7:1 Unwieldy

When and Where I Found It:  One of my customers used this word to describe a large box of merchandise that she had in her cart.  When I went to turn the box so I could scan it, she said, "it's awfully unwieldy, isn't it?"

What It Means:  According to dictionary.com, this word means "not readily handled or managed in use or action, as from size, shape, or weight; awkward; ungainly."  In terms of my encounter with this word, my customer meant that the box was so large that it was awkward to handle or to lift up to scan it.
Unwieldy. (adj.) In dictionary.com. Retrieved from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/unwieldy 

Level of Familiarity:  I have only heard this word used a few times before, and whenever it is used, it always makes me think of Juliet's line in "Romeo and Juliet."  In Act II, Scene V, Juliet uses the word "unwieldy" to describe older people as she waits for the Nurse to come back with news from Romeo.  Aside from this example, I had not heard this word used much in everyday conversation.

Do I Want to Know This Word Well and Why?  Yes, I want to know this word well because it can be useful when describing something that is awkward to handle or bulky (which pretty much describes most of the merchandise at my store).  It is also fun to know a word that was used by Shakespeare.  Maybe knowing and using this word will help to keep it in use in the present-day as well.

Do I Think Others Should Know This Word Well...If So, Who and Why?  When I have my own English classroom, if my students are studying "Romeo and Juliet," I will be sure that they know this word well.  It is a word that is not only useful to know in the context of the play, but it can also be used in present-day situations.  It would also be a good word for everyone else to know, since clearly it is used in conversation.  If I had not known this word when my customer used it, I probably would have been confused or would have thought she was crazy.  Instead, I felt like asking her if she was an English major.