What happens when one perfectionist tries to describe another?
I wanted to use the word perfectionist to describe a new story character who is very meticulous. Sadly, I had the feeling that perfectionist wouldn’t be a word used in 1876 (when my story-in-progress is set).
Sure enough, when I went to one of my favorite websites the Online Etymology Dictionary, I found this…
PERFECTIONIST (n.) 1650s, from perfection + -ist. Originally theological, “one who believes moral perfection may be attained in earthly existence;” sense of “one satisfied only with the highest standards” is from 1934.
* Sigh * I really wanted to use perfectionist in the sense of “one satisfied only with the highest standards” (which can be a good and not-so-good characteristic), but I’m not writing a story set in 1934 or later. So, that sent me to another favorite website, the Power Thesaurus where I found…
FUSSPOST (n.)person, idealist, aspirant.
Oh, fusspot sounds like another great word! But I had to look up what it meant, exactly. “A person who fusses unnecessarily” or “a very meticulous and finicky person.” The part that says meticulous is what I want to describe. So, I excitedly went back to the Online Etymology Dictionary where I found…
FUSSBUDGET (n.)”nervous, fidgety person,” 1884, from fuss (n.) + budget (n.). One of several similar formulations around this time: Compare fussbox (1901); FUSSPOT (1906). From 1960s associated with the character Lucy in the newspaper comic strip “Peanuts.”
* Double-sigh * I love Lucy (both Lucille Ball and Peanuts’ fussbudget Lucy), but neither fussbudget, fussbox, or fusspot align with my time period of 1876. And fussbudget doesn’t mean what I want to describe. Fussbudget is more like the wonderful word worrywart that I couldn’t find in the Online Etymology Dictionary, but that other sources record in 1930-35 * Triple-sigh *
So, back to Power Thesaurus where I found: Punctilious, fastidious, fuddy-duddy, old poop (I suspected I was getting off track, but then I discovered) stickler. That sounds like it has potential! With fingers crossed, it was back to the Online Etymology Dictionary where I found…
STICKLER (n.) 1530s, “moderator, umpire,” agent noun from stickle “mediate” (1520s), probably a frequentative of Middle English stighten “to arrange, place,” from Old English stihtan “to rule, direct, arrange, order” … Meaning “person who contends or insists stubbornly” is first recorded 1640s.
Hurrah! I envision my budding story character (Jack Peregrine, my hero in The Calling Birds) suffering from the compulsion to arrange and order. He’s a stubborn perfectionist whose life could definitely benefit from loosening the reins a little. Hmm, sounds more and more like me 😳
Writing is funny and eye-opening that way. And lives (both fictional and real) are works-in-progress. So, I’m using the word stickler…until a more enticing (but also historically accurate) word appears 😊
Got a favorite word? Or a story about a word? Or a word I could use instead of perfectionist or stickler?
Leave a comment below. I’d love to see your words ❤
Jacqui- loved this blog, how eyeopening indeed. I love the work Stickler, I love it so much it would make a great last. And fir a sexy, “hard don’t take crap off anyone”- Cowboy. I’ll think about other words and see if I come up with one. Have a great day and fun writing. Love you Dearly, Tonya.
Thanks for visiting and commenting, Tonya! Never thought of Stickler as a name but now I totally do! Inspiration has struck! Love you too, Tonya! ❤
What a fun and inspiring post. Stickler is a great word – I thought of tyrant but I think it maybe too harsh.
Playing with words is a great pass time and opens doors to new stories. Happy writing my friend!
The word tyrant does lead my thoughts in a different direction from how I’m attempting to portray my story character, but it is a great word! Thanks for sharing it with us, Marion Ann!
A great post. A favourite word for me is: insouciant- (careless indifference)
I’ve always wanted to use it somewhere.
I’m not sure I’ve heard that word before, but now I have! Thanks for sharing it with us, Jodie!