Snob Words: Making Sense of Words You Wish You Knew, But Don't



Snob words are lexical aristocrats, highfalutin' words and phrases--often derived from foreign languages--that never appear on sixth-grade spelling tests. They're words you don't know, but feel you should know.

And because you don't know them, you often feel excluded.

For example, when Architectural Digest reveals that the actress of the moment has just installed an étagère in her pied-á-terre--and you're left racing to find a French dictionary app--you're a victim of snob words. Those fortunate enough to know the terms are in on the secret, while you're left standing behind the red velvet rope.

This blog is an attempt to demystify snob words, which show up frequently in publications that cater to well educated, upscale readers.

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Old Master

           The term Old Master refers to a group of artists—generally painters—as well as their works.  While the term is not exact, it generally includes artists and works from the year 1350 (often considered the beginning of the Renaissance) through 1800.
           Accordingly, Leonardo da Vinci and Rembrandt are Old Masters, but Monet and Van Gogh are not.  Likewise, the Mona Lisa (begun around 1503) is an Old Master, while Van Gogh’s Irises (1889) is not.
           The term Old Master is sometimes used to imply high quality, but this is not always the case, since major auction houses use the term chronologically.  As a result, an auction of Old Masters could include masterpieces as well as works of lesser quality from the period.


Da Vinci's Mona Lisa is an Old Master.

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