Word of the Day – Funicular

Posted on January 25, 2010 by Les Jones

A funicular looks like fun, but it sounds like a funeral:

\fyoo-NIK-yuh-ler\

Meaning
: a cable railway ascending a mountain; especially : one in which an ascending car counterbalances a descending car

Example Sentence
“Situated in a gated community reachable by funicular, the resort’s 181 guest rooms come with flat-screen TVs, nightly turndown service and, in suites, even a butler.” (The New York Times, December 13, 2009)

Previous WOTD – The Guidotti-Greenspan Rule (Economics)

This entry was posted in Word of the Day. Bookmark the permalink.

One Response to Word of the Day – Funicular

  1. Chris Range says:
    January 26, 2010 at 10:14 am

    I noticed the line in the quote about “turndown service” and looked it up. Exactly what it says on the tin. They turn down your covers and sometimes lay out your jammies and put a mint on your pillow. Maybe it’s my blue collar roots showing but how lazy do you have to be to get the hotel staff to tuck you in at night? Makes me feel uncomfortable too – like bathroom attendants.

    Anyway, a funicular sounds like fun.