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EPHEMERAL

PRONUNCIATION: (i-FEM-uh-ruhl)

MEANING: adjective: Lasting a very short time; transitory.
noun: Anything short-lived.

ETYMOLOGY: From Greek ephemeros (short-lived), from epi- (upon) + hemera (day). Earliest documented use: 1576.
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PHEMERAL - pertaining to the upper-leg bone

e-pH EMERALD - a highly acidic green jewel, with a log-hydrogen-ion concentration of -2.718281828...

EPHEMERAW - I know it hurts now, but it'll be better by tomorrow

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CERACEOUS

PRONUNCIATION: (suh-RAY-shuhs)

MEANING: adjective: Waxy.

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin cera (wax) + -aceous (resembling or relating to). Earliest documented use: 1768.
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ACERACEOUS - sharp, barbed

CELACEOUS - titillating, suggestive

CERVACEOUS - beery

[not to mention the homophone "Serratious" - pertaining to a bacterium of the genus Serratia]

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HEBDOMADAL

PRONUNCIATION: (heb-DOM-uh-duhl)

MEANING: adjective: Weekly.

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin hebdomas, from Greek hepta (seven). Earliest documented use: 1612.
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HEBDO-MEDAL - like Mark Spitz (winning seven Olympic events)

HEBDONADAL - seven championship tennis players

HEBDOMANAL - pertaining to the digestive viscera

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PISCINE

PRONUNCIATION: (PY-seen, PIS-ayn)

MEANING: adjective: Fishy.

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin piscis (fish). Earliest documented use: 1670.

[and of course there is Pisces, the astrological sign, the fish]
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PICCINE - Italian opera composer , viz. La Bohême and others

VISCINE - eyedrops

PA'S CINE - your father's movie

APIS-CINE - slow-motion film about bees

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ODONTALGIA

PRONUNCIATION: (oh-don-TAL-juh -jee-uh)

MEANING: noun: Toothache.

ETYMOLOGY: From Greek odont- (tooth) + -algia (pain). Earliest documented use: 1706.
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O, DONUT-ALGIA - pain in the jaw from too many sweeets

ADONTALGIA - phantom pain in the jaw even after the dentist pulls your infected tooth

ODONTAL, GA - Georgia branch office of a Mexican dentist

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ABLIGURITION

PRONUNCIATION: (uh-blig-yoo-RISH-uhn)

MEANING: noun: Extravagance, especially in matters of food and drink.

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin abligurire (to squander on delicacies), from ab- (away) + ligurire (to be dainty), from lingere (to lick). Ultimately from the Indo-European root leigh- (lick), which also gave us linctus, lichen (apparently from the way it licks its way around a surface), lecher, and cunnilingus. Earliest documented use: 1724.
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OBLIGURITION - under contract to become pregnant

ABL-IG-UTRITION - fulfilling the Inspector General's criteria for supporting an organism with food

ABO-LIGURITION - hooking other antigens onto the main blood groups

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NUDUM PACTUM

PRONUNCIATION: (NOO/NYOO-duhm PAK-tuhm)

MEANING: noun: An unenforceable contract, one that’s void because of lack of consideration (something of value promised in exchange).

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin nudus (bare) + pactum (pact). Earliest documented use: 1603.
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NUNDUM PACTUM - a contract in a convent

NUDUM PICTUM - produce gathered by unclad farmers

NUDUM PARTUM - naked as a newborn babe

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TITUBATION

PRONUNCIATION: (tich-uh-BAY-shuhn)

MEANING: noun:
1. Unsteady movement, such as the staggering, lurching, or nodding of the head or the body.
2. Stuttering or stammering.

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin titubare (to stagger). Earliest documented use: 1641.
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T-TUBATION - inserting a branched tube into the Common Bile Duct

TITUS-ATION - transforming into be the Roman Emperor from around 80 BC

Ti-TUBA TIN - when mixed with titanium, an alloy from which large, low-pitched musical instruments are made

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TWATTLE

PRONUNCIATION: (TWAT-uhl)

MEANING: noun: Idle talk; nonsense.
verb intr.: To talk idly.

ETYMOLOGY: Perhaps an alteration of tattle, of imitative origin. Earliest documented use: 1673.
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WATTLE - the dingle-dangle hanging from a turkey's throat (not to be confused with the dingle-dangle that hangs from a turkey's beak, which is a SNOOD)

TWA TALE - the Rise and Fall of the Constellation

WATTLE - Barrista's greeting (usually followed by "you have?")

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COCK OF THE WALK

PRONUNCIATION: (KOK ov thuh wahk)

MEANING: noun: A person who behaves in an arrogant and domineering manner in a group.

ETYMOLOGY: In animal husbandry, an enclosed yard or a pen is known as a walk. A rooster who rules a roost is, literally, a cock of the walk. Earliest documented use: 1781.
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CONK OF THE WALK - hit your head on a low-hanging branch

CORK OF THE WALK - the Minister of Silly Walks (see Monty Python's Flying Circus)

CLOCK OF THE WALK - used for time trials in the Olympic power-walking event

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