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wofahulicodoc #228278 05/26/2018 1:13 AM
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LOVECRAFTIAN

PRONUNCIATION: (luhv-KRAF-tee-uhn)

MEANING: adjective: Of or relating to the work of H.P. Lovecraft: terrifyingly monstrous and otherworldly.

ETYMOLOGY: After H.P. Lovecraft (1870-1937), writer of fantasy and horror fiction. Earliest documented use: 1940s
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DOVECRAFTIAN - pacifistic

LONECRAFTIAN - always acting independently and without companion

LOVECRAFT? I CAN! - reply to the question "Who can teach me the art of a courtesan?"

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Believe it or not metanoia been discussed in this forum previously (if briefly). See here.
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METANOIA

PRONUNCIATION: (met-uh-NOI-uh)

MEANING: noun: A profound transformation in one’s outlook.

ETYMOLOGY: From Greek metanoia (a change of mind), from metanoein (to change one’s mind). Earliest documented use: 1577.
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METHANOIA (1) - the sense of persecution that accompanies amphetamine use

METHANOIA (2) - certainty that cow flatulence is omnipresent...and deliberate

MELANOIA - the conviction that one is going to die from a sun-related skin cancer

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CREMNOPHOBIA

PRONUNCIATION: m (krem-no-FO-bee-uh)

MEANING: noun: A fear of precipices or cliffs.

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin cremnos (overhanging cliff) + -phobia (fear). Earliest documented use: 1903.
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CREMONOPHOBIA - fear of a northern Italian city

CREAM? NO! PHOBIA - fear of drinking coffee with anything in it

CEREMONOPHOBIA - adherence to ritual is the way to avoid fear; or, adherence to ritual causes fear. Can be read either way, depending on which side of the bed you got up on!
(yes, I know it has two additional letters, not just one)


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OCHLOCRACY

PRONUNCIATION: (ahk-LAHK-ruh-see)

MEANING: noun: Government by the mob; mob rule.

ETYMOLOGY: From Middle French ochlocratie (mob rule), from Greek ochlokratia (mob rule), from ochlos (mob) + -kratia (-cracy, rule). Earliest documented use: 1594.
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OCHOCRACY - government by a Council of Eight

OCHS-OCRACY - government by a former New York Times publisher

OCCHIOCRACY - government by pun-loving voters ("the eyes have it")
(two changes in this one, also. Sorry; too tempting not to include!)

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ENANTIODROMIA

PRONUNCIATION: (i-nan-tee-uh-DROH-mee-uh)

MEANING: noun: The tendency of things, beliefs, etc., to change into their opposites.

ETYMOLOGY: From Greek enantio- (opposite) + dromos (running). Earliest documented use: 1917.
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EVANTIODROMIA - The answer to "Uncle Dromia, ¿como se llama el Senor Hunter que escribió 'The Blackboard Jungle'?"

ENFANTIODROMIA - one who likes little French kids

ENANXIODROMIA - tending to display one's innermost fears

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OBVERSE

PRONUNCIATION: (noun: OB-vuhrs, adjective: ob-VUHRS)

MEANING: noun: 1. The side of a coin, medal, etc. that has the main design.
2. The front or the principal side of anything.
3. A counterpart to something.
adjective: 1. Facing the observer.
2. Serving as a counterpart to something.

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin obvertere (to turn toward), from ob- (toward) + vertere (to turn). Ultimately from the Indo-European root wer- (to turn or bend), which is also the source of words such as wring, weird, writhe, worth, revert, and universe. Earliest documented use: 1656.

NOTES: The front of a coin is called the obverse, the other side is the reverse. The obverse is also termed as the head because the front typically portrays the head of someone famous. The reverse side is known as the tail even though it doesn’t show the tail of that famous person.
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JOBVERSE - all conceivable opportunities for gainful employment

SOBVERSE - tragic poetry

OB VERNE - Jules' brother, the obstetrician

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Why "elutriate"? Why not plain old "elute"?
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ELUTRIATE

PRONUNCIATION:
(i/ee/uh-LOO-tree-ayt)

MEANING:
verb tr.: To purify or separate, especially by washing or by straining.

ETYMOLOGY:
From Latin elutriare (to wash out). Earliest documented use: 1731.
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ELUCTRIATE - avoidable

ELUTRIAGE - using a filter to decide what's a goner, what's treatable, and what'll be OK without further intervention

ELUTHIATE - to saturate something with sulfur by passing it through a column of special resin

MELUTRIATE - to seprate honey into three portions

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STRAITEN

PRONUNCIATION: (STRAYT-n)

MEANING: verb tr.:
1. To put into difficulties.
2. To limit or restrict.
3. To make narrow.

ETYMOLOGY:From Old French estreit, from Latin strictus, past participle of stringere (to bind, draw tight). Ultimately from Indo-European root streig- (to stroke or press), which is also the source of strike, streak, strict, stress, and strain. Earliest documented use: 1552.
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STRAPITEN - what you do after you place your kid in the carseat

STRANTEN - city in northeastern Prensylwania

STRAYTEN - perfect, but wandering

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OBVERT

PRONUNCIATION: (ob-VUHRT)

MEANING: verb tr.: To turn so as to show a different side.

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin obvertere (to turn toward), from ob- (toward) + vertere (to turn). Ultimately from the Indo-European root wer- (to turn or bend), which is also the source of words such as wring, weird, writhe, worth, revert, and universe. Earliest documented use: 1583.
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JOBVERT - to sabotage your employer

OBVENT - a surgical drain placed after a Caesarian section

OBERT - what Nan Bobbsey says to her twin brother in exasperation

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IMPEND

PRONUNCIATION: (im-PEND)

MEANING: verb intr.:
1. To be about to happen; to loom.
2. To threaten or menace.

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin impendere (to hang over), from in- (towards, upon) + pendere (hang). Ultimately from the Indo-European root (s)pen- (to draw, to spin), which is also the source of pendulum, spider, pound, pansy, pendant, ponder, appendix, penthouse, depend, and spontaneous vilipend, filipendulous, perpend, equipoise, pendulous, and pensive. Earliest documented use: 1627.
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ISPEND - using Apple-pay much too much

LIMPEND - what you get when you dip the last quarter-inch of a piece of spaghetti into boiling water

HIMPEND - Good news, Honey, the ultrasound says we're having a boy!

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DEMIT

PRONUNCIATION: (di-MIT)

MEANING: verb tr.: To give up an office or a position; to dismiss.
verb intr.: To resign.

ETYMOLOGY: From Old French demettre, from Latin demittere (to dismiss, relinquish, send away), from dis- (away) + mittere (to send). Earliest documented use: 1529.
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DREMIT - the rapper pays his bill

DAMIT - 1. to tell beavers to obstruct a stream; 2. to swear at them afterwards

DEIT - what a dyslexic does to lose weight

DEFIT - to make one's clothes saggy-baggy (see DEIT above)

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WEN

PRONUNCIATION: (wen)

MEANING: noun:
1. A benign tumor of the skin.
2. A large overcrowded city.

ETYMOLOGY: From Old English wen (tumor, wart). Ultimately from the Indo-European root wen- (to beat or wound), which also gave us the word wound. Earliest documented use: 1000.

NOTES: In 1822, William Cobbett, farmer, pamphleteer, journalist, MP, and a champion of rural England, nicknamed the rapidly growing London, The Great Wen.
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iWEN - a benign tumor of the thumb, caused by excessive texting

SEN - half of a tiny licorice-flavored mouth-freshening lozenge, no longer made

WENU - 1. what you see if you look at the list of restaurant offerings upside down; 2. (French) past participle of WENIR

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SKAIL

PRONUNCIATION: (skayl)

MEANING: verb intr.: To scatter out, spill, or disperse.
verb tr.: To dismiss or to disband an assembly, group, etc.
noun: A scattering or dispersal.

ETYMOLOGY: Of Scottish or Scandinavian origin. Earliest documented use: 1300.
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SKAIRL - sound made by an Irish bagpipe

U. S. KAIL - American-grown leafy-green vegetable

ASKAIL - one more question and you're gonna get it...

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SLUE

PRONUNCIATION: (sloo)

MEANING: verb tr., intr.: To turn, swing, or slide in a particular direction.
noun: Such a turn, swing, or slide.

ETYMOLOGY: Of unknown origin. Earliest documented use: 1860.
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'S LUES - "it's syphilis," elided

ST. LUE - city in eastern Missouri, for short

SULUE - it was a woman at the helm of the USS Enterprise NCC-1701

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DREE

PRONUNCIATION: (dree)

MEANING: verb tr.: To endure or suffer.
adjective: Tedious or dreary.

ETYMOLOGY: From Old English dreogan. Earliest documented use: before 1000.

NOTES: The word is sometimes seen in the phrase “to dree one’s weird”, meaning to endure one’s fate.
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DREE - poet cummings got an honorary degree from his alma mater

DOEE - he who has been done unto

DREM - 1. Dorothy's aunt graduated from medical school;
2. Rapid-Eye-Movements during deep sleep, that rotate to the right

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WALE

PRONUNCIATION: (wayl)

MEANING: noun: 1. A streak mark raised on the skin, as by a whip.
2. One of the series of ribs in a fabric such as corduroy.
3. A plank along the side of a wooden ship.
4. A horizontal band or strip, for example, around a woven basket.
verb tr.: 1. To mark with wales.
2. To fasten or secure.

ETYMOLOGY: From Old English walu (mark of a lash). Earliest documented use: 1024.
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WABE - what to gyre and gimble in

WADLE - what infants in diapers do in warm calm shallow waters (portmanteau of waddle and wade)

WALET - to carry your dolars in


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KINESICS

PRONUNCIATION: (kuh/ky-NEE-siks/ziks)

MEANING: noun: The study of body movements, such as gestures or facial expressions, as a form of communication.

ETYMOLOGY: Coined by the anthropologist Ray Birdwhistell (1918-1994). From Greek kinesis (motion), from kinein (to move). Earliest documented use: 1952.
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KINESICK - I have arthritis of the tibia, and my ACL ain't too good either

KINESIBS - the calves are twins

DINESICS - supper is served just after 5:55

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AGNOSTIC

PRONUNCIATION: (ag-NOS-tik)

MEANING: noun: 1. One who believes that the existence of god is unknown or unknowable.
2. One who is noncommittal about something.
adjective: 1. Believing that the existence of god is unknown or unknowable.
2. Noncommittal.
3. Compatible with many platforms: not limited to a particular software, technology, etc.

ETYMOLOGY: Coined by the biologist Thomas Henry Huxley in 1869. From Greek a- (not) + gnosis (knowledge). Ultimately from the Indo-European root gno- (to know), which also gave us knowledge, prognosis, ignore, narrate, normal, know, can, notorious, notice, connoisseur, recognize, diagnosis, ignore, annotate, noble, narrate, anagnorisis (the moment of recognition), prosopagnosia (inability to recognize faces), and gnomon (raised arm of a sundial). Earliest documented use: 1869.
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AGRO-STIC - a primitive plow

Ag-NOSIC - I know there's silver in this mine; I can just smell it!

WAGNOSTIC - eschew the philosophy of Theodore Roosevelt; correlate of "Speak loudly!"

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GOOGOL

PRONUNCIATION: (GOO-gol, -guhl)

MEANING: noun: A number equivalent to 1 followed by 100 zeros (10^100).

ETYMOLOGY: Coined by Milton Sirotta, nine-year-old nephew of the mathematician Edward Kasner. Earliest documented use: 1940.
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GOÖDOL - a very large number, but incomplete

MOOGOL - head of a large dairy conglomerate

GOOGNOL - a grand British Punch-and-Judy show
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*a googolplex is 10^googol, i.e. 1 followed by a googol zeroes

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INSCAPE

PRONUNCIATION: (IN-skayp)

MEANING: noun: The unique essence of a person, place, or thing, especially as expressed in a work of art such as a poem.

ETYMOLOGY: Coined by the poet and priest Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844-1889) who, in turn, was inspired by the philosopher Duns Scotus (c. 1266-1308). Earliest documented use: 1868.
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INSHAPE - the form of your concavity

INSCOPE - elected politicians deal with adversity

GINSCAPE - how the world looks after you've had too many martinis

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BLURB

PRONUNCIATION: (bluhrb)

MEANING: noun: A short description of a creative work, such as a book, film, etc. used for promotional purposes.
verb tr.: To write a brief description of a creative work.

ETYMOLOGY: coined by Gelett Burgess (1866-1951) for promoting his book Are You a Bromide?. The dust jacket of this book featured a Miss Belinda Blurb singing its praises. Earliest documented use: 1914
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BOURB - a preferred drink for some, on current foreshortened lingo

BLURE - not as good for catching fish as an a-lure

BLEURB - running-back for the Cheeseheads football team

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MALFEASANCE

PRONUNCIATION: (mal-FEE-zuhns)

MEANING: noun: An illegal action, especially by a public official.

NOTES: Not all members of a family are alike though they may have things in common. Two sisters of malfeasance are:
nonfeasance: a failure to act where there’s an obligation to
misfeasance: an unlawful exercise of a lawful act

ETYMOLOGY: From Anglo-Norman malfaisance (wrongdoing), from Latin malefacere (to do wrong), from mal- (bad) + facere (to do). Earliest documented use: 1663.
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MALLFEASANCE - shoplifting

MELFEASANCE - voicing Warner Brothers cartoon characters

MALFEESANCE - demanding a kickback

MALFEASTANCE - gluttony

MAL Fe: A SEANCE - evil iron communicates with the spirits of the Dead

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NEPOTISM

PRONUNCIATION: (NEP-uh-tiz-uhm)

MEANING: noun: Favoritism shown to relatives and friends, especially in business or political appointments.

ETYMOLOGY From Italian nepotismo, from Latin nepos (grandson, nephew). Ultimately from the Indo-European root nepot- (grandson, nephew) that is also the source of the words nephew and niece. Earliest documented use: 1669.

NOTES: The word originated from the practice of popes in the Roman Catholic Church to confer important positions to their sons. Since a pope had taken the vow of chastity, his son was euphemistically called a nephew.
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NEPHOTISM - 1. favoring the son of ones' siblings; 2. a murky way to run an enterprise (variant: NEPHELOTISM)

YEPOTISM - surrounding oneself with sycophants and yes-men. Antonym: NOPOTISM

NEROTISM - burning the city to fight the rat infestation

NYPOTISM - the Oldest Established Permanent Floating Poker Game In New York

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EMOLUMENT

PRONUNCIATION: (i-MOL-yuh-muhnt)

MEANING: noun: Payment, salary, or fees from an office or employment.

ETYMOLOGY:From Latin emolumentum (profit, advantage), from ex- (out) + molere (to grind). Earliest documented use: 1480.

NOTES: Earlier an emolument was a miller’s fee for grinding corn. Today, emolument is what you get for the daily grind. What have emoluments got to do with the politics today? See this article from Time about the president’s violation of the foreign emoluments clause of the US Constitution.
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EMPLUMENT - noun (or verb) covering of (or with) feathers (tar optional)

E-MONUMENT - a digital shrine

'EMOLUMEN - the brightness of an Englishman's blood

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COLLUSION

PRONUNCIATION: (kuh-LOO-zhuhn)

MEANING: noun: A secret cooperation for fraud, treason, etc.

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin colludere (to play together, to conspire), from col- (with) + ludere (to play), from ludus (play). Ultimately from Indo-European root leid- (to play), which also gave us allude, delude, elude, illusion, ludicrous, Ludo, ludic, and prelude. Earliest documented use: 1397.

NOTES: From the literal meaning “to play together” to the current meaning “to conspire”, this word has gone to the wrong side of town. But it’s not the only one. The word conspire means, literally, “to breathe together”, meaning to be in harmony. We shouldn’t insist that because a word’s origin means so-and-so, the word should mean the same today any more than that because a person is born into a distinguished family he must be a fine person.
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COLLES ION - a charged fracture of the distal end of the forearm

COLLUS ICON - the image representing the Collus Corporqtion

COL-FUSION - the Holy Grail of the End-Fossil-Fuel-Dependence coalition

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IMPEACH

PRONUNCIATION: (im-PEECH)

MEANING: verb tr.:
1. To charge a public official with misconduct in office.
2. To challenge the credibility of someone.

ETYMOLOGY: From Anglo-Norman empecher (to ensnare), from Latin impedicare (to catch or entangle), from pedica (fetter), from pes/ped (foot). Earliest documented use: 1380.

NOTES: When someone is impeached, he has his foot caught in the law, literally speaking. From being on a pedestal (literally, foot of a stall) to getting impeached can be a short journey, but sometimes it takes a long time. Let the law do its job! Patience is rewarded.
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Caveat: To impeach is to accuse, not [necessarily] to convict. Innocent until proven guilty, and all that.
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WIMP EACH - not a spine to be found in the lot of 'em

I.M.PEI: ACH! - a Berliner's impatience at the Chinese-American architect

IMBEACH - to move far back up the sand, away from the breakers

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FORSWEAR

PRONUNCIATION: (for-SWAR)

MEANING: verb tr., intr.:
1. To renounce something.
2. To commit perjury.

ETYMOLOGY: From Old English forswerian, from for- (away, off) + swerian (to swear). Ultimately from the Indo-European root swer- (to speak), which also gave us the word answer. Earliest documented use: before 1000.
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FORSKWEAR - forceful, definite, forthright

FORKSWEAR - what you do after you accidentally step on the wrong end of a pitchfork and it bounds up and whops you upside the head

FORSE WEAR - You put on those clothes or, so help me, you'll never...

CORSE WE AR - We're in favor of Motherhood and Apple pie, aren't we?


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CIRCUMVALLATE

PRONUNCIATION: (suhr-kuhm-VAL-ayt)

MEANING: verb tr.: To surround by a defensive structure, such as a rampart.

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin circumvallare (to surround with a wall), from circum- (around) + vallum (rampart). Earliest documented use: 1661.
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CIRCUMVILLATE - having finger-like projections all around the outside

CIRCUSVALLATE - Greatest Show on Earth, and with free parking, too!

CIRCUM-ALL-ATE - just about at everybody's dinnertime

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ROWEL

PRONUNCIATION: (ROU-uhl)

MEANING: noun: A small spiked wheel at the end of a spur attached behind the boots of a rider and used to goad a horse.
verb tr.: To prick; to vex.

ETYMOLOGY: From Old French roele, from Latin rotella (small wheel), from rota (wheel). Earliest documented use: 1299.
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ROWEO - cowboy regatta

RODEL - buckaroo singing style

ROWEE - the one acted upon by the rower

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SUBDUCT

PRONUNCIATION: (suhb-DUHKT)

MEANING: verb tr., intr.: To push or move below something.

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin subducere (to draw up, withdraw, remove), from sub- (below) + ducere (to draw, lead). Earliest documented use: 1556.
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SUBDICT - mutter under one's breath

SiBDUCT - to kidnap your brother or sister

STUBDUCT - the air vent sticks out just far enough for you to hit it with your toe

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CONTUND

PRONUNCIATION: (kuhn-TUHND)

MEANING: verb tr.: To thrash or bruise.

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin contundere, from con- (with) + tundere (to beat). Earliest documented use: 1599.
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CONFUND - Prisoners' Legal Assistance

COSTUND - knocked 'em both out at the same time

CONTUNA - how you eat a melt in Mexico City

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APPLE-POLISH

PRONUNCIATION: (AP-uhl pol-ish)

MEANING: verb tr., intr.: To ingratiate oneself.

ETYMOLOGY: From the former practice of schoolchildren giving apples to their teachers. Earliest documented use: 1930s.
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DAPPLE, POLISH - the last two steps in creating a pottery jar

AMPLE POLISH - what it takes to satisfy your Sergeant

APP: E-POLISH - let your iPhone teach you to speak like a Warsaw native

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FIG LEAF

PRONUNCIATION: (FIG leef)

MEANING: noun: Something used to cover, usually inadequately, what may be shameful or embarrassing.

ETYMOLOGY: From the Biblical story (Genesis 3:7) in which Adam and Eve sew fig leaves to cover their nakedness. Earliest documented use: 1535.
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FINGLE AF - Scottish Air Force base, artfully concealed in a cave in the Hebrides Islands

FIG LOAF - a giant-sized Fig Newton

BIG LEAF - a little-known but highly prized variety of marijuana

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GRAPEVINE

PRONUNCIATION: (GRAYP-vyn)

MEANING: noun: An informal transmission of information, rumors, gossip, etc., by word of mouth.

ETYMOLOGY: Shortening of grapevine telegraph, apparently from the spreading of a vine to the spread of a telegraph network and tendrils to wire coils. Earliest documented use: 1867.
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FRA PEVINE - a little-known French monk from Marseilles

GRAF EVINE - a medieval Count from the Alsace-Lorraine region

GRAN PEVINE - a sports-car rally held on the Italian Riviera

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TOP BANANA

PRONUNCIATION: (TOP buh-NAN-uh)

MEANING: noun: The leader of a company, group, etc.

ETYMOLOGY: From the use of bananas as a prop in burlesque shows. Earliest documented use: 1953. A person in a secondary role is called a second banana
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TOP BANDANA - a kerchief for the crown of your head

TOPHA NANA - my Grandma has terrible gout

TOP MAÑANA - it's gonna be the best tomorrow ever!

TOMB ANANA - Lara Croft's unrecognized twin sister


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Fifth-Letter change:
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PLUMMY

PRONUNCIATION: (PLUM-ee)

MEANING: adjective
1. Of or relating to plums.
2. Choice; desirable.
3. Rich and mellow (voice).
4. Carefully articulated and affected (accent), thought typical of the English upper class.

ETYMOLOGY: From Old English plume (plum). Earliest documented use: 1724.
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PLUMBY - leaden

PLUMEY - feathery

PLUMNY - an island, off the coast of New York

PLUMPY - n., derogatory fat-shaming word

PLUMMA - another island, off the coast of Massachusetts

PLUMMx - yet more islands, off the coast of Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri - you get the idea!

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CYNOPHOBIA

PRONUNCIATION: (sy-nuh-FO-bee-uh)

MEANING: noun: A fear of dogs.

ETYMOLOGY:
From Greek kyon (dog) + -phobia (fear). U timately from the Indo-European root kwon- (dog), which also gave us canine, chenille (from French chenille: caterpillar, literally, little dog), kennel, canary, hound, dachshund, corgi, cynic, cynosure, and canaille. Earliest documented use: 1879.
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CYANOPHOBIA - fear of blue (and, by extension, fear of sadness)

CYNCPHOBIA - fear of doing things together

Y NO PHOBIA - fearless in Madrid

CYNPHOBIA - fear of doing wrong things

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PHILLUMENIST

PRONUNCIATION: (fi-LOO-muh-nist)

MEANING: noun: A collector of matchboxes, matchbooks, or their labels.

ETYMOLOGY: From Greek phil- (loving) + Latin lumen (light). Earliest documented use: 1943.
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PHILLUMENISN'T - doesn't collect matchboxes, matchbooks, or their labels

PHILLUTENIST - loves harp music

UPHILLUMENIST - lights up the mountains from down in the the valley

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VIRILOCAL

PRONUNCIATION: (vir-i-LOK-uhl)

MEANING: adjective: Relating to the custom of living with the family of the husband.

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin vir (man) + local. Ultimately from the Indo-European root wi-ro- (man), which also gave us werewolf, virile, virtue, virtuoso, werewolf, world, virago, virtu, German Weltanschauung (worldview), and Sanskrit veerya (brave). Earliest documented use: 1948.
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VIRI-LO-CALF - socks just above the ankle

VIRULOCAL - a well-contained epidemic

SIRILOCAL - speaking directly into your iPhone


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PATHOPHOBIA

PRONUNCIATION: (path-uh-FO-bee-uh)

MEANING: noun: An irrational fear of disease.

ETYMOLOGY: From Greek patho- (suffering, disease) + -phobia (fear). Earliest documented use: 1873. A synonym is nosophobia. A related word is hypochondria.
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PATHOPHOBIA - 1. fear of staying on the beaten track; 2. fear of pity or sadness

PLATHOPHOBIA - fear of Sylvia

PATHOPHOEBIA - a sick little bird

PATHOPHONIA - laryngitis

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