I ran across a new word today.
It isn't something that occurs as often as it did as when I was a child. Then I was surrounded by a polyglot of vowels and consonants arranged in manners I had never before beheld.
And not only that.
Words like soy were used in more than one language but the fact that the definitions were not congruent was easily absorbed as I was readily versed in English with its polish and row among a plethora of others. Words readily learned as they were akin to my having more than one aunt named Betty. A simple concept.
But this word gave me pause. Its etymology was from my dominant language background so the sound it was designed to be played in my mind should have been quite smooth or at least fluid.
But no this word collapsed with a thunk lacking any resemblance to something someone would willingly emit from their trachea. A sound losing its rhythm like applause fading far too fast in shock or dismay. All the while presenting a jumble of clashing sounds that would leave even the best emcee blushing with shame on the stage.
But the word does not start out harshly or gruffly it could almost seem if approached correctly an excellent choice indicating a word full of potential. But the word soon falters as if a direction change were started and then abandoned. But then the sound makes a comeback only to fall away as if momentum is free to expend itself slowly on an even gradient.
All in all that makes the word perfect in the sense of the definition presented. An unexpected congruence of sound and meaning.
The word is:
Balter