I just started reading “The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay” this afternoon. I’m only 30 pages in, but I’ve already come across seven words I don’t know. This is pretty surprising to me, as I think I have an above-average vocabulary (and I spent most of today talking about derivatives with my students – serious words like “lachrymose” and “appellation”). But luckily I started it in a good mood, so I’m taking this as an opportunity to expand my vocabulary and I’m making a list of all the new words I learn.

But omniveillant isn’t even in dictionary.com (the lazy Latin teacher’s best friend). My Latin roots got me as far as all-something, and some mostly-forgotten French makes me think it’s all-seeing? Seriously, Michael Chabon, you need to settle down. I bet there are people who set this book down in disgust because the vocabulary is just too much. What are you trying to prove?