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| Fanfaronade! 200th Wordplay Wednesday! |
When we stop learning,
we stop living. Interesting, quirky words not necessarily heard in common conversation, here, for your edification; and posted on Twitter* every Wednesday @PenchantForPen. Abbreviated definitions are derived from the 2014 Webster’s New World College Dictionary, Fifth Ed., unless stated otherwise.
Baffle
and bewilder your family and friends with weird and wild new words!
- aargh (or online Webster's, sp. argh; interj): used to express disgust, nausea, or any other forceful negative
reaction. [Especially on tax day - mindful of pirates. Heehee.]- abaft (ɘ baftʹ) adv. – at or toward the stern or rear of a ship; aft. [WW #114]
- abracadabra! (ab’rɘ kɘ dabʹrɘ) n. – 1) a word supposed to have magic powers, and hence used in incantations, on amulets, etc.; 2) a magic spell or formula; 3) foolish or meaningless talk, gibberish. (interj. used, as by a magician, to signify, or seemingly command, a sudden change or occurrence.) [SPOOKY / WW #186]
- abulia (ɘ bōōʹlē ɘ; Psychology) n. – loss of the ability to exercise willpower and make decisions (adj. abulic) [WW #118]
- acephalous (ā sefʹɘ lɘs) – adj.; Zoology: 1) having no part of the body differentiated as the head; 2) having no leader. And from the Encyclopædia Britannica: The word is used literally in biology; and metaphorically in prosody or grammar … In zoology, the mollusca are divided into cephalous and acephalous (Acephala), according as they have or have not an organized part of their anatomy as the seat of the brain and special senses. [WW#45]
- afflatus (n.): Gesundheit! Kidding. It’s really … n. an inspiration or powerful impulse, as of an artist or poet [… create with afflatus my artistic friends!]
- aghast (ɘ gastʹ) adj. – feeling great horror or dismay, terrified, horrified. [SPOOKY triple-word-whammy / WW #188]
- algid (alʹjid) adj. – cold, chilly. [WW#47]
- alienage (n.): the legal status of an alien [you mean … Roswell is real?!].
- alterity (ôl terʹɘ tē) n. – the quality or condition of being other or different, otherness. [WW #174]
- aperçu (n.): group of organic compounds containing the CO-NH2 radical or acid radical in place of one hydrogen atom of an ammonia molecule [… zzzzzzzzzzz snore … no offense, I’m sure it’s exciting to some of you!]
- aperçu (ȧ per süʹ; French*) n. – 1) a quick impression or insight; 2) a brief digest or survey. [WW #149]
- aqueous humor (āʹkwē ɘs; hyōōʹmɘr) n. – a watery fluid in the space between the cornea and the lens of the eye. [WW #111]
- ataraxia (atʹɘ rakʹsē ɘ) n. – calmness of the mind and emotions, tranquility; also ataraxy (-rak’se). [WW #233]
- atelier (atʹ’l yā’) n. – a studio or workshop, esp. one used by an artist. [WW #126]
- azoic – adj.
1) without any life (an azoic ecological zone); 2) designating or of the
earliest part of the Archean Eon, when there was no life on earth [the ultimate
Peace on Earth, right?]- banausic (bɘ nôʹsik, -zik) adj. – 1) merely mechanical, 2) materialistic, 3) mundane or utilitarian.(For artisans or mechanics) [WW #241]
- banjaxed (banʹjaxt) vt. – not in the English dictionary (imagine that). It is, however, bandied about on the Emerald Isle. From an Irish-Information.com newsletter, “An oft-heard and seldom questioned word that is uttered throughout Ireland. It not only sounds great but can be applied to a number of situations! It essentially means broken, beyond repair, in a bad way.” [WW #103]
- bathos (bāʹthäs’) n. – 1) an abrupt, often ludicrous change from the lofty to the ordinary or trivial in writing or speech, unintentional anticlimax; 2) false pathos, sentimentality; 3) hackneyed quality, triteness. [WW #231]
- blet – n. decay in overripe fruit.* [Gross.]
- bombinate (bämʹbɘ nāt’) vi. to make a buzzing sound. (n. bombination). [WW #178]
- bonnyclabber* (bänʹē klab’ɘr) n. – [derived from Irish] thickly curdled sour milk. [WW #207] *And it IS in the English dictionary.
- bortz (bôrts) n. – a flawed diamond used only for industrial purposes, esp. in crushed form for grinding and polishing [a.k.a. bort] [WW #122]
- bosk (bäsk) n. – a small wooded place; grove; thicket; also boscage (bäsʹkij) [WW #109]
- brazenfaced (-fāstʹ) adj. – having, or uttered with, a brazen expression, impudent, shameless. [WW #173]
- brio (brēʹō; Italian) n. – animation; vivacity; zest. [WW #108]
- brose(s) [brōz; Scot.] – n. a dish made by stirring boiling water or milk into oatmeal. [Not to be confused with your bro’s breakfast.]
- bugaboo (bugʹɘ bōō’) n. – a bugbear; 1) an imaginary hobgoblin or terror used to frighten children into good conduct; 2) anything causing seemingly needless or excessive fear or anxiety. [SPOOKY / WW #187
- burble (bʉrʹbɘl; -bled, -bling) vi. – 1) to make a gurgling or bubbling sound, 2) to babble as a child does / n. (Aeronautics) – the separation and breakup of the streamline flow of air, esp. over the surface of a wing at too great an angle of attack, resulting in a loss of lift and an increase of drag. [WW #230]
- cabal (kɘ bälʹ) – n.: 1) small group of persons joined in a secret, often political intrigue; junta; 2) intrigues of such a group; plot | vi. caballing to join in a cabal; plot. [A little history trivia: popularized in England from initials of the ministers of Charles II]. WW#44
- cachinnate (kakʹɘ nātʹ) vi. – to laugh loudly or too much (n. – cachinnation) [WW #226]
- cacoethes (kakʹō ēʹthēz’) n. – a hankering (to do something); mania. [WW #228]
- cacography (kɘ kägʹrɘ fē) n. 1) bad handwriting; 2) incorrect spelling (cacographic; cacographical). [WW #221]
- caldarium (kal derʹē ɘm) n. – in ancient Roman baths, a room for taking hot baths. [WW #151]
- cark (kärk) – (archaic; vt., vi.) to worry or be worried; n. distress; anxiety. [Worry not!]
- caseous (kāʹsē ɘs) adj. – of or like cheese. [WW #88]
- catchpenny (kachʹpenʹē) adj. – made merely to sell, cheap and flashy; n. a catchpenny commodity. [WW #199]
- cavil (kavʹɘl) – vi., to object when there is little reason to do so; resort to trivial faultfinding; carp; quibble; n. a trivial objection; quibble. [WW #55]
- cento (senʹtō) n. – 1) a literary or musical work made up of passages from other works; 2) anything made up of badly matched parts. [WW #95]
- chesterfield (chesʹtɘr fēld’) n. – 1) a single-breasted topcoat, usually with a fly front and a velvet collar; 2) a kind of sofa, heavily stuffed and with upright ends (any sofa) [WW #92]
- chillaxin' – in the mid-1960s and through the ‘70s to “chill” meant to relax. At some point, someone really wanted emphasis and squished the two words together for slang that lasted much of the latter decade. Cool, man …
- chouse (chous) vt. – (Brit.) to cheat, swindle; vt. (West) to herd (cattle) roughly. [WW #64]
- civet (n.): yellowish fatty substance of civet cat used in musk-like scent perfumes; what wasn’t in the tweet – the substance is secreted near the civet cat’s genitals [… ewww!]
- claque (klak) n.
– 1) a group of people paid to go to a play, opera, etc. and applaud; 2) a
group of admiring or fawning followers. [WW #175]- cloudland (kloudʹlandʹ) n. – region of dreams, imagination, or impractical speculation; visionary realm. [WW #234]
- clubbable (klubʹɘ bɘl) adj. – suited to membership in a club; sociable. [WW #205]
- clutched (kluch -ed) vi. – Rejected. [WW RETRO #180]
Dictionary definition,
in short: 1) to snatch or seize (at); 2) to engage the clutch of an automobile,
etc. - cognoscente (kägʹnɘ shenʹtē) n. – a person with special knowledge in some field, esp. in the fine arts. [WW #147]
- coincidence (kō inꞋ sɘ dɘns; aka COINKYDINK) n. accidental and remarkable occurrence of events or ideas at the same time, suggesting but lacking a causal relationship. [Causal, m’dears, not casual. Oooooh, so close.]
- commodious (ke mōʹdē ɘs) adj. – offering plenty of room, spacious, roomy. [WW #219]
- contumelious (känʹtyōō mē lē ɘs) adj. – rude in a contemptuous way; insulting and humiliating (adv. – contumeliously). [WW #245*]
- copacetic (kōʹpɘ setʹik) adj. – (Old Slang) good, excellent, fine, etc. [WW #68]
- coriaceous (kōʹrē āʹshɘs) adj. – of or like leather. [WW #211]
- cotidal (kō tidʹl) adj. – indicating the coincidence in time or extent of tides (cotidal lines on a map). [TFT 1 of 2 / WW #80]
- cox-combry (-kōmʹrē) n. – 1) silly conceit or foppery; 2) an instance of this [WW #146]
- cousinage (kuzʹɘn ij) n. – the state or condition of being a cousin, the relationship between cousins, kinship; 2) a group of cousins or of relatives. [WW #166]
- cozen (kuzʹɘn) vt., vi. – 1) to cheat, defraud; 2) to deceive. [WW #153]
- crapulous ( -lɘs) n. – 1) characterized by intemperance, esp. in drinking, debauched; 2) sick from such intemperance. [WW #165]
- craw (krô) n. – 1) the crop of a bird or insect; 2) the stomach of any animal – to stick in the (or someone’s) craw, to be unacceptable or displeasing to someone. [WW #54]
- curule (kyōōʹrōōlʹ) adj. – designating
a chair like an upholstered campstool with heavy curved legs, in which only the
highest civil officers of Rome were privileged to sit in; 2) privileged to sit
in a curule chair, of the highest rank. [WW #58] - cutin (n.): varnish-like material covering epidermis of land plants.
- enow (adj., n., adv.): [Scottish] enough.
- daimyo (n.):
hereditary feudal nobleman of Japan.
- darkle (därʹkɘl) vi. – 1) to appear dark or unclear; 2) to grow dark and gloomy. [WW #194]
- decalcomania (dē kalʹkō māʹnē ɘ) n. – the process of transferring decals to glass, wood, etc.; decal [WW #198]
- digraph (dīʹgrafʹ) n. – a combination of two letters functioning as a unit to represent one sound (Ex.: read, bread, chin, graphic.) [WW #192]
- dimout (aka dim-out; dimʹout’) n. – a dimming or reduction of the night lighting, as in a city, to make it less easily visible, as to enemy aircraft. [WW #131]
- discursive (di skurʹsiv) adj. – 1) wandering from one topic to another; skimming over many apparently unconnected subjects, rambling, desultory, digressive; 2) based on the conscious use of reasoning rather than on intuition. [WW #176]
- donnée (dô nāʹ) n. – [French] an incident, idea, etc. that serves as an author’s starting point or inspiration for a novel, play, etc. [WW #130]
- doyenne (doi enʹ, dwä yenʹ; female version of DOYEN, doiʹɘn) – n.: [French] the senior member of a group, esp. one regarded as an authority because of superior knowledge and long experience. [WW#46]
- earthshine (urthʹshīn’) n. – the faint illumination of the dark part of the moon by sunlight reflected from the earth. [WW #201]
- effulgence (e fulʹjɘns, i-) n. – great brightness; radiance; brilliance [WW #136]
- eidolon (ī doʹlɘn) n. – 1) an image without real existence, phantom, apparition; *2) an ideal person or thing (adj. – eidolic). [WW #240;*Americanism]
- elint (elʹint) n. – the gathering of intelligence by monitoring with electronic equipment from airplanes, ships, satellites, etc. [WW #254*]
- elodea – n. a swamp; any of a genus of submerged water plants of the frog’s-bit family w/whorls of short grass-like leaves – often used in aquariums as it releases large amounts of oxygen.
- empurple (em purʹpɘl) vt., vi. – to make or become purple. [Of course! What did you think it meant?! WW #167]
- energumen (en’ɘr gyōōʹmɘn) n. – 1) a person supposedly possessed by an evil spirit, demoniac; 2)* a fanatic, or enthusiast. [WW #134]
- enervate (enʹɘr vātʹ) vt. – to deprive of strength, force, vigor; weaken physically, mentally, or morally; devitalize; debilitate. [WW #119]
- ennead (enʹē adʹ) – n. group or set of nine (books, gods, etc.). Number 9 ... Number 9 ...
- estival (esʹtɘ vɘl, estiʹvɘl) adj. – of or pertaining to summer. [TFT 2 of 2 / WW #80]
- extant – (eksʹtant) adj. to stand out or forth, 1) still existing; not extinct; not lost or destroyed; 2) (archaic) standing out; conspicuous. [And now, a thought-provoking Sci-Fi premise.]
- extirpate (eksʹtɘr pāt) vt. – 1) to pull up by the roots, root
out; 2) to destroy or remove completely, exterminate, abolish. [ WW #157]
- fanfaronade (fanʹfɘ rɘ nādʹ) n. – boasting talk or showy action, bluster. [WW #200]
- fetial – (fēʹshɘl) n. - in ancient Rome, any of a group of priests who gave advice in the conduct of war, diplomatic negotiations, etc. [kind of a conflict of interest wouldn’t you say? and it’s pretty close to fecal – you know what that means …]
- fictive (fikʹtiv) adj. – 1) of fiction or the production of fiction; 2) not real, imaginary, feigned [WW #210]
- figeater (figʹētʹɘr) n. – a large, green, velvety scarab beetle (Cotinis nitida) of the Southern U.S., the adults of which feed on ripe fruit; June bug. [WW #76]
- firedrake (-drākʹ; Mythology) – n. fire-breathing dragon. [Or a first date with bad breath!]
- flexuous (fleksʹyōō ɘs, flekʹshōō-) adj. – winding or wavering (adv. – flexuously). [WW #250*]
- flibbertigibbet (flibʹɘr tē jibʹit) n. – an irresponsible, flighty person. [WW #253*]
- flyting (n.): to contend, strive; to quarrel; formalized exchange of taunts, insults, as between warriors or rivals.
- darkle (därʹkɘl) vi. – 1) to appear dark or unclear; 2) to grow dark and gloomy. [WW #194]
- decalcomania (dē kalʹkō māʹnē ɘ) n. – the process of transferring decals to glass, wood, etc.; decal [WW #198]
- digraph (dīʹgrafʹ) n. – a combination of two letters functioning as a unit to represent one sound (Ex.: read, bread, chin, graphic.) [WW #192]
- dimout (aka dim-out; dimʹout’) n. – a dimming or reduction of the night lighting, as in a city, to make it less easily visible, as to enemy aircraft. [WW #131]
- discursive (di skurʹsiv) adj. – 1) wandering from one topic to another; skimming over many apparently unconnected subjects, rambling, desultory, digressive; 2) based on the conscious use of reasoning rather than on intuition. [WW #176]
- donnée (dô nāʹ) n. – [French] an incident, idea, etc. that serves as an author’s starting point or inspiration for a novel, play, etc. [WW #130]
- doyenne (doi enʹ, dwä yenʹ; female version of DOYEN, doiʹɘn) – n.: [French] the senior member of a group, esp. one regarded as an authority because of superior knowledge and long experience. [WW#46]
- earthshine (urthʹshīn’) n. – the faint illumination of the dark part of the moon by sunlight reflected from the earth. [WW #201]
- effulgence (e fulʹjɘns, i-) n. – great brightness; radiance; brilliance [WW #136]
- eidolon (ī doʹlɘn) n. – 1) an image without real existence, phantom, apparition; *2) an ideal person or thing (adj. – eidolic). [WW #240;*Americanism]
- elint (elʹint) n. – the gathering of intelligence by monitoring with electronic equipment from airplanes, ships, satellites, etc. [WW #254*]
- elodea – n. a swamp; any of a genus of submerged water plants of the frog’s-bit family w/whorls of short grass-like leaves – often used in aquariums as it releases large amounts of oxygen.
- empurple (em purʹpɘl) vt., vi. – to make or become purple. [Of course! What did you think it meant?! WW #167]
- energumen (en’ɘr gyōōʹmɘn) n. – 1) a person supposedly possessed by an evil spirit, demoniac; 2)* a fanatic, or enthusiast. [WW #134]
- enervate (enʹɘr vātʹ) vt. – to deprive of strength, force, vigor; weaken physically, mentally, or morally; devitalize; debilitate. [WW #119]
- ennead (enʹē adʹ) – n. group or set of nine (books, gods, etc.). Number 9 ... Number 9 ...
- estival (esʹtɘ vɘl, estiʹvɘl) adj. – of or pertaining to summer. [TFT 2 of 2 / WW #80]
- excuse (ek skyōōsʹ) n.
– 1) a plea in defense of or explanation for some action or behavior, [i.e.]
apology; 2) a release from obligation, duty, etc.; 3) something that excuses …;
4) a pretended reason for conduct, [i.e.] pretext …
well, you get the idea! [2-fer WW #98; bolding and underline are mine.]
- exedra (ekʹsi drɘ; pl. -draeʹ) n. – in ancient Greece, a room, building, or outdoor area with seats, where conversations were held. WW #206]
- exiguous (eg zigʹyōō ɘs) adj. – scanty, little, small, meager. [WW #163]
- exedra (ekʹsi drɘ; pl. -draeʹ) n. – in ancient Greece, a room, building, or outdoor area with seats, where conversations were held. WW #206]
- exiguous (eg zigʹyōō ɘs) adj. – scanty, little, small, meager. [WW #163]
- extant – (eksʹtant) adj. to stand out or forth, 1) still existing; not extinct; not lost or destroyed; 2) (archaic) standing out; conspicuous. [And now, a thought-provoking Sci-Fi premise.]
- extirpate (eksʹtɘr pāt) vt. – 1) to pull up by the roots, root
out; 2) to destroy or remove completely, exterminate, abolish. [ WW #157]- fanfaronade (fanʹfɘ rɘ nādʹ) n. – boasting talk or showy action, bluster. [WW #200]
- fetial – (fēʹshɘl) n. - in ancient Rome, any of a group of priests who gave advice in the conduct of war, diplomatic negotiations, etc. [kind of a conflict of interest wouldn’t you say? and it’s pretty close to fecal – you know what that means …]
- fictive (fikʹtiv) adj. – 1) of fiction or the production of fiction; 2) not real, imaginary, feigned [WW #210]
- figeater (figʹētʹɘr) n. – a large, green, velvety scarab beetle (Cotinis nitida) of the Southern U.S., the adults of which feed on ripe fruit; June bug. [WW #76]
- firedrake (-drākʹ; Mythology) – n. fire-breathing dragon. [Or a first date with bad breath!] - flexuous (fleksʹyōō ɘs, flekʹshōō-) adj. – winding or wavering (adv. – flexuously). [WW #250*]
- flibbertigibbet (flibʹɘr tē jibʹit) n. – an irresponsible, flighty person. [WW #253*]
- flower power (flouʹɘr pouʹɘr) n. – a nonviolent ethic
as advocated by hippies. Merriam-Webster.com
[WW / RETRO #182]
Dictionary definition: again, no “official” dictionary definition, but the best slang rarely makes
the tome’s pages, don’t you think? - flyting (n.): to contend, strive; to quarrel; formalized exchange of taunts, insults, as between warriors or rivals.
- foin (vi.): thrust, stab, lunge; as in fencing. [En garde!]
- footling (fōōtʹliŋ) adj. – [Informal; chiefly British] silly and unimportant; trivial; trifling. [WW #75 & #214]
- frangible (franʹjɘ bɘl) adj. – breakable, fragile (n. – frangibility). [WW #227]
- frugivorous (frōō jivʹɘ rɘs) adj. – fruit-eating. 😊 [WW #169]
- fug (fug) n. – the heavy air in a closed room, regarded as either oppressive and murky or warm and cozy (Chiefly British). [WW #140]
- fuliginous (fyōō lijʹɘ nɘs)) adj. – 1) full of smoke or soot; 2 dark, dusky. [WW #204]
- furfur (fʉrʹfɘr) n. – 1) dandruff, scurf; 2) pl. scaly bits, esp. dandruff scales. [WW #66]
- garth (gärth) n. (Archaic) – an
enclosed yard or garden. [And an awesome Country artist! WW #57]- gemmy (jemʹē) adj. – 1) set with gems; 2) like a gem, glittering. [WW #171]
- goblin (gäbʹlin) n. (folklore) – an evil or mischievous spirit often represented in pictures as humanlike and ugly or misshapen in form. [SPOOKY / WW #184]
- gorgonize (gôrʹgɘn īz’) vt. – to petrify or stupefy, as with a look. [WW #239]
- gorp (gôrp) n. trail mix. [And we’ll add a yummy hot toddy to take the chill off his whiskers; WW #143]
- Götterdämmerung (n.): German translation of the ancient Norse Ragnarök foretelling future events of great destruction; modern, (2) the total, usually violent collapse of a society, regime etc. [... well, I'll be gotterdam-me-rung the bell!]
- grimalkin (gri malʹkin) n. – 1) a cat, esp. an old female cat; 2) a malicious old woman. [WW #189]
- griseous (grisʹē ɘs; grizʹ-) adj. – gray, esp. pearl-gray. [WW #195]
- hallowmas (halʹō mɘs, -masʹ) n. former name for All Saints’ Day. [Think celebrating sainted spirits …if you lived through the night before hell. #1 in Six Weeks of Weird Halloween Words.]
- happy talk (radio, tv) – a style of news presentation characterized by cheerful commentary and informal conversation among anchors during newscasts. [WW #67]
- Heavens to Murgatroyd! “… is
American in origin and dates from the mid-20th century. The
expression was popularized by the cartoon character Snagglepuss – a
regular on the Yogi Bear Show
in the 1960s …” [WW / RETRO #181]
Dictionary definition: Well, there isn’t one. But it was just too much fun to pass up. Snagglepuss also gave us
“Exit, stage left,” and “Heavens to Betsy!” 
- hiemal (hīʹi mɘl):
– adj. of winter; wintry. [Is your honey in a hiemal mood? Give her / him a warm hug.]- horologe (hôrʹɘ lōjʹ; -läjʹ) n. – a timepiece, clock, hourglass, sundial, etc. [WW #203]
- horripilation (hô ripʹɘ lāʹshɘn) n. – the erection of hair on the head or body, as from fear, disease, or cold; goose bumps. [WW #237]
- hortatory (hôrʹtɘ tôrʹē) adj. – 1) serving to encourage or urge to good deeds; 2) exhorting, giving advice [also hortative]. [WW #202]
- imperative (im perʹɘ tiv) adj. – 1 having the nature of, or indicating, power or authority; commanding [an imperative gesture]; 2 absolutely necessary, urgent, compelling [it is imperative that I go] … [WW #91]
- incused (in kyōōzʹ) adj. – forged with a hammer; hammered or stamped in: said of the design on a coin. n. – such a design. [WW #129]
- indurate (inʹdōo rātʹ) vt. – 1) to make hard; harden; 2) to make callous, unfeeling, or stubborn; 3) to cause to be firmly established; vi. – to become indurated; adj. – hardened. [WW #110]
- injudicious (inʹjöö dishʹɘs) – adj. showing poor judgement; not discreet or wise. [For the next time you want to call someone stupid without them catching on (right away). You’re welcome.]
- inutile (in yōōtʹ’l) adj. – useless, unprofitable. [WW #224]
- inveigh (in vāʹ) vi. – to make a violent verbal attack; talk or write bitterly. [WW #106]
- irrupt (i ruptʹ) vi. – 1) to burst suddenly or violently; 2 to increase abruptly in size of population. [WW #86]
- jack-o'-lantern (jakʹɘ lantʹɘrn): n. a hollow pumpkin cut to look like a face and usually illuminated inside as by a candle, used as a decoration at Halloween.
- jape (jāp) n. – 1) a joke or jest; 2) a trick. [WW #133]
- jejune (ji jōōnʹ; jejunely/adv.; jejuneness/n.) adj. – 1) not nourishing, barren; 2) not interesting or satisfying; dull or empty. WW #144]
- jeu (Fr.; n.): a game; diversion [... otherwise known as life]. ;-)
- joie de vi vre (zhwåd veʹvr’; French) n. – (the) joy of living; high spirits; exuberance, etc. [WW #142]
- johnny (jänʹē) n. – a short muslin gown with short sleeves and a back opening that is closed with ties, worn as by hospital patients. [WW #78]
- kef (kif or kief, vari.; n.): dreamy
condition; 2) substance smoked to produce this condition [… followed by KEG]. :-) - kepi (n.): cap with flat, round top and stiff visor, worn by French soldiers.
- kinglet (kiŋʹlit) n. – 1) a petty, unimportant king; 2) any of several small Old World warblers (genus Regulus) with a bright-colored crown, as the golden-crowned kinglet. [WW #72]
- knur (nʉr) n.
– a knot, as on the trunk or branch
of a tree. [WW #61; 1 of 3]
- knurl (nʉrl) n. 1) a knot, knob, nodule, etc.; 2) any of a series of small beads or ridges, along the edge of a coin or on a dial; 3) (SCOT) a short, thickset person. [WW #61; 2 of 3]
- knurl (nʉrl) n. 1) a knot, knob, nodule, etc.; 2) any of a series of small beads or ridges, along the edge of a coin or on a dial; 3) (SCOT) a short, thickset person. [WW #61; 2 of 3]
- koinonia: Wikipedia – “a transliterated form of the Greek word, κοινωνία, which means communion, joint participation; the share which one has in anything, participation, a gift jointly contributed, a collection, a contribution, etc. It identifies the idealized state of fellowship and unity that should exist within the Christian church, the Body of Christ.” [WW #168]
- lachrymose (lakʹri mōs’) adj. 1) inclined to shed many tears, tearful; 2) causing tears, sad. [WW #193]
- laity (lāʹi tē) n.– 1) all the people not included among the clergy; laymen collectively; 2) all the people not belonging to a given profession. [WW #56]
- lenis (leʹnis, laʹ-) – adj. Phonet. articulated with little muscle tension and little or no aspiration (smooth, soft, mild) —n. a lenis sound.
- lexis (lekʹsis) n. – the full vocabulary of a language, or of a group, individual, field of study, etc. [WW #73]
- leno (n.): 1) type of weave in which warp yarns are paired and twisted; 2) soft, meshed fabric of this weave [uh, nope – it isn’t weaving Jay Leno’s hair!]
- liminal (limʹI nɘl, liʹmi-) adj. – of or at the limen, or threshold; at a boundary or transitional point between two conditions, stages in a process, ways of life, etc [n. liminality; WW #62]
- lithophyte (lithʹɘ fīt’) n. – a plant that grows on rock surfaces. [WW #117]
- lycanthrope or more commonly – WEREWOLF (werʹwoolfʹ): n. Folklore, a person changed into a wolf, or one capable of assuming the form of a wolf at will; lycanthrope.
- machree (mɘ krēʹ, mɘ khrēʹ) n. – literally, my heart: Anglo-Irish term of endearment (Mother machree) [WW #255*]
- manitou (manʹɘ tōōʹ; also manitu or manito): n. Folklore among the Algonquin Indians, any of various spirits or supernatural forces variously conceived of as nature spirits of both good and evil influence.
- manqué (män kāʹ) adj. – 1) that falls short of the goal; unsuccessful or defective; 2) potential but unrealized, would-be, placed after the noun it modifies (also manquéeʹ; fem.) [WW #196]
- mansuetude (manʹswi tōōdʹ) n. – gentleness; tameness. [WW #190]
- manticore (manʹti kôr’) n. – a mythical monster with the body and legs of a lion, the face of a man, and a tail ending in a sting. [SPOOKY / WW #185]
- marl(y) – n. (adj.) soft, crumbly mixture of clay, sand, and limestone in varying proportions, typically containing shell fragments [and you thought it was just a cute dog name].
- mascot (masʹkätʹ) n. – 1) any person, animal, or thing supposed to bring good luck; 2) any person, animal, or thing adopted by a group, esp. by a sports teams as a symbol or for good luck … [SPOOKY triple-word-whammy / WW #188]
- mazer (māʹzɘr) n. – a large drinking bowl or goblet, originally of hard wood, probably maple, later of metal. [WW #87]
- meinie or meiny (māʹnē) – n. 1) [obsolete] feudal retainers or attendants, collectively; retinue or household; 2) [Scots.] a crowd; throng; multitude.
- mephitis (mɘ fitʹis) n. – 1) a harmful, bad-smelling vapor from the earth, as the exhalation from decomposing organic matter or poisonous gas from a mine; 2) a bad smell, stench. (adj. mephitic) [WW #212]
- mew [dictionary entry #3] (myōō) n. – a gull; esp., the common gull (Larus canus) of Eurasia and NW North America. [WW #93]
- miasma (mī azʹmɘ) n. – 1) a vapor rising as from marshes or decomposing animal or vegetable matter, formerly supposed to poison and infect the air, causing malaria, etc.; 2) an unwholesome or befogging atmosphere, influence, etc. (miasmal; miasmatic) [SPOOKY triple-word-whammy / WW #188]
- minatory (minʹɘ tôrʹe) adj. – 1) menacing; threatening; 2) conveying or constituting a threat. [WW #96]
- moggy or moggie (mägʹē) n. (Brit. Informal) – a domestic cat, esp. one of a common or mixed breed. [WW #94]
- moil (moil) vi. – 1) drudgery, hard work; 2) confusion, turmoil (moiler, n.). [WW #65]
- monochrome (mänʹɘ krōmʹ) n. – 1) a painting, drawing, design, or photograph in black and white, or in shades of one color often with black or white;2) the art or process of making these; adj. – of or having to do with a single color … [the bolding and italics are mine, hint, hint; WW #97].
- monoglot (mänʹō glät’) adj.– speaking or writing only one language; n. a monoglot person. [WW #100.]
- mouthfeel (mouthʹfēlʹ’) n. – the way a particular food or beverage feels in the mouth as it is eaten or drunk (the velvety mouthfeel of ice cream). [WW #252*]
- Musca (n.): No, not the front half of a muskrat. It’s: a fly; an S constellation
near Crux … fly me to the Musca? 77th
constellation in size [... fly-high or
sky-high!] - mysterioso (mis tirʹē ōʹsō) adj. 1) misterioso, 2) having a mysterious nature or quality, inexplicable, enigmatic, etc. (misterioso, n. – someone or something that is mysterioso).
- nacre (nāʹkɘr) n. Mother-of-Pearl; NACREOUS (nāʹkrē ɘs) adj. of or like nacre; yielding nacre; iridescent; lustrous. [WW #113]
- naif (nä ēfʹ) adj. / n. – a naïve person. [WW #115]
- nepotism (nepʹɘ tizʹɘm), do you know it derives from the French for nephew? Over the centuries, népotisme eventually scaled to include, n. – favoritism shown to relatives, esp. in appointment to desirable positions. [WW #104]
- nodus (nōʹdɘs) n. – complication, difficulty, knotty situation, as in a play. [WW #50]
- noetic (nō etʹik) – adj. of or having to do with the mind or intellect; sometimes specifically able to be understood only by the intellect. [Huh?]
- nonce (näns) n. – the present use, occasion, or time; time being; chiefly in, for the nonce. [WW #137]
- nous (nōōs) n. – 1) mind, reason, or intellect, specif. as a metaphysical principle; 2) shrewdness or understanding; savvy. [WW #101]
- nugatory (nōōʹgɘ tôrʹē) adj. – 1) trifling, worthless; 2) not operative, invalid. [WW #247*]
- numen (nōō'mɘn) – n. an indwelling, guiding force or spirit. [WW #83]
- obi (Japanese; n.): broad sash with bow in back, worn with a Japanese kimono [no, Star Wars fans, not short for Obi-Wan Kenobi].
- objurgate (äbʹjɘr gātʹ, ɘb jɄrʹgāt’) vt. – to chide vehemently, upbraid sharply, rebuke, berate (n(s): objurgation / objurgator; adj.: objurgatory). [WW #229]
- obnubilate (äb nōō’bɘ lāt’) vt. – to make unclear, indistinct, vague, etc. [memories obnubilated by the passage of time] (n. – obnubilation). [WW #242]
- obtrude (ɘb trōōdʹ, äb-) vt. – 1) to thrust forward, push out, eject; 2) to offer or force (oneself, one’s opinions, etc.) upon others unasked or unwanted [syn. intrude]. [WW #220]
- oenophile (ēʹnɘ fīl’) – a person who loves wine; wine connoisseur. [WW #223]
- oneiric (ō niʹrik) adj. – of or having to do with dreams. [WW #218]
- ogham (also ogam; n.): alpha system for writing Old Irish, developed in the 5th & 6th cent. AD; letters are represented by various combinations of lines or notches carved along the edge of a memorial stone.
- ordure (ôrʹjɘr, -dyoor) n. – dung; excrement. [WW #105]
- orlop (ôrʹläp) n. – the lowest deck of a ship with four or more decks. [WW #70]
- ort(s) – n. a scrap or fragment of food left from a meal, usu. used in plural. [WW#48]
- orotund (ōrʹɘ tund’) adj. – 1) clear, strong, and deep, resonant, said of the voice; 2) bombastic or pompous; said of a style of speaking or writing. [ WW #160]
- otiose (ōʹshē ōsʹ, ōtʹē-) – adj. 1) [Rare] idle; indolent; 2) ineffective, futile; 3) useless, superfluous – SYN. vain. [You're so vain ... ♪]
- paddywhack (n.): a rage; temper; 2) a beating or spanking (Irish: “get one’s Irish up”) [… included in the Irish ditty, “This Old Man” / With knick-knack paddywhack / Give the dog a bone … ].
- pavid (pavʹid) adj. – to tremble, orig., be struck down; (RARE) fearful; afraid; timid. [WW #59]
- pendragon (pen dragʹɘn) n. – supreme chief or leader; a title used in ancient Britain. [WW #179]
- pettifogger (petʹI fägʹɘr) n. – 1) a lawyer who handles petty cases, esp. one who uses unethical methods in conducting trumped up cases; 2) a trickster, cheater; 3) a quibbler, caviler. [WW #215]
- phasmophobia (fas′mō-fō′bē-ă): n. exaggerated fear of ghosts. [Not in Webster’s dictionary, but that just means they can be a bit behind the times. It appears all over the ‘Net! And we know … if it’s on the ‘Net it must be real! LOL]
- pileous (pīʹlē ɘs,) adj. – hairy or furry. [WW #152]
- plenum (plēʹnɘm, plenʹɘm) n. – 1) space filled with matter, as opposed to vacuum; 2) fullness; 3) a full or general assembly, as in all members of a legislative body; 4) an enclosed volume of gas under greater pressure than that surrounding the container. [WW #209]
- poteen (Ireland; from póitín): n. illicitly distilled whiskey [let’s call it what it is … hooch, bootleg]
- prog (präg) vi.: to prowl about, as in search of food or plunder; forage; n. – food obtained as by progging. [WW #51]
- prosopography (präsʹɘ pägʹrɘ fē) n. – the study of careers, esp. of individuals linked by family, economic, social, or political relationships / adj. prosopographical. [WW #232]
- puissant (pwisʹɘnt; pyooʹi sɘnt) adj. – powerful; strong; n. puissance [WW #107]
- pule (pyōōl) vi. – to whimper or whine, as a sick or fretful child does. [WW #85]
- quale (kwāʹlē, kwäʹ-; pl. qualia) n. – (Philosophy) a quality, as whiteness, loudness, etc., abstracted as an independent, universal essence from a thing. [WW #81]
- quidnunc (kwidʹnuŋk’) n. – an inquisitive, gossipy person, busybody. [WW #172]
- quincentenary [kwin senʹtɘ ner ē; kwinʹsen tenʹɘr ē) adj. – of a 500th anniversary (also quincentennial). [WW #216]
- quiescent (kwī esʹɘnt; kwē-) adj. – quiet, still, inactive. [WW #177]
- quinquagenarian (kwin’kwɘ jɘ nerʹē ɘn; kwiŋ’-) adj. – 50 years old, or between the ages of 50 and 60 (n. a person of this age). [WW #222]
- quipu (kēʹpōō, kwipʹōō) n.: a device consisting of an arrangement of cords variously colored and knotted, used by the ancient Peruvians to keep accounts, record events, etc. [WW #52]
- quotidian (kwō tidʹe ɘn) adj. – 1) daily, recurring every day; 2) everyday, usual or ordinary; –n. anything, esp. a fever, that recurs daily. [WW #138]
- ratiocinate (rashʹ ē äsʹɘ nātʹ) vi. – to think or argue logically, reason; n. ratiocination; adj. ratiocinative. [WW #154]
- realia (rē āʹlē ɘ, rē aʹlē ɘ) n. – objects from everyday life; used as in teaching a foreign language.
- reason (rēʹzɘn) n. – 1) an explanation or justification of an act, idea, etc.; 2) a
cause or motive; 3) the ability to think, form judgments, draw conclusions,
etc.; 4) sound thought or judgment, [i.e.] good sense; 5) normal mental powers,
[i.e.] a sound mind, sanity … wow. [2-fer WW #98.]
- rebarbative (ri bärʹbɘ tiv) adj. – repellent, unattractive, forbidding, grim, etc. (literally: “to face beard-to-beard”) [WW #120] (Think facing the FCC "beard-to-beard" over Net Neutrality!)
- recalcitrant (ri kalʹsi trant) adj. – 1) refusing to obey authority, custom, regulation, etc., stubbornly defiant; 2) hard to handle or deal with (n. a recalcitrant person). [WW #208]
- redintegrate (ri dinʹtɘ grātʹ) vt. – to make whole or perfect again; reunite; reestablish. [WW #244*]
- redivivus (redʹi vīʹvɘs) adj. – restored to life; reborn; reincarnated: usually used metaphorically. [Pronounced red uh vi-vus; WW #249*]
- regnant (-nɘnt) adj. – 1) reigning, ruling (a queen regnant); 2) of greatest power, predominant, 3) prevalent, widespread. [n. regnancy; WW #164]
- resile (ri zīlʹ) vi. – 1) to bounce or spring back, rebound, specif., to come back into shape or position after being pressed or stretched: said of elastic bodies; 2) to withdraw or recoil, often with from [they resiled from their arrangement; we resile from personal attacks]. [WW #217]
- rillet( rilʹit) n. – a tiny rill; brooklet. [WW #139]
- rubric (rōōʹbrik) n. – 1) in early books and MS, a chapter heading, initial letter, specific sentence, etc., printed or written in red, decorative lettering, etc.; 2) any heading, title, etc, as of a chapter or section; 3) a direction, as in a prayer book, for conducting religious svcs.; 4) an explanatory comment, or gloss; 5) the title or a heading of a law; 6) an established custom or rule of procedure. [WW #148]
- rebarbative (ri bärʹbɘ tiv) adj. – repellent, unattractive, forbidding, grim, etc. (literally: “to face beard-to-beard”) [WW #120] (Think facing the FCC "beard-to-beard" over Net Neutrality!)
- recalcitrant (ri kalʹsi trant) adj. – 1) refusing to obey authority, custom, regulation, etc., stubbornly defiant; 2) hard to handle or deal with (n. a recalcitrant person). [WW #208]
- redintegrate (ri dinʹtɘ grātʹ) vt. – to make whole or perfect again; reunite; reestablish. [WW #244*]
- redivivus (redʹi vīʹvɘs) adj. – restored to life; reborn; reincarnated: usually used metaphorically. [Pronounced red uh vi-vus; WW #249*]
- regnant (-nɘnt) adj. – 1) reigning, ruling (a queen regnant); 2) of greatest power, predominant, 3) prevalent, widespread. [n. regnancy; WW #164]
- resile (ri zīlʹ) vi. – 1) to bounce or spring back, rebound, specif., to come back into shape or position after being pressed or stretched: said of elastic bodies; 2) to withdraw or recoil, often with from [they resiled from their arrangement; we resile from personal attacks]. [WW #217]
- rillet( rilʹit) n. – a tiny rill; brooklet. [WW #139]
- rubric (rōōʹbrik) n. – 1) in early books and MS, a chapter heading, initial letter, specific sentence, etc., printed or written in red, decorative lettering, etc.; 2) any heading, title, etc, as of a chapter or section; 3) a direction, as in a prayer book, for conducting religious svcs.; 4) an explanatory comment, or gloss; 5) the title or a heading of a law; 6) an established custom or rule of procedure. [WW #148]
- ruth (rōōth) n.
– 1) pity, compassion; 2) sorrow, grief, remorse. [WW #71
- saltbox (sôltʹbäksʹ) n. – 1) a box for salt, with a sloping lid; 2) a house, as in colonial New England, shaped somewhat like this, having two stories in front and one at the rear, and a gable roof with a much longer slope at the rear. [WW #89]
- saltbox (sôltʹbäksʹ) n. – 1) a box for salt, with a sloping lid; 2) a house, as in colonial New England, shaped somewhat like this, having two stories in front and one at the rear, and a gable roof with a much longer slope at the rear. [WW #89]
- sedulous (sejʹoo lɘs) adj. – 1) working hard and steadily, diligent; 2) constant, persistent (sedulous attention to the task). [WW #69]
- sennet (senʹit) – n. a trumpet call used as a signal for ceremonial entrances and exits in Elizabethan drama. [WW #77; 3-fer/1]
- shebeen (n.): establishment where liquor is sold w/o a license [Ireland, Scotland, So. Africa] WIKI: (from síbín meaning "a mugful") unlicensed house selling alcohol.
- 666!: a number variously associated with Satan, the Antichcrist, the emperor Nero, etc. (Rev. 13:18). [A number by any other name is still a Word!]
- solecism (sälʹɘ sizʹɘm) n. 1) a violation of the conventional usage, grammar, etc., of a language, as in ungrammatical use of words (Ex.: “We done it” for “We did it”); 2) a violation of good manners, breach of etiquette; 3) a mistake or impropriety. [WW #127]
- solipsism (sälʹip siz’ɘm) n. – 1) the theory that the self can be aware of nothing but its own experiences and states; 2) the theory that nothing exists or is real but the self. [WW #162]
- sortilege (sôrtʹɘ lij) n. – 1) divination or prophecy by casting lots; 2) sorcery, black magic. [WW #238]
 |
| "Sun Dog Painting" Stockholm 1535 |
- stich (stik) n. – delete that dupe “t” to get: Prosody a line of prose or, esp., of verse. [WW #63]
- sulu: [Space buddy of Captain Kirk? Um, no.] (Fijian, clothes; n.): garment similar to a sarong worn by Melanesians, as in the Fiji Islands.
- sundog (-dôgʹ) n. – a bright, sunlike optical illusion caused by sunlight passing through ice crystals in the upper atmosphere; parhelion. [WW #99.]
- susurrant (sɘ surʹɘnt) adj. – whispering, murmuring, rustling. [n. susurrus; WW #161]
- swampwater: Half A&W Root Beer and half Orange Drink [back in the day, only Orange Crush would do as the mixer].
- sycophant (sikʹɘ fɘnt, -fantʹ) n. – a person who seeks favor by flattering people of wealth or influence; parasite, toady. [WW #246*]
- sylvan (silʹvɘn) n. – one who lives in the woods; adj. – 1) of or characteristic of the woods or forest; 2) living or found in the woods or forest; 3) wooded. [WW #251*]
- syzygy (sizʹɘ jē) n. – 1) a pair of things, esp. a pair of opposites; 2) Astron. a configuration of three celestial bodies, as of the sun, earth, and moon during an eclipse, in an approximately straight line; 3) Gr. & Latin Prosody a measure of two feet, as a dipody / syzygial adj. [WW #225]
- Tá croí éadrom i bhfad níos faide: A light heart lives longest.* [imTranslator.net; try as I did, could not locate an English pronunciation for us to practice. WW #155]
- tautology
- telesthesia (tel’es thēʹzhɘ) n. – (Parapsychology) extrasensory perception of distant objects, events, etc. [telesthetic] [WW #132]
- telic (tēʹlik) adj. – directed toward an end, purposeful [WW #141]
- thalassic (thɘ lasʹik) adj. – 1) of the sea or ocean, marine; 2) of bays, gulfs, etc. and inland seas, as distinguished from the ocean. [WW #197]
- thankfulness (thaŋkʹfɘl nɘs) n. – state, quality, or instance of being … feeling or expressing thanks; grateful. [WW #191]
- thenar (thēʹnär) n. – the palm of the hand or, sometimes, the sole of the foot; 2) the bulge at base of the thumb.* [WW #53]
- therianthropic (thir’ ē an thräpʹik) adj. – 1) conceived of as being partly human and partly animal in
form; 2) designating or of deities of this kind. [Think Wolfman Jack! WW #135] - thetic (thetʹik) adj. – set forth dogmatically, prescribed (adv. – thetically ) [ WW #159]
- theurgy (theʹɘr jē) n. – 1) an occurrence or accomplishments or a sequence of these, esp. when remarkable or extraordinary, viewed as effected by supernatural or divine agency; 2) a set of acts or incantations taken to be capable of introducing such occurrences or accomplishments. [WW #145]
- trick-or-treat!: traditional greeting used by a Trick-or-Treater; orig. used with the meaning ‘give me a treat or I will play a trick on you!’
- udo (n.): Japanese plant of ginseng family; shoots used in salads.
- ululate (yōōlʹyoo lāt’) vi. 1) to howl or hoot; 2) to wail or lament loudly. [WW #125]
- unitive (yōōʹnɘ tiv) adj. – 1) having or characterized by unity; 2) tending to unite. [WW #116]
- vaticinate (vɘ tisʹɘ nātʹ) vt., vi. – to prophesy; predict. [WW #112] Also on this dictionary page, is vatic: of or characteristic of a prophet.
- velleity (vɘ lēʹ tē) n. – 1) the weakest kind of desire or volition; 2) a mere wish that does not lead to the slightest action. [WW #235]
verism (virʹiz’ɘm) n. – realism or naturalism in the arts. [WW #84]
- vibist (viʹbist) n. – a person who plays a vibraphone [or vibraharp]. [WW #90]
- violaceous (vīʹɘ lāʹshɘs) adj. – violet in color. [WW #243]
- virago (n.): 1) quarrelsome, shrewish woman; 2) (archaic) strong, manlike woman; amazon.
- vitiate (vishʹē āt’) vt. – 1) to make imperfect, faulty, or impure, spoil, corrupt; 2) to weaken morally, debase, pervert; 3) to make (a contract, or other legal instrument) ineffective, invalidate. [WW #170]
- vitric (viʹtrik) adj. – of, having the nature of, or like glass. (Also, vitreous [viʹ’trē ɘs; glassy].) [WW #150]
- vituperate (vī tōōʹpɘr āt’) vt. – to speak abusively to or about; berate; revile. [WW #124]
- viva voce (viʹvɘ vō’sē) – by word of mouth, orally. [ WW #158]
- volitation (välʹɘ tāʹshɘn) n. – 1) the act of flying, flight; 2) the ability to fly. [WW #74]
- vug (or vugh, vugg; n.): cavity or hollow in a rock or lode, often lined with crystals. [A stunted, homely word with a dazzling, magical meaning, wouldn’t you agree?]
- vulpine (vɘlʹ pīn) adj. – 1) of or like a fox or foxes; 2) clever, cunning, etc. [WW #236]
- wame (n.): the belly (variation of womb).
- whiffet (hwif'it) n. – 1) a little whiff, or puff; 2) (Informal) an insignificant, esp. young, person. [WW #79]
- whim-wham (hwimʹhwam’) n. – 1) a fanciful ornament; bauble; trinket; 2) an odd notion, fancy, whim (the whim-whams [informal] – an uneasy, nervous feeling; the jitters). [WW #121]
- wodge (wăj) – n. (Brit. informal) a
chunk or lump of something [an object having a lumpy bulgy shape – like, I’m
feeling kinda wodgey today].- womanpower (woomʹɘn pouʹɘr) n. – the collective strength or potential for work, activism, etc. of the women in a given group, area, nation, etc. [WW #102]
- wye (wī) n. – 1) the letter Y; 2) something shaped like Y. [WW #128]
- xeric (zirʹik) adj. – of, pertaining to, or having dry or desert-like conditions. [WW #123]
- yeasayer (yāʹsāʹɘr) n. – a person who has an affirmative or positive attitude toward life. [WW #213]
- yuppie (yupʹē) n. – a young professional regarded variously as upscale, ambitious, materialistic, faddish, etc. [WW / RETRO #183]
- zarf (n.).: small metal holder, used in the Levant (Eastern Mediterranean region, i.e., Greece, Turkey) to hold a cup of hot coffee. [Sounds like the bark of an overly excited dog, huh?]
- zoea (n.): early, free-swimming larval stage of various decapod crustaceans [... decapitated what?!]
- zonule (zōnʹyōōl’) n. – a small zone, belt, band, girdle, etc.; adj. zonular. [ WW #156]
C’mon back soon! More added as time permits.
** FYI, in case you're wondering - on April 15, 2015, this page name was changed to "Wordplay Wednesday" because I didn't think far enough ahead to buy the domain for "Wordy" Wednesday. Sigh. That's ok. I think we now have an official equal, if not better, title.
