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.
Baffle and bewilder your family and friends with weird and wild new words and
skewed uses of the standards!
Abbreviated definitions are
derived from the 2014 or 2020 Webster’s New World
College Dictionary, Fifth Ed., unless stated otherwise. 200+ Wordplay words
2013-2019 archived here.
Featured Word: Wordplay Wednesday ~ MARCH 3, 2021:
DÉGRINGOLADE (,dā-,gran(ŋ)-gɘʹläd; 1873) – n. a rapid decline or deterioration (as in strength, position, or condition); downfall. [WW #303-M ~ Monthly Edition]
DÉGRINGOLADE (,dā-,gran(ŋ)-gɘʹläd; 1873) – n. a rapid decline or deterioration (as in strength, position, or condition); downfall. [WW #303-M ~ Monthly Edition]
NOTE: If you arrive at this page and the current "Wednesday" word is not shown above, or not in the list below, it's because my blog service is not cooperating. Please be patient and click on this page for the current word: PFP Talk.
<><><><><><><><>
<><><><><><><><>
- atavism (atʹɘ vizʹɘm) n. – 1) appearance in an individual of some characteristic found in a remote ancestor but not in nearer ancestors; 2) a] such a characteristic, b] an individual with such a characteristic (also aʹa vist; adj. at’avis’tic, atavic (ɘ tavʹik); adv. atʹavisʹti cal ly). [WW #300
- barghest (bärʹgestʹ) n. (Eng.
Folklore) – a doglike goblin whose appearance supposedly foreshadows death
or bad luck. [WW #290]
- cacodemon [or cacodaemon]
(kakʹō dēʹmɘn; 1594) n. – an evil spirit: demon. [WW #289]
- cacography (ka-ʹkä-grɘ-fē;
1580) n. –1) bad spelling – compare orthography;
2) bad handwriting – compare calligraphy. [WW #293]
- chary (cherʹē, charʹē)
adj. – 1) not taking chances, careful, cautious [to be chary of
offending others]; 2) not giving freely, sparing (chary of his
hospitality). [WW #261]
- colligate (kälʹɘ gātʹ) vt. – 1) to bind together; 2) to relate (isolated facts) by some reasonable explanation, esp. so as to evolve a general principle (n. – colligation). [WW #269]
- collocate (kälʹɘ kātʹ) vt. – to arrange, esp., to set side by side. [WW #270]
- colligate (kälʹɘ gātʹ) vt. – 1) to bind together; 2) to relate (isolated facts) by some reasonable explanation, esp. so as to evolve a general principle (n. – colligation). [WW #269]
- collocate (kälʹɘ kātʹ) vt. – to arrange, esp., to set side by side. [WW #270]
- dégringolade (,dā-,gran(ŋ)-gɘʹläd; 1873) – n. a rapid decline or
deterioration (as in strength, position, or condition); downfall. [WW #303-M ~ Monthly Edition]
- devilry (‘de-vɘl-rē; 14c.) [or deviltry] n.
– 1a) action performed with the help of the devil: witchcraft; b) wickedness;
c) mischief; 2) an act of devilry. [WW #292]
- éclat (ā-ʹklä; ʹā-; 1672) n. – 1) ostentatious display : publicity; 2) dazzling effect : brilliance; 3a) brilliant or conspicuous success, b) praise, applause. [WW #276]
- éclat (ā-ʹklä; ʹā-; 1672) n. – 1) ostentatious display : publicity; 2) dazzling effect : brilliance; 3a) brilliant or conspicuous success, b) praise, applause. [WW #276]
- éclaircissement (ā-kler-sēs-[ɘ-]män, 1667) n. – a clearing up of
something obscure : enlightenment.
[WW #301]
- elint (elʹint) n. – the gathering of intelligence by monitoring with electronic equipment from airplanes, ships, satellites, etc. [WW #254*]
- elint (elʹint) n. – the gathering of intelligence by monitoring with electronic equipment from airplanes, ships, satellites, etc. [WW #254*]
- eolian (also aeolian; ē-ʹō-lē- ɘn; -ʹōl-yɘn; 1622) adj.
– borne, deposited, produced, or eroded by the wind. [WW #302M ~ 1st Monthly Edition]
- epithalamium (epʹi thɘ lā’mē ɘm) n. – a song or poem in honor of a bride or bridegroom, or of both; nuptial song (also epithalamion; plural – epithalamia) [WW #271]
- esculent (esʹkyōō lɘnt) adj. – fit for food; edible (n. – something fit for food, esp. a vegetable). [WW #266]
- epithalamium (epʹi thɘ lā’mē ɘm) n. – a song or poem in honor of a bride or bridegroom, or of both; nuptial song (also epithalamion; plural – epithalamia) [WW #271]
- esculent (esʹkyōō lɘnt) adj. – fit for food; edible (n. – something fit for food, esp. a vegetable). [WW #266]
- esemplastic (,e-,sem-ʹplas-tik;
1817) adj. – shaping or having the power to shape disparate things into a
unified whole <the ~~ power of the poetic imagination –W.H. Gardner>. [WW #296]
- fantod(s) (ʹfan-,täd; 1839) n. – 1) a.
a state of irritability and tension; b. fidgets;
2) an emotional outburst: fit. [WW #294]
- flexuous (fleksʹyōō ɘs, flekʹshōō-) adj. – winding or wavering (adv. – flexuously). [WW #250*]
- flibbertigibbet (flibʹɘr tē jibʹit) n. – an irresponsible, flighty person. [WW #253*]
- gambol (gamʹbɘl) n. – a jumping and skipping about in play, frolic (vi. – gamboled or gambolled, gamboling or gambolling; to jump, etc.) [WW #272]
- georgic (ʹjȯr-jik) – 1; 1513) n. a poem dealing with agriculture [or husbandry]; 2; ca. 1720) adj. agricultural. [WW #282]
- golden-ager (‘gōl-dɘn-‘ā-jɘr; 1961) n. – an elderly and often retired person usu. engaging in club activities. [WW #285]
- kerflooey (kɘr-ʹflü-ē; 1918) adj. – awry, kaput. [WW #283]
- kickshaw (ʹkik-,shȯ; 1597) n. 1) a fancy dish, delicacy; 2) trinket, gewgaw. [WW #281]
- machree (mɘ krēʹ, mɘ khrēʹ) n. – literally, my heart: Anglo-Irish term of endearment (Mother machree) [WW #255*]
- malentendu (mȧ län tän düʹ; French) adj. – misunderstood, poorly conceived (n. – a misunderstanding). [WW #280]
- 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*]
- munificent (myōō nifʹɘ sɘnt) adj. – 1) very generous in giving; 2) characterized by or indicative of great generosity (a munificent reward). [WW #256*]- redivivus (redʹi vīʹvɘs) adj. – restored to life; reborn; reincarnated: usually used metaphorically. [Pronounced red uh vi-vus; WW #249*]
- nescience [ʹne-sh(ē-)ɘn(t)s; 1612] n. – lack of knowledge or awareness: ignorance (adj. – nescient). [WW #277]
- flexuous (fleksʹyōō ɘs, flekʹshōō-) adj. – winding or wavering (adv. – flexuously). [WW #250*]
- flibbertigibbet (flibʹɘr tē jibʹit) n. – an irresponsible, flighty person. [WW #253*]
- gambol (gamʹbɘl) n. – a jumping and skipping about in play, frolic (vi. – gamboled or gambolled, gamboling or gambolling; to jump, etc.) [WW #272]
- georgic (ʹjȯr-jik) – 1; 1513) n. a poem dealing with agriculture [or husbandry]; 2; ca. 1720) adj. agricultural. [WW #282]
- golden-ager (‘gōl-dɘn-‘ā-jɘr; 1961) n. – an elderly and often retired person usu. engaging in club activities. [WW #285]
- harlequinade (härʹli kwi nādʹ) n. – 1) that part of a play or pantomime in which the
Harlequin [comic character] and the clown play leading parts; 2) comic pranks,
lively and mischievous antics, buffoonery. [WW Foolplay Two-Fer #262, April Fool's Day 2020]
- impuissance (im pyōōʹi sɘns) n. – lack of power, weaknss (adj. – impuissant). [WW #259]
- impuissance (im pyōōʹi sɘns) n. – lack of power, weaknss (adj. – impuissant). [WW #259]
- innocuous ((i-ʹnä-kyɘ-wɘs;
1598) adj. – 1) producing no injury: harmless;
2) not likely to give offense or to arouse strong feelings or hostility: inoffensive, insipid. [WW #288]
- jink (ʹjiŋk;
1785) vi. – to move quickly or unexpectedly with sudden turns and shifts
(as in dodging).
Or (1786) n. –
1) a quick evasive turn, slip; 2) pl.,
franks, frolics, esp. high
jinks. [WW #299]
- kerflooey (kɘr-ʹflü-ē; 1918) adj. – awry, kaput. [WW #283]
- kickshaw (ʹkik-,shȯ; 1597) n. 1) a fancy dish, delicacy; 2) trinket, gewgaw. [WW #281]
- machree (mɘ krēʹ, mɘ khrēʹ) n. – literally, my heart: Anglo-Irish term of endearment (Mother machree) [WW #255*]
- malentendu (mȧ län tän düʹ; French) adj. – misunderstood, poorly conceived (n. – a misunderstanding). [WW #280]
- 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*]
- munificent (myōō nifʹɘ sɘnt) adj. – 1) very generous in giving; 2) characterized by or indicative of great generosity (a munificent reward). [WW #256*]- redivivus (redʹi vīʹvɘs) adj. – restored to life; reborn; reincarnated: usually used metaphorically. [Pronounced red uh vi-vus; WW #249*]
- nescience [ʹne-sh(ē-)ɘn(t)s; 1612] n. – lack of knowledge or awareness: ignorance (adj. – nescient). [WW #277]
- pandemonium (pan’de mo’ne em) n. – 1) the capital of Hell in Milton’s Paradise Lost; 2)
Hell; 3) a] any place or scene of wild disorder, noise, or confusion; b] wild
disorder, noise, or confusion. [WW #267]
- pleonasm (plēʹɘ nazʹɘm) n. – 1) the use of more words than are necessary for the expression of an idea, redundancy (Ex.: “plenty enough”); 2) an instance of this; 3) a redundant word or expression (adj. – pleonastic). [WW #258]
- poesy (ʹpō-ɘ-zē, -sē; 14th century) n. – 1) a. a poem or body of poems; b. poetry; c. artificial or sentimentalized poetic writing; 2.) poetic inspiration. [WW #284]
POETASTER (ʹpō-ɘ-,tas-tɘr; 1599) n. – an inferior poet. [WW #286]
- quire (kwīr) n. – a set of 24 or 25 sheets of paper of the same size and stock, the twentieth part of a ream. [WW #274]
- raillery (rāʹlɘr ē) n. – 1) light, good-natured ridicule or satire, banter; 2) a teasing act or remark. [WW #264]
- rhapsodist (rapʹsɘ dist) n. – 1) rhapsode*; 2) a person who rhapsodizes. [WW #265]
- sophism (säfʹizʹɘm) n. – a clever and plausible but fallacious argument or form of reasoning, esp. one intended to deceive. [WW #268]
- 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*]
- tautology (tô täʹɘ jē) n. – 1-a) needless repetition of an idea in different words, redundancy, pleonasm† (Ex.: “necessary essentials,” b) an instance of such repetition; 2) Logic: a proposition that is analytic (sense 5). [WW #257] [†Look for this accompanying word as next week’s Wordplay.]
- pleonasm (plēʹɘ nazʹɘm) n. – 1) the use of more words than are necessary for the expression of an idea, redundancy (Ex.: “plenty enough”); 2) an instance of this; 3) a redundant word or expression (adj. – pleonastic). [WW #258]
- poesy (ʹpō-ɘ-zē, -sē; 14th century) n. – 1) a. a poem or body of poems; b. poetry; c. artificial or sentimentalized poetic writing; 2.) poetic inspiration. [WW #284]
POETASTER (ʹpō-ɘ-,tas-tɘr; 1599) n. – an inferior poet. [WW #286]
- quire (kwīr) n. – a set of 24 or 25 sheets of paper of the same size and stock, the twentieth part of a ream. [WW #274]
- raillery (rāʹlɘr ē) n. – 1) light, good-natured ridicule or satire, banter; 2) a teasing act or remark. [WW #264]
- rhapsodist (rapʹsɘ dist) n. – 1) rhapsode*; 2) a person who rhapsodizes. [WW #265]
- sophism (säfʹizʹɘm) n. – a clever and plausible but fallacious argument or form of reasoning, esp. one intended to deceive. [WW #268]
- 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*]
- tautology (tô täʹɘ jē) n. – 1-a) needless repetition of an idea in different words, redundancy, pleonasm† (Ex.: “necessary essentials,” b) an instance of such repetition; 2) Logic: a proposition that is analytic (sense 5). [WW #257] [†Look for this accompanying word as next week’s Wordplay.]
- tenebrific (,te-nɘ-ʹbri-fik;
1785) adj. – 1) gloomy; 2) causing gloom or darkness. [WW #291]
- tomfoolery (tämʹfōōlʹɘr ē) n. – foolish behavior; silliness; nonsense. [Foolplay Two-Fer #292, April Fool's Day 2020]
- verdure (vurʹjɘr)
n. – 1) the fresh-green color of growing things, greenness; 2)
green growing plants and trees, green vegetation; 3) a vigorous or
flourishing condition (characteristic of/adj. – verdurous). [WW #260]
- tomfoolery (tämʹfōōlʹɘr ē) n. – foolish behavior; silliness; nonsense. [Foolplay Two-Fer #292, April Fool's Day 2020]
- verdure (v
- virago (vɘ-ʹrä(,)gō; 14c.) n. – 1) a loud overbearing woman : termagant; 2) a woman of great stature, strength, and courage (viraginous). [WW #295]
- veridical (vɘ ridʹI kɘl) adj. – 1) truthful, veracious; 2) corresponding with reality or facts (n. – veridicality) [WW #273]
- whencesoever (ʹhwen(t)(s)ʹsɘ-,we-vɘr; 1511) conj. – from whatever place or source.
[WW #297]
- whiffler (hwifʹlɘr) n.
– a person who vacillates or shifts position frequently in argument. [WW #263]
- widdershins (ʹwi-dɘr-shɘnzʹ; 1545) adv. – in a left-handed, wrong, or contrary direction: counterclockwise (also withershins) – compare deasil [clockwise]. [WW #279]
- zeitgeist (ʹtsīt-,gīst) n. – the general intellectual, moral, and cultural climate of an era. [WW #275]
- whiffler (hwifʹlɘr) n.
– a person who vacillates or shifts position frequently in argument. [WW #263]- widdershins (ʹwi-dɘr-shɘnzʹ; 1545) adv. – in a left-handed, wrong, or contrary direction: counterclockwise (also withershins) – compare deasil [clockwise]. [WW #279]
- zeitgeist (ʹtsīt-,gīst) n. – the general intellectual, moral, and cultural climate of an era. [WW #275]
No comments:
New comments are not allowed.