My ken for words is not jejune

I have almost finished the library summer reading program. I just need to explore five more words, and here they are.

  • lethargic: deficient in alertness or activity
  • ken: range of what one can know or understand
  • karma: effects of one’s actions that determine his or her destiny
  • jurisdiction: the territory within which power can be exercised
  • jejune: lacking interest or significance or impact

This list had one of my favorite words (ken) and one I had never heard of (jejune.) Let’s explore the new word.

Jejune is an adjective that means “naive,” “simplistic,” and “superficial.” When it is used to describe ideas or writing, it means “dry and uninteresting.” This is a dull word. (That is its synonym.)

This word comes from the Latin jejunus, which means “empty of food,” “meager,” or “hungry.” People in England in the 1600s actually used the word when talking about food (I bet it was common.) Over time, other things that were meager or empty of meaning were used with jejune, and the definition expanded.

I hope few things in your life are jejune. Instead, let your ken be far-reaching and fulfilling.