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#176745 05/08/08 11:10 PM
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tsuwm Offline OP
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one of the hoary word riddles one hears (too) often as a word maven is, "What are the four words in the English language ending in -dous?" (you must amend this to 'four common words' in order to avoid a pedantic word dump from some surly word mavens.)

just this afternoon I encountered another such, rescued from the Dustbin of Obsolete Words: jeopardous (last found in the wild by Murray in 1661, but used otherwhence since): jeopardous - Fraught with risk or danger; hazardous, risky, perilous, dangerous.

"In such snow he'd have led us into all sorts of thrilling and jeopardous traps..."
- Leif Enger, Peace Like a River (2002)

Enger actually goes on to use the word again:
"Had the man not opted for a late soak my brother's career might've ended on the spot, but wet feet and wood floors make jeopardous allies..." - ibid

I think it's a word that warrants wider use.

-tsuwm

tsuwm #176747 05/09/08 12:01 AM
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Apart from the semi-archaic and now apparently resurrected jeapardous... what are the others?
hazardous you mention, then there would be
horrendous
stupendous
tremendous
...are there really only four plus one?

The Pook #176750 05/09/08 03:11 AM
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tsuwm Offline OP
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did you not note the "common" qualifier? previously..

tsuwm #176752 05/09/08 03:34 AM
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 Originally Posted By: tsuwm
did you not note the "common" qualifier? previously..

of what?
I notice from that list in the link that several of them are in fact myths.

I also noticed no 16. "Maine is the only state whose name is just one syllable." I wonder if Jackie agrees? \:\)

The Pook #176754 05/09/08 04:45 AM
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tsuwm Offline OP
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>of what?

of the OP!

tsuwm #176755 05/09/08 05:46 AM
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no

The Pook #176756 05/09/08 10:19 AM
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> jeopardous

I like it!


formerly known as etaoin...
tsuwm #176767 05/09/08 01:31 PM
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What about a word meaning spotty? Leopardous? Or perhaps describing one who is too prone to wearing dancing hose? Leotardous? \:D

The Pook #176963 05/16/08 11:27 PM
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Disastrous? Calamitous? Both fairly common, I think.

The Pook #176964 05/17/08 02:36 AM
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couldous adj. concerned with possibility or capability: The motivational speaker gave his usual couldous talk.

Forget it; I made it up. Whew, now I don't have to go back and attempt to give the pronunciation.

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