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ORYZIVOROUS
PRONUNCIATION: (oh-ri-ZIV-uhr-uhs)
MEANING: adjective: Rice-eating.
ETYMOLOGY: From Latin oryza (rice) + -vorous (feeding). Earliest documented use: 1857.
________________________
OROZIVOROUS - Gold-eating. Not recommended. See the legend of King Midas
OYZIVOROUS - eating yourself up inside with worry. Also not recommended.
OREZIVOROUS - eating creme sandwich cookies. Recommended Warned about by the dentist who fills your cavities.
TORYZIVOROUS - what the Whigs wish their party could be in Parliament
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GAMINESQUE
PRONUNCIATION: (gam-uh-NESK)
MEANING: adjective: Playfully impudent or mischievous.
ETYMOLOGY: From French gamine (a pert, impudent, or mischievous girl), feminine of gamin (a young boy working as a glassblower’s assistant), of obscure origin. Earliest documented use: 1886.
____________________
GARMINESQUE - like a dedicated GPS tracker
AMINESQUE - like an organic acid
GAMINE-SLUE - when the imp's sled spins 'round and 'round on the way down the hill
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TWIFORKED
PRONUNCIATION: (TWAI-forkt)
MEANING: adjective: Divided in two; two-pronged.
ETYMOLOGY: From Old English twi- (two) + forked, from forca, from Latin furca (fork, yoke). Earliest documented use: 1635.
_____________________________
TWOFORKED - one in each hand - can eat ambidextrously (and twice as fast).
Compare TRI-FORKED, which pushes the concept one further for polybrachiates
TWIN-FORKED - banished to southern New Mexico
TWICORKED - hermetically sealed, like some wine-bottles. An extra-long corkscrew is required to open such.
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AMAXOPHOBIA
PRONUNCIATION: (uh-mak-suh-FOH-bee-uh)
MEANING: noun: The fear of riding in a vehicle.
ETYMOLOGY: From Greek hamaxa (wagon) + -phobia (fear).
__________________________
AMAYOPHOBIA - fear of dry BLT sandwiches
AMATOPHOBIA - fear of conjugating Latin verbs
ASAXOPHOBIA - fear of classical jazz
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HUMDINGER
PRONUNCIATION: (hum-DING-uhr)
MEANING: noun: Someone or something outstanding, remarkable, or unusual.
ETYMOLOGY: Of uncertain origin. Perhaps a blend of hummer and dinger, both meaning someone or something exceptional. Earliest documented use: 1883.
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BUMDINGER - a pitched baseball that hits the batter in the backside (see also HAMDINGER)
HUMWINGER - a small bird whose wings move extremely fast, permitting it to hover in the air
HUMMING-ER - the resident in the Emergency Room was singing more quietly to herself
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RIPSNORTER
PRONUNCIATION: (RIP-snor-tuhr)
MEANING: noun: Something or someone remarkable in excellence, intensity, strength, etc.
ETYMOLOGY: A fanciful coinage from rip (to tear) + snorter (something extraordinary). Earliest documented use: 1840.
_______________________
R.I.P. SHORTER - fictitious short obituary for a long distance runner
RIPE SNORTER - cocaine user in dire need of a bath
RIPS NORTEL - FCC complaint prior to the company filing for bankruptcy
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BALLYHOO
PRONUNCIATION: (BAL-ee-hoo)
MEANING: noun: 1. Clamor or uproar. 2. Sensational or extravagant promotion.
verb tr.: To promote or publicize in a sensational or extravagant manner.
ETYMOLOGY: Of uncertain origin. Earliest documented use: 1901.
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BALL ! SHOO ! - what you say when the dog keeps jumping up to lick your face instead of chasing the ball you just threw
BALL-Y-HOOP - name for the game of basketball, in Madrid
BALLY HOBO - vagrant who mostly haunts a Las Vegas hotel/casino
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FOOFARAW
PRONUNCIATION: (FOO-fuh-raw)
MEANING: noun:
1. Excessive or unnecessary ornamentation.
2. Fuss; commotion.
ETYMOLOGY: Foofaraw is a word from the American West, but how was it formed? Nobody knows. Perhaps from French fanfaron or Spanish fanfarrón. Earliest documented use: 1848.
____________________________
FOOBAR - AW! - expression of dismay upon seeing a situation messed up beyond all recognition...
FOE OF ARAW - Araw's mortal enemy
FOO FARAD - a placeholder in the capacitance calculation formula
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LOLLAPALOOZA
PRONUNCIATION: (lol-uh-puh-LOO-zuh)
MEANING: noun: An exceptional person, thing, or event.
ETYMOLOGY: Of uncertain origin. Earliest documented use: 1904.
NOTES: The word has a number of variants: lollapaloosa, lalapalooza, lallapalooza, but they all mean the same thing: something or someone truly remarkable. It’s also the name of a popular music festival.
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LOLA PALOOZA - Frankie Palooza's wife. Whatever she wants, she gets...
LOLLA PALOOKA - the boxer's daughter, who also starred in a movie
OLLA PALOOZA - an earthenware jar created and decorated by the Italian artist Ignatio Palooza
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OMBRIFUGE
PRONUNCIATION: (OM-bruh-fyoozh)
MEANING: noun: Something that provides protection from the rain, especially an umbrella.
ETYMOLOGY: From Greek ombro- (rain shower) + -fuge (repelling). Earliest documented use: 1869.
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HOMBRIFUGE - Señor is running away
UMBRIFUGE - a spinning device to mix brown crayons
OMB REFUGE - a place of shelter from the government's Office of Management and Budget
______________________________
PS: I thought an "umbrella" something that, by providing shade (umbra), protected from the sun like a "parasol," rather than from the rain? Or do shade and rainshowers share a common derivation?
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EXEMPLUM
PRONUNCIATION: (ig-ZEM-pluhm)
MEANING: noun:
1. An example or model.
2. An anecdote used to illustrate a moral truth or support an argument.
ETYMOLOGY: From Latin exemplum (example), from eximere (to take out), from ex- (out) + emere (to take). Ultimately from the Indo-European root em- (to take or distribute), which also gave us example, sample, assume, consume, prompt, ransom, vintage, redeem, diriment, subsume, and peremptory. Earliest documented use: 1482.
__________________________
EXEMPLUS - add something to XM
EXAM PLUM - a very easy test question
EXEMBLUM - a company's previous logo
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SPLANCHNIC
PRONUNCIATION: (SPLANGK-nik)
MEANING: adjective: Of or relating to the internal organs or viscera.
ETYMOLOGY: From splanchnicus, from Greek splankhnikos, from splankhna (entrails). Earliest documented use: 1694.
__________________
SPLANCH - NICE ! - what a great Cannonball dive that was!
S-PLAN CYNIC - I'm not very optimistic about the nineteenth plan
'SPLAN CHIC - On the other hand, it's very much à la mode...
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SINGULTUS
PRONUNCIATION: (sing-GUHL-tuhs)
MEANING: noun: A hiccup.
ETYMOLOGY: From Latin singultus (sob, gasp, hiccup). Earliest documented use: 1754.
____________________
I SINGUL. TU? - Casanova's pickup line
SIN, 'GUSTUS - encourage the Emperor to misbehave
USING "ULTUS" - something never to be done in Latin class
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INDAGATE
PRONUNCIATION: (IN-duh-gayt)
MEANING: verb tr.: To search into; to investigate.
ETYMOLOGY: From Latin indagare (to search). Earliest documented use: 1623.
_____________________
INDIAGATE - political scandal in New Delhi
WIN DA GATE - take home the door prize at a Brooklyn show
INK A GATE - it happens on Halloween if you ignore "Trick or Treat!"
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EFTSOONS
PRONUNCIATION: (eft-SOONZ)
MEANING: adverb:
1. Soon after.
2. Again.
3. From time to time.
ETYMOLOGY: From Old English ęft (again) + sona (soon). Ultimately from the Indo-European root apo- (off or away), which is also the source of after, off, awkward, post, puny, appose, and apposite. Earliest documented use: 1000.
____________________________
LEFT'SOON'S - departed at the earliest possible moment
EFT'NOONS - times when the sun is descending
EFTSOOPS - what you make when there are no newts to put in the chowder
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FAUTE DE MIEUX
PRONUNCIATION: (foht duh MYOO/MYUH)
MEANING: adverb: For want of something better.
ETYMOLOGY: From French faute (lack) + de (of) + mieux (better). Earliest documented use: 1766.
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FAUTE LEMIEUX - the Penguins are in trouble; Mario can't play tonight.
FAURÉ DE MIEUX - Gabriel's Requiem is the best ever
FAUTE DE MOI/EUX - Martin Buber was wrong. It's not "I/Thou;" it should be "Me/Them."
SAUTÉ DE MIEUX - That'd be Javier Sotomayor of Cuba. He high-jumped 2.45 m (8 ft 1⁄2 in) in Salamanca, Spain on 27 July 1993 to set the current Word's Record
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AMAIN
PRONUNCIATION: (uh-MAYN)
MEANING: adverb:
1. With all one’s strength.
2. At full speed.
3. With great haste.
ETYMOLOGY: From a- (on, in, to) + main, from Old English maegen (strength, power). Earliest documented use: 1540.
______________________
ARMAIN - signature of a dyslexic fashion designer
A.M. PAIN - known to almost everyone 75 and older
AMAZIN' - graceless
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CERTES
PRONUNCIATION: (suhr-TEEZ)
MEANING: adverb: Certainly.
ETYMOLOGY: From Old French certes, from Latin certus (certain). Earliest documented use: 1250.
______________________________
CERRES - largest asteroid we have yet identified, considered by some a dwarf planet
CERTERS - people who go about certifying things
CERATES - makes a saw-toothed edge
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ALFRESCO
PRONUNCIATION: (al-FRES-ko)
MEANING: adverb, adjective: Outdoors; in the open air.
ETYMOLOGY: From Italian alfresco (in the fresh). Earliest documented use: 1717.
________________________
ALFRED'S C.O. - that'd be Bruce Wayne, right?
AL FRISCO - where Señor goes to see Nob Hill and the Golden Gate Bridge
AL FRIES CO. - racecar driver makes the best chips in London
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AD LITEM
PRONUNCIATION: (AD LYT-uhm)
MEANING: adjective: A person appointed by a court to represent someone, such as a child, who is considered incapable of representing themselves in a lawsuit.
ETYMOLOGY: From Latin ad litem (literally, for the lawsuit), from ad (toward) + litigare (to go to law), from lis (dispute) + agere (to drive). Earliest documented use: 1683.
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ADD LITEM - put another case on the Court's docket
AB LITEM - away from the legal proceedings, behind closed doors
...AND LIT 'EM - they piled up all the sticks to make a bonfire...
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ERRANT
PRONUNCIATION: (ER-uhnt)
MEANING: adjective:
1. Traveling, especially in search of adventure.
2. Erring, straying, or moving aimlessly.
ETYMOLOGY: For 1: From Old French errer (to travel), from Latin iterare (to travel), from iter (road, trip).
For 2: From Old French errer (to err), from Latin errare (to wander or to err).
Earliest documented use: 1400s.
NOTES: How in the world can a word have so many different meanings? Blame homographs, two different words having the same spelling (lead, the verb & lead, the metal). In the case of today’s word, two Latin words (iterare and errare) evolved into the Old French errer. This homographic confusion continued when the words traveled to English. As if this weren’t enough, the word errant has morphed into another word resulting in further confusion: arrant.
Only the first adjective form is used postpositively.
________________________
TERRANT - Earthlike
E.R. RANT - there's a madman yelling and screaming in the Emergency Room!
'ERRANG - what you caught yesterday when you were fishing (past tense of 'ERRING)
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AFORETHOUGHT
PRONUNCIATION: (uh-FOHR-thot)
MEANING: adjective: Planned or premeditated; not by accident.
ETYMOLOGY: From afore (before) + thought, from Old English thoht. Ultimately from the Indo-European root tong- (to think or feel), which also gave us the words think and thank. Earliest documented use: 1472.
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AFRO RETHOUGHT - reconsidering your 60s hairdo
AMORE THOUGHT - When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie (see also ADORE THOUGHT)
"A" FOR E THROUGH T - accolades for the middle (though chunky) volume of an encyclopedia
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IMMEMORIAL
PRONUNCIATION: (im-uh-MOHR-ee-uhl)
MEANING: adjective: Very old; beyond memory or recorded history.
ETYMOLOGY: From Latin in- (not) + memoria (memory). Earliest documented use: 1593.
__________________________
IN MEMORIAL - where Abraham Lincoln's statue is in Washington, D.C.
VIM MEMORIAL - a tribute to my get-up-and-go, which (no surprise!) has got-up-and-went
GIMME-MORIAL - describing the behavior of the insatiably greedy
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LAUREATE
PRONUNCIATION: (LOR-ee-uht)
MEANING: adjective: Having special distinction or recognition in a field.
noun: A person honored for achieving distinction in a field.
ETYMOLOGY: From Latin laureatus (crowned with laurel), from laurea (crown of laurel), feminine of laureus (of laurel), from laurus (laurel). Earliest documented use: 1395.
NOTES: In ancient Greece, a wreath or a crown of laurel sprigs was used to honor people. The word baccalaureate as a synonym for bachelor’s degree was formed from the alteration of Latin baccalarius to conform to bacca lauri (laurel berry).
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L.A. URATE - what gives many kidney stones in Los Angeles
LAURA, TE... - attempted words of affection from Laura's bashful Latino boy-friend
FAURÉ ATE - Gabriel the composer did this in restaurants
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BIBLIOPHILIA
PRONUNCIATION: (bi-blee-uh-FI-Lee-uh)
MEANING: noun: The love of books.
ETYMOLOGY: From Greek biblio- (book) + -philia (love).
_________________________
BILIOPHILIA - love of anger
BIBIOPHILIA - love of Netanyahu
BIBLI-OPHELIA - beloved of Hamlet, reads a lot of books
Last edited by wofahulicodoc; 01/28/2020 4:09 PM.
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CHRESTOMATHY
PRONUNCIATION: (kres-TOM-uh-thee)
MEANING: noun:
1. A volume of selected literary passages, usually by one author.
2. A selection of literary passages from a foreign language, especially one assembled for studying a language.
ETYMOLOGY: From Greek chrestomatheia, from chrestos (useful) + manthanein (to learn). These two parts of the word ultimately derive from Indo-European gher- (to like or want) which gave us yearn, charisma, greedy, exhort; and mendh- (to learn) that resulted in the terms mathematics and polymath. Earliest documented use: 1832.
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CHRESTOMATH - numerology applied to literature
CHRESTOPATHY - your father's selection of one author's works
CHRISTOMATHY - a concordance of the New Testament
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BIBLIOCLAST
PRONUNCIATION: (BIB-lee-uh-klast)
MEANING: noun: One who destroys or mutilates books.
ETYMOLOGY: From Greek biblio- (book) + -clast (breaker). Earliest documented use: 1880.
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BIBLICOCLAST - mutilator of Bibles
BIBLIOCLASH - when my book says your book is wrong
BI-CLIO-CLAST - one who breaks statues of the Muse of History, who swings both ways
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FEUILLETON
PRONUNCIATION: (FOI-i-ton) [the final syllable is nasal]
MEANING: noun:
1. The part of a European newspaper devoted to light literature, criticism, and the like; also something printed in this section.
2. A novel published in installments.
3. A short literary piece
ETYMOLOGY: From French, from feuillet (sheet of paper), diminutive of feuille (leaf), from Old French foille, from Latin folium (leaf). Ultimately from the Indo-European root bhel- (to thrive or bloom), which also gave us flower, bleed, bless, foliage, blossom, and blade. Earliest documented use: 1845.
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FEUILLE-TONE - part of a palette of red/orange/brown autumn-leaf colors
FEW ILL ETON - only a couple of cases at the school
FE QUILL ETON - the school is known for requiring an iron pen for writing
FEU ISLET ON - power has been restored to Fire Island
FEU I'D LET ON - fire has permission to come aboard
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BIBLIOPHAGE
PRONUNCIATION: (BIB-lee-uh-fayj)
MEANING: noun: One who loves to read books; a bookworm.
ETYMOLOGY: From Greek biblio- (book) + -phage (one who eats).
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BIBLIOPHASE - a stage of cell division when the cell consults its book to decide how to replicate its chromosomes
BIBLIOPLAGE - a beach in Nice which requires reading a book for admission
BI-GLIO-PHAGE - a brain cell important to the process of pruning and remodeling synapses
Last edited by wofahulicodoc; 01/31/2020 9:55 PM.
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MOLOCH
PRONUNCIATION: (MOH-lahk, MAH-luhk)
MEANING: noun: Someone or something to which extreme sacrifices are made.
ETYMOLOGY: After Moloch, a Canaanite god of the Bible, associated with the practice of child sacrifice. From Latin Moloch, from Greek Molokh, from Hebrew Molekh, from melekh (king). Earliest documented use: 1615. Moloch has turned into a verb as well: molochize.
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G.M.O. LOCH - a secluded lake in Scotland where research on genetically-modified marine plants is conducted
MORLOCH - the bad guys in H.G.Wells' The Dundee Time Machine
MO BLOCH - little-known brother of Henry and Richard, the accountants
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BEZOAR
PRONUNCIATION: (BEE-zohr)
MEANING: noun: A stone-like mass formed in the stomach or intestines of some animals, formerly believed to be a remedy for poison.
ETYMOLOGY: From Old French bezahar/bezoard, from Arabic bazahr, from Persian padzahr (antidote), from pad- (protector) + zahr (poison). Earliest documented use: 1597.
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BE SOAR - how you'll feel the day after your first workout in months
BEFOAR - in front of, ahead of
BED OAR - what you row your cot down the stream with
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CAVALCADE
PRONUNCIATION: (kav-uhl-KAYD, KAV-uhl-kayd)
MEANING: noun:
1. A procession of riders on horses, vehicles, etc.
2. A noteworthy series of events.
ETYMOLOGY: From French cavalcade (stampede, cavalcade), from Italian cavalcata (ride, cavalcade), from cavalcare (to ride on horseback), from Latin caballus (horse). Earliest documented use: 1591.
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CAVALCARE - veterinary insurance for horses
NAVALCADE - the Seventh Fleet traverses the Panama Canal
CABALCADE - a procession of conspiratorial numerologists
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SABER-RATTLING or SABRE-RATTLING
PRONUNCIATION: (SAY-buhr-rat-ling)
MEANING: noun: Threatening words or action, for example, in the form of a flamboyant display of military power.
ETYMOLOGY: From saber/sabre (a heavy cavalry sword with a curved blade), from French sabre, from German dialect Sabel (now Säbel), from Hungarian szablya + rattle (to make a quick succession of sharp noises), probably ultimately of imitative origin. Earliest documented use: 1922.
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SABER-TATTLING - Your sword...it's unbated and envenomed! I'm gonna tell on you!
SABRE-GATTLING - six whirling blades to cut down your opponents en masse
SAVER RATTLING - how falling interest rates affect consumers with just a little left over at the end of the month
S.A. BERRA TILING - Yogi's Mexican relatives' mosaic-making company
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CALASH
PRONUNCIATION: (kuh-LASH)
MEANING: noun:
1. A light horse-drawn carriage with a folding top.
2. The folding top of a carriage.
3. A folding bonnet formerly worn by women.
ETYMOLOGY: From French calèche, from German Kalesche, from Czech kolésa (carriage, wheels). Earliest documented use: 1666.
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ALASH - mumbled by a tipsy Shakespearean actor, addressing the skull of poor Yorick
CA-WASH - where a Bostonian takes his vehicle to remove the dirt and road salt from last winter
CAL'BASH - she to whom you say "Goodnight" at the end of the show, no matter where she is
CALAS - late, lamented soprano star
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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INTERDIGITATE
PRONUNCIATION: (in-tuhr-DIJ-i-tayt)
MEANING: verb tr., intr.: To interlock like the fingers of two hands.
ETYMOLOGY: From Latin inter- (between, together) + digitus (finger, toe). Ultimately from the Indo-European root deik- (to show, to pronounce solemnly), which also gave us judge, verdict, vendetta, revenge, indicate, dictate, paradigm, diktat, dictatress, dittohead, fatidic, hoosegow, and interdict. Earliest documented use: 1847.
NOTES: To interdigitate is to hold hands together. Also, to hold toes of two feet together. Also, hand and foot. Also, hand and paw. Or foot and paw. Think of other combinations. Show us what you come up with. Write to us at words@wordsmith.org.
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WINTERDIGITATE - freeze one's fingers; needs mittens
INTER, DIG, IRATE - angry gravedigger describes his day tersely
ENTER DIGIT AT "E" - write in a numeral on the fifth line
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Carpal Tunnel
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TITULAR
PRONUNCIATION: (TICH-luhr, TIT-uh-luhr)
MEANING: adjective:
1. Of or relating to a title.
2. In the name only: having a title without accompanying responsibilities and powers.
ETYMOLOGY: From Latin titulus (title). Earliest documented use: 1540.
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TITH LAR - a Klingon Rite of Passage
TIBULAR - involving both bones of the lower leg
TITULAX - brand name of a remedy for heartburn and constipation; contains calcium carbonate and phenolphthalien
TITULAE - teeny weeny titles
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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COCKLOFT
PRONUNCIATION: (KOK-loft)
MEANING: noun: A small loft just below the roof.
ETYMOLOGY: From cock (rooster), from Old English cocc, of imitative origin + Old English loft (sky). Apparently roosters love to roost up high and this is the highest place, indoors, in the house. Earliest documented use: 1580.
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BOCKLOFT - the high you get from some beers
CORKLOFT - storage for bottle stoppers; a good use for that "wasted space" just below the roof peak in an old winery
COCKLIFT - rooster thumbs a ride
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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CUNTLINE (or CONTLINE or CANTLINE)
PRONUNCIATION: (KUHNT-lyn)
MEANING: noun:
1. The spiraling groove between two strands of a rope.
2. The space between bilges (the widest part) of two casks stowed side by side.
ETYMOLOGY: From cant (slope), from French from Latin cantus (corner), from canthus (rim). Earliest documented use: 1848.
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AUNTLINE - inheritance via your mother's sister
COUNTLINE - sheep passing under the Shepherd's staff
CULT LINE - "Join us! Salvation awaits!"
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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CUMMINGTONITE
PRONUNCIATION: (KUHM-ing-tuh-nyt)
MEANING: noun: A mineral, otherwise known as magnesium iron silicate hydroxide.
ETYMOLOGY: Named after Cummington, Massachusetts, where it was discovered. Earliest documented use: 1824.
NOTES: Cummingtonite is named after Cummington, MA, and the town of Cummington itself is named after Colonel John Cumings who got things started in the township. If cummingtonite is not enough for you, there’s also fukalite, named after Fuka mines in the Fuka region of Japan. Then there is carnalite, named after mining engineer Rudolf von Carnall.
Not much is known about cummingtonite’s applications. An unscientific survey shows it’s commonly used in the making of T-shirts [as a leering nerdy pun - Wofa].
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CUMMIN TONITE - smells like curry for dinner!
CHUMMING TONITE - that'll be good bait for fishing tomorrow
CUMM INTO NITE - newly-discovered Eugene O'Neill play
CUMMING TO NICE - Riviera, next stop!
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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FAFF
PRONUNCIATION: (faf)
MEANING:\. verb intr.: To waste time without accomplishing much.
noun: Fuss; activity perceived as a waste of time.
ETYMOLOGY: Of imitative origin, to describe something flapping in the wind. Earliest documented use: 1874.
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FAPF - all you can utter when you're stupefied beyond speaking [homage to Major Hoople]
FA𝒇𝒇 - the fourth note of the scale, played very loudly
F.A.C.F. - Fellow of the American College of Fellows
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