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Sep 7, 2025
This week’s themeWords made with combining forms This week’s words theomachy kleptocrat thanatophobia euryphagous uranomania How popular are they? Relative usage over time AWADmail archives Index Next week’s theme Words relating to religion 
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AWADmail Issue 1210A Compendium of Feedback on the Words in A.Word.A.Day and Other Tidbits about Words and LanguageSponsor’s Message: “Way better than Wordle.” One Up! is the wickedest word game in the (real) world. “Brilliant. Again, brilliant!” A fabulous anytime gift. Shop now. From: Anu Garg (words at wordsmith.org) Subject: Interesting stories from the Net What Are the Most American and Most British Words? The Washington Post Permalink Is Pedantry Doomed? The Financial Times Permalink From: Anu Garg (words at wordsmith.org) Subject: Words made with combining forms What words can you make from the ten combining forms featured this week? I asked readers this week. Here’s a selection from the responses.
Eurykleptocracy: Eury- (wide), klepto- (theft), and -crat (ruler/ system of
rule). The form of government in the United States circa 2016-2020 and
more obviously 2025-present.
-Sarah Ann Smith, Hope, Maine (sarah sarahannsmith.com) Theophagous: A Greek cannibal. -Douglas Raybeck, Amherst, Massachusetts (doug.raybeck gmail.com) My mother was a Catholic and attempted to raise me as one. In the sacrament of Holy Communion, the priest transmutes the hosts into the body of Christ. The hosts are then consumed by the communicants, who thus can be described as theophagous. -SarahRose Werner, Saint John, Canada (swerner nbnet.nb.ca) Kleptophagous: Eating food from other people’s plates. -Barbara Anuzis, Fairview, North Carolina (barbara.anuzis gmail.com) Theomaniaphobia: A well-founded fear of persecution by those obsessed with the belief in one true deity who looks surprisingly like them. Thanatocrat: A national leader who demolishes his own government’s agency responsible for medical research, public health, and infectious disease control. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com)
Email of the Week -- Brought to you buy One Up! -- Playing mind games is wicked fun.
Euryphobia (wide, fear): the fear, typically experienced after a few days of holiday feasting , that you will not be able to fit into the new pants you got for Christmas. Eurymachy (wide, battle): the fight in which you engage after discovering that, in fact, you cannot fit into those pants. -John Schoonover, Sayre, Pennsylvania (schoonoj gmail.com) Euryuranomania: An obsessive desire for wide open skies or open heavens, in life and/or in death. -Sarah Solomon, Binghamton, New York (sarahharrietsolomon gmail.com) Eurytheophobia: The fear of fat gods; see also Buddhadread and Cupidaversion. -Neil Tesser, Chicago, Illinois (ressetn aol.com) He thinks of himself as a uranocrat, of course, but isn’t our portly Orange Emperor better described as a eurycrat? -Bob Richmond, Maryville, Tennessee (rsrichmond gmail.com) From: Michele J. Bernal (mjbernalberkeley gmail.com) Subject: thanatophobia I was happy to see you share this Rabindranath Tagore quote, “Death is not extinguishing the light; it is putting out the lamp because the dawn has come.” My 93-year-old mom loved this quote and when she passed away in 2013 I read it at her service. I wonder how many other folks have read it at their loved one’s funeral. Michele J. Bernal, Berkeley, California From: Ken Hines (kshrink gmail.com) Subject: Thanatophobia Edgar Allan Poe knew how to milk thanatophobia as well as anyone. I still cannot see a pendulum without imagining a slicing blade (“The Pit and the Pendulum”). And there’s “The Tell-Tale Heart” and “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” to boot. He didn’t offer an “afterlife” for a booby prize, either, as religions do. Ken Hines, Saint Joseph, Missouri From: Kenneth Gorelick (pulmon me.com) Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--euryphagous I guess euryphagous is different from europhagous, which describes Putin. Kenneth Gorelick, Newtown Square, Pennsylvania From: James Watson (jwatson6 jhmi.edu) Subject: Warblers
USAGE: “Yellow-rumped warblers are euryphagous. They eat insects in summer. But when the insects disappear in fall, the birds switch to berries and seeds -- and get along quite well.” Jerry Sullivan; Field &aamp; Street; Chicago Reader; Nov 24, 1988. We had a fun experience with yellow-rumped warblers, at the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, on the eastern shore of Maryland. We call it our “Disney moment”. We were walking on a trail there, and started to see (and hear) birds near us in the trees. Turns out it was a flock of this species, following us through the woods. They would perch on trees as we were passing, take a look at us from low branches, then move to another tree to watch us as we moved on. Back at the visitor center, we described the bird, and were told it was the warbler. A magical walk in the woods. Jim Watson, Pikesville, Maryland From: Steve Benko (stevebenko1 gmail.com) Subject: Your note on Carl Sagan (Re: uranomania) You wrote: “Carl Sagan reminded us, ‘We are made of star-stuff.’ True, but best not to let that go to one’s head. After all, so are turnips and tapeworms.” But Carl Sagan’s point was the opposite. He continued, “We are a way for the universe to know itself,” and also wrote, “We have begun to contemplate our origins: starstuff pondering the stars.” In other words, humans are unique in our self-consciousness, our wonder, our curiosity, our thirst for knowledge for its own sake. If only this overlay of our cerebral functioning was in control of our lower-brain instincts towards conquest, violence, greed, tribalism, territoriality, disregard for the long-term consequences of manipulating our environment in the pursuit of short-term material wealth etc., rather than the other way around, we could be a really great species. Steve Benko, New York, New York From: Lisa Marun (lisamarun gmail.com) Subject: Combining forms Here’s an example of a combined word made out of necessity: xenoparous: one mother for two species via obligate cross-species cloning in ants (Nature). Nature is fantastically creative, resourceful, and clever! Our human ways of a) perceiving and b) communicating about the world will never keep up with the tools and resources nature provides to other species. Lisa Marun, Carlsbad, California  
Subject: kleptocrat and euryphagous Initiated by his sons Don Jr. and Eric, Trump had plunged into the cryptocurrency game with their “American Bitcoin” enterprise. It’s yet another grifting venture like his signature $60 Bible, steaks, wines, casino, watch, “university”, golden sneakers... et al. Trump has been emboldened by last year’s SCOTUS ruling that he has “absolute immunity” from criminal prosecution for any acts taken as part of his core constitutional duties. Clearly, the kryptocratic grift continues. But grifting is not a constitutional duty. 
Call it serendipity. The usage example for our word “euryphagous” just happened to feature one of my favorite warblers, the yellow-rumped, one of our SoCal harbingers of winter’s passing and the arrival of spring. Unlike almost all other North American warbler species, yellow-rumps tend to migrate and hang together in huge flocks. In spring, here in the L.A. area, I’ve often observed newly-arrived yellow-rumps snatching insects off the grass, or eating seeds, or grubs. The consummate euryphages. Alex McCrae, Van Nuys, California Anagrams
Make your own anagrams and animations. Limericks theomachy Their theomachy keeps them at odds, Wagner’s Wotan and Fricka, those gods. In the opera they spat. They are quite good at that, As the audience sleepily nods. -Rudy Landesman, New York, New York (ydur36 hotmail.com) Remember when Trump and Musk brawled? Theomachy’s what that is called. Those powerful guys, Whom many despise, Went at it, and we were enthralled. -Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com) What a terrible tempest tonight! What gods have begun a great fight? Such thunder! Such lightning! Theomachy’s fright’ning! In beddy I’ll cuddle up tight! -Bindy Bitterman, Chicago, Illinois (bindy eurekaevanston.com) “We marsupials don’t do theomachy; That’s for creatures like you,” said the wallaby. “While you think yourselves tops, Only humans need cops; We eat grass, you do nuclear rocketry.” -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) kleptocrat This kleptocrat shows no restraint. A man with a conscience he ain’t. His moves are illicit, With Congress complicit -- From them comes no word of complaint! -Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com) Now Trump loves his kleptocrat gold. He’s there for the grift, truth be told. The emoluments clause Does not give him pause; He’ll get richer than Croesus of old. -Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com) “Make my bank account great!” said the kleptocrat. Who’s to blame, though? We chose to elect a rat. To make money, his ilk Would his own voters bilk; To a mouse, if he could, he would sell a cat. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) thanatophobia Scared to death was the young queen Zenobia. Her fear verged on thanatophobia. A virgin was she, And the king -- so said he: “Have no fear. I don’t plan to disrobe ya.” -Rudy Landesman, New York, New York (ydur36 hotmail.com) All thanatophobia fears Can bring those who suffer to tears. When Joni Ernst cries “Every one of us dies!” She’s sending to voters these jeers. -Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com) “Political thanatophobia Is the way I maintain my control o’ ya,” Said Donald. “You schlubs Fear what scares all Repubs: An ambassadorship to Monrovia. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) euryphagous To food I can never say no. At eating I’m known as a pro. And euryphagous? Yes! So, you don’t have to guess: I even enjoy escargot. -Rudy Landesman, New York, New York (ydur36 hotmail.com) Euryphagous eaters all say, “There is nothing quite like a buffet! With so much to try, I’ll pile my plate high -- So please just get out of my way!” -Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com) Why limit oneself in your diet? I’m euryphagous! You all should try it! Eat a menu that varies Meats, veggies, fruits, berries -- Your tummy should be a food riot! -Bindy Bitterman, Chicago, Illinois (bindy eurekaevanston.com) “I will need to bulk up and be vigorous, And that calls for a diet euryphagous. That way I’ll fly higher Than anyone prior; What stories they’ll tell!” exclaimed Icarus. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) uranomania “As I’m really, a god, it’s insane o’ ya To accuse me of uranomania,” Said Donald. “My power Grows greater each hour.” That man has the thickest of crania. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) Puns “You’ve been so kind to me, Theomachy-avellian you’re not,” said Vincent to the brother who believed in him and supported him. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) “Doc, the only thing I can stand to eat is a hot ham and cheese sandwich baked with béchamel sauce.” “Ah! Zees ees classic case of Croque Monsi-euryphagous Syndrome.” -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) “Doc, at nude beaches I’m terrified to take both socks all the way off.” “Ah! Zees ees classic case of thanatophobia.” -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) “When Scrooge accused Tiny Tim’s father of wasting coal, the child, though malnourished and sic-kleptocrat-chit’s defense,” wrote Dickens. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) The astronomy professor had an obsession with the seventh planet from the sun. His student referred to it as his uranomania. -Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com) “Doc, I can’t resist watching dogs mark their territory on fire hydrants and utility poles.” “Ah! Zees ees classic case of canine uranomania.” -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
America has been called a melting pot, but it seems better to call it
a mosaic, for in it each nation, people, or race which has come to its
shores has been privileged to keep its individuality, contributing at the
same time its share to the unified pattern of a new nation. -King Baudouin
of Belgium (7 Sep 1930-1993)
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