As the former third-grade spelling bee champion of Melrose Elementary School, I understand that most people ? non-spelling-bee champs ? have difficulty with big, scary words. Therefore, as your humble word columnist, I consider it my duty to guide you through the intimidating world of words we witnessed on network television Thursday. I'm speaking, of course, about the annual Scripps National Spelling Bee ? a stunning display of June-like ability among the nation's best and brightest young minds.
For years I?ve been writing this column hebdomadally. But I didn?t know I was writing it hebdomadally because I had no idea what hebdomadally means. Today I know it means ?once a week,? and I have a bunch of kids to thank for it. Last week, once again, a nation of educated grown-ups watched in horror as people too young to drive made us feel like dopes as they attempted to spell ?laodicean,? ?ergasia,? ?kurta,? ?escritoire? and dozens of other words we?ve never heard, much less learned how to spell.