimate fate. There's a loneliness to them, and yet also Wallace's desire to bring us the wonder and learning inherent in language. Here's a sampling:AcephalousACTHAditAdumbrateAgraphaCollective bargainingConchoidalCondonationConfluencedeadeyedebouchdecalcomaniadecrepitatedeforceepopeeeructeructationeskerespadrilleespalieresurientetiolateeuhemerismexerguefacial indexfastigiateSwoop on over to the complete list at Slate -- their version also has links to definitions.

Source: National Post March 14, 2019 05:03 UTC