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GORBLIMEY

PRONUNCIATION: (gor-BLY-mee)

MEANING: interjection: An expression of surprise, dismay, etc.

ETYMOLOGY:m. A contraction of “God blind me”. Earliest documented use: 1896. Also used in the form corblimey and blimey.
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GORE LIMEY - the former American VP joins the Royal Navy

IGOR, BLIMEY - Surprise! It's the Russian!

GOR, BLIMEY ! - the Cockney expresses surprise

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MACHTPOLITIK

PRONUNCIATION: (MAHKHT-pol-ee-teek)

MEANING: noun: Power politics: policies that advocate the use of power and physical force to attain their goals.

ETYMOLOGY: From German Machtpolitik (power politics), from Macht (power, strength) + Politik (politics, policy). Earliest documented use: 1916. Compare with realpolitik
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MACHET'POLITIK - policies that rely on the use of sharp heavy blades to attain their goals

MATCH-POLITIK - a public-relations campaign to change smoking habits

NACHTPOLITIK - bedroom negotiations

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DOGWATCH

PRONUNCIATION: (DOG-wach)

MEANING: noun:
1. A short watch, especially one of the two two-hour watch duties on a ship: 4-6 pm or 6-8 pm.
2. A night shift, especially the last one.

ETYMOLOGY: Loan translation of either Dutch hondenwacht or German Hundewache. Perhaps from the assumption that only dogs are awake at night, or from the short sleep of a dog. Earliest documented use: 1657.
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DIGWATCH - treasure-hunting at the beach

DOOGWATCH - following a TV series about an improbably young doctor

DOGWITCH - if Hermione Granger had married Sirius Black, their children might be...

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PRONUNCIATION: (BRIJ-hed)

MEANING: noun:
1. A foothold opening the way for further advance.
2. A fortified position at the end of a bridge nearest the enemy.

ETYMOLOGY: Loan translation of French tête de pont (bridge head). Earliest documented use: 1760. Also see beachhead.
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BRIDEHEAD - BBC series about an old aristocratic British family, prequel to a 1945 book by Evelyn Waugh

RIDGEHEAD - a geological formation often seen at the Continental Divide

BRIDGE MEAD - a brew often served shipboard at the Officer's Mess

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EARWORM

PRONUNCIATION: (EER-wuhrm)

MEANING: noun:
1. A catchy song or tune that keeps involuntarily repeating in one’s mind.
2. An agricultural pest commonly known as corn earworm, of the species Helicoverpa zea or Helicoverpa armigera.

ETYMOLOGY: Loan translation of German Ohrwurm (earwig, earworm). Earliest documented use: 1598. See also earwig.
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BEARWORM - a parasite that infects ursines

EARWARM - what people wear hats to keep their

FEARWORM - that gnawing worry you just can't shake

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IMMISERATION

PRONUNCIATION: (i-miz-uh-RAY-shuhn)

MEANING: noun:
1. The act of making miserable or the state of being made miserable.
2. Impoverishment.

ETYMOLOGY: Loan translation of German Verelendung (impoverishment) using Latin in- (into) + miserable, from Latin miserari (to pity), from miser (pitiable, wretched). Earliest documented use: 1942. Also spelled as immiserization.
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IMMIE-SERATION - cutting a sawtoothed surface into your marble

I'M MISER-ACTION ! - Scrooge McDuck announces he's a tightwad

I'M MISTER "-ATION" - I specialize in making verbs into nouns

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GRAWLIX

PRONUNCIATION: (GRAW-liks)

MEANING: noun: The characters, such as @#%$*!, used to convey profanity in a comic.

ETYMOLOGY: Coined by the cartoonist Mort Walker (1923-2018). Earliest documented use: 1964.
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CRAWLIX - long critters that move around on many short legs

GRABLIX - what actress Betty does to an ice cream cone

GRAW LOX - smoked salmon caught in the sea near Graw, in Ireland

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BARDOLATRY

PRONUNCIATION: (bar-DAH-luh-tree)

MEANING: noun: Excessive admiration of William Shakespeare.

ETYMOLOGY: Coined by George Bernard Shaw from bard (poet) + -latry (worship). Shakespeare is often referred to as the Bard of Avon, or simply the Bard. Earliest documented use: 1901.
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BIRDOLATRY - excessive admiration of Indiana native, Boston Celtic Number 33

BAR-IDOLATRY - having extreme reverence for lawyers

BAR NO L.A. TRY - internal slogan to encourage the Olympics be held in Los Angeles, California

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SEMELPAROUS

PRONUNCIATION: (se-MEL-puh-ruhs)

MEANING: adjective: Reproducing only once in a lifetime.

ETYMOLOGY: Coined by the biologist LaMont C. Cole (1916-1978). From Latin semel (once) + -parous (producing). Earliest documented use: 1954. The opposite is iteroparous, reproducing multiple times in one’s lifetime.
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USE ME, L. PAROUS - Louis Parous, the casting director, gets a lot of requests like this

SEMEL: PAR OUT - Psychiatry Grand Rounds topic for the week: When Consistenly Excellent Isn't Good Enough

SEMI-ELGAROUS - how to describe the Enigma Variations when re-written eliminating every second note

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BROADBROW

PRONUNCIATION: (BRAHD-brow)

MEANING: noun: A person with a broad range of interests.
adjective: Appealing to people with a broad range of interests.

ETYMOLOGY: Coined by J.B. Priestley (1894-1984), from broad + brow, on the pattern of highbrow and lowbrow. Earliest documented use: 1924. Also see middlebrow.
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BROADBREW - vulgar name for beer produced by a niche company owned by women

BROADBLOW - a rare fan-shaped display produced by a spouting whale

BROAD B-ROW - second tier of seats at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles

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TOPOPHILIA

PRONUNCIATION: (top-uh-FIL-ee-uh)

MEANING: noun: The love or the emotional connection to a particular place.

ETYMOLOGY: Coined by the poet John Betjeman (1906-1984), from Greek topo- (place) + -philia (love). Earliest documented use: 1947.
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TYPOPHILIA - unusual fondness of making careless mistakes at the keyboard

TORPOPHILIA - pathological admiration of lethargy and sloth

TOP O' PHILIP - a felt "Robin Hood" hat, often red, with a feather (see illustration)

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EVANESCENT

PRONUNCIATION: (e-vuh-NES-uhnt)

MEANING: adjective: Fading quickly; transitory.

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin ex- (out) + vanescere (to disappear), from vanus (empty). Earliest documented use:
1708.
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HEVANESCENT - a gift from the Gods, if your spelling isn't too good

VANE'S SCENT - that's the smell of the rooster who tells you the direction of the wind

EVADE CENT - accept not even a penny

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SPLENDIFEROUS

PRONUNCIATION: (splen-DIF-uhr-uhs)

MEANING: adjective: Extraordinarily impressive; magnificent.

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin splendor (brilliance) + -fer (bearing). Earliest documented use: 1500.
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SPLEENDIFEROUS - when he's angry, it's just a little different from most of us

SPENDIFEROUS - throwing money around wildly, without regard to the cost of things

'S PLEAD IF ERROUS - if I made a mistake I'll beg your pardon

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ONTIC

PRONUNCIATION: (ON-tik)

MEANING: adjective: Having or relating to a real existence.

ETYMOLOGY: From Greek onto (being). Earliest documented use: 1907.
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ANTIC - scurrying, busy, active; like an insect of the family Formicidae

OSTIC - bony

ONOIC - (pronunciation: "oh-NO-ick"): dismayed upon discovering something unexpected and unwanted

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PHANTASMAGORICAL

PRONUNCIATION: (fan-taz-muh-GOR-i-kuhl)

MEANING: adjective: Illusory; strange; deceptive; imaginary; surreal; hallucinatory.

ETYMOLOGY: From French fantasmagorie, from fantasme (phantasm) perhaps combined with Greek agora (assembly). Earliest documented use: 1828.
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PHANTASMAORICAL - describing the spirit world of indigenous New Zealand

PHANTASMAYORICAL - the wildest dreams of the Chief Executive Officer of New York City

PHANTASMAGONICAL - like the maunderings of the Transformation Professor at Hogwarts

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CONSUMMATE

PRONUNCIATION: (adj.: KON-suh-muht, kuhn-SUH-muht; verb: KON-suh-mayt)

MEANING: adjective: 1. Complete or perfect.
2. Highly accomplished or skilled.
verb tr.: 1. To finish, complete, or make perfect.
2. To make a marital or other romantic union complete by having sex.

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin consummatus (brought to completion), past participle of consummare (to complete or sum), from con- (together) + summa (sum). Earliest documented use: 1447.
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COSUMMATE - two people add up the same column of numbers and get the same answer

CONSUME, ATE - present and simple-past tenses of the fuzzy verb "to ingest"

CONSUME MATE - what a female praying mantis often does after copulation

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EFFERVESCENT

PRONUNCIATION: (ef-uhr-VES-uhnt)

MEANING: adjective:
1. Lively; animated; vivacious.
2. Bubbling.

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin effervescere (to foam up), from ex- (out, up) + fervescere (to start boiling), from fervere (to be hot or to boil). Ultimately from the Indo-European root bhreu- (to boil or to bubble), which also gave us brew, bread, broth, braise, brood, breed, barmy, defervescence, and perfervid. Earliest documented use: 1684.
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E.F. SERVES CENT - Eugene Frances grasps for every penny !

OFFER V. E. SCENT - Would you like to re-experience the aroma of Victory-in-Europe Day, which ended World War Two in the West?

EFFER DESCENT - he who Effs goes down

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MALODOROUS

PRONUNCIATION: (mal-OH-duhr-uhs)

MEANING: adjective:
1. Having a foul smell.
2. Highly improper.

ETYMOLOGY: From Old French mal- (bad) + odorous (having a smell), from Latin odor (smell). Earliest documented use: 1850.
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MALODOROUST - after the skunk sprayed, everyone left in a hurry

MAN-ODOROUS - the guy really needs a shower

MALLODOROUS - the garbage collectors' strike created a very smelly shopping center

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PIQUANT

PRONUNCIATION: (PEE-kuhnt/kahnt, pee-KAHNT)

MEANING: adjective:
1. Pleasantly pungent or spicy.
2. Engaging or stimulating in a provocative manner.
3. Sharp or stinging.

ETYMOLOGY: From French piquer (to prick). Earliest documented use: 1494.
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PI-QUART - how much milk you want after you eat the whole thing by yourself

BIQUANT - purchase a specified anouont

PI-QUINT - approx 15.7080

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FULGENT

PRONUNCIATION: (FUHL-juhnt)

MEANING: adjective: Shining brilliantly; radiant.

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin fulgere (to shine). Ultimately from the Indo-European root bhel- (to shine or burn), which is also the source of blaze, blank, blond, bleach, blanket, and flame. Earliest documented use: 1475.
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FURLGENT - the guy who folds up the flag

FUNGENT - a gigolo

BULGENT - showing a beer-belly

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ASPERSION

PRONUNCIATION: (uh-SPUHR-zhuhn/shuhn)

MEANING: noun:
1. A damaging accusation: slander.
2. The sprinkling with water, as in baptism.

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin aspergere (to sprinkle), from ad- (toward) + spargere (to strew). Earliest documented use: 1570.
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ASPERSICON - a collection of insinuations

ASSERSION - accusation made while intoxicated

CASPER'S ION - a friendly but charged ghost

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MISOGYNOIR

PRONUNCIATION: (muh-soj-uh-NWAR)

MEANING: noun: Hatred or prejudice directed toward Black women.

ETYMOLOGY: Coined by the scholar and writer Moya Bailey (b. 1983) as a blend of misogyny + French noir (black). The word misogyny is from Greek miso- (hate) + gyne (woman). Earliest documented use: 2010.
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MI SONY NOIR - my black Spanish/Italian Play-Station

MISS GYN, SIR - You say you won the beauty contest for physicians? What title was that, Madam?

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OUTGRABE

PRONUNCIATION: (out-GRAYB)

MEANING: verb intr.: To emit strange noises, such as bellowing, whistling, and shrieking.

ETYMOLOGY: Coined by Lewis Carroll in the poem Jabberwocky. He described the word as connected with the old verb to grike or shrike. Earliest documented use: 1855.
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OUTGRATE - to scrape off more parmesan cheese than the other contestant

OUTGRAB - what you have to do to get the bride's tossed bouquet

OUTGO ABE - how Andy Johnson became US President

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INTERTEXTUALITY

PRONUNCIATION: (in-tuhr-teks-chuh-WA-luh-tee)

MEANING: noun: Interpretation of a text in relation to other texts, rather than in isolation.

ETYMOLOGY: Coined by the philosopher and novelist Julia Kristeva (b. 1941) in French as intertextualité, from inter- (between) + textuel (textual), from Latin texere (to weave). Ultimately from the Indo-European root teks- (to weave), which also gave us context, texture, tissue, tectonic, architect, technology, subtle, and subtile. Earliest documented use: 1970.
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INTERTEXT-QUALITY - how much and what part of your text is informed by others'

INTERSEX-TU-ALITY - addressing a member of another gender by the familiar ("tu") pronoun

INTERTENTUALITY - hanky-panky on an overnight hike

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GENTEELISM

PRONUNCIATION: (jen-TEE-liz-uhm)

MEANING: noun: The substitution of a word that is believed to be more polite or refined. For example, washroom for lavatory.

ETYMOLOGY: Coined by the lexicographer H.W. Fowler (1858-1933). From genteel, from French gentil (noble), from gens (clan). Earliest documented use: 1926.
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GENT-PEEL-ISM - distraction by a male stripper

GEN-ZEEL-ISM - an oversimplification referring to people born between 1997 and 2012, when they get overenthusiastic

DENT-EELISM - promoting the teeth of long, sinuous, ray-finned fish

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GOOGOLPLEX

PRONUNCIATION: (GOO-guhl-pleks)

MEANING: noun: The number 1 followed by a googol number of zeros.

ETYMOLOGY: Coined by Milton Sirotta (1911-1981), nine-year-old nephew of the mathematician Edward Kasner. From googol + -plex as in duplex. Earliest documented use: 1937.
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GOOGOLPLEA - to beg so persistently and tiresomely it feels like forever

GOGOLPLEX - the extraordinately-involved plot of the latest work by the author of Taras Bulba

GOO-GOLF LEX - PGA regulation prohibiting the application of any foreign substance to a golf ball that is in play

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ELOCUTIONARY

PRONUNCIATION: (el-uh-KYOO-shuhn-uhr-ee)

MEANING: adjective: Relating to public speaking, especially in clear, expressive, and often emphatic manner.

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin eloqui (to speak out), from ex- (out) + loqui (to speak). Earliest documented use: 1846.
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ELOCAUTIONARY - being careful choosing one's words

E.L.O. CUT IN ARY - Electric Light Orchestra plans to have its next release in Pakistan!

LOCUTIONARY - done by Captain Picard while he was part of the Borg Collective

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COMMENSURABILITY

PRONUNCIATION: (kuh-men-suh/shuh-ruh-BIH-lih-tee)

MEANING: noun:
1. The quality of being in proportion or suitable in relation to something else.
2. The quality of being measurable by a common standard; comparability.

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin com- (together) + mensurare (to measure). Earliest documented use: 1570.
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COMPENSURABILITY - eligibility for insurance if you can't work any more

COMMENSUR-AGILITY - the measure of your gymnastics proficiency

COMMEN SURF ABILITY - You can join us and ride the waves! It's easy, and lots of people are doing it!

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VITUPERATORY

PRONUNCIATION: (vy-TOO/TYOO-pruh-tor-ee)

MEANING: adjective: Criticizing bitterly, scathing, abusive.

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin vituperare (to blame), from vitium (fault) + parare (to make or prepare). Earliest documented use: 1586
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VITUP-ORATORY - inflammatory rhetoric

VIT. OPERA TORY - a British Conservative who believes Puccini musical works will improve your health

VI. SUPERATORY - The sixth item on the agenda will be a discussion by the building manager

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EQUIVOCACY

PRONUNCIATION: (i-KWIV-uh-kuh-see)

MEANING: noun: The quality of being deliberately ambiguous or vague.

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin aequi-/equi- (equal) + vocare (to call), from vox (voice). Earliest documented use: 1646.
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EQUINOCACY - the bi-annual festival marking the advent of summer and of winter

EQUUVOCACY - Mr Ed, of course, of course

ETUI-VOCACY - advocating for the rights of sewing kits

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PERFUNCTIONARY

PRONUNCIATION: (puhr-FUNK-shuh-ner-ee)

MEANING: adjective: Done without any interest, care, or effort.

ETYMOLOGY: Alteration of perfunctory, from Latin perfunctorius (careless), from perfungi (to get through with), from per- (through) + fungi (to perform). Note that fungus has a different origin, likely from Greek spongos (sponge). Earliest documented use: 1838.
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APER FUNCTIONARY - a person who does the routine jobs for a professional mimic

SERF UNCTIONARY - what Uriah Heep would have been back in the Middle Ages

PERJUNCTIONARY - overly connected

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POLYANDRY

PRONUNCIATION: (POL-ee-an-dree)

MEANING: noun: The practice of having multiple husbands or male mates at the same time.

ETYMOLOGY:From Greek poly- (many) + -andry (male). Earliest documented use: 1680.
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POLY-ANGRY - when you don't give your parrot a cracker

PONY AN' DRY - what I get when I don't take my horselet out in the rain

'POLY AND RYE - a shot and a board game

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HYPERNYM

PRONUNCIATION: (HY-puhr-nim)

MEANING: noun: A broad term that encompasses specific words within a category. For example, color is a hypernym of red, blue, green, etc.

ETYMOLOGY: From Greek hyper- (over, above) + -onym (name). Earliest documented use: 1971. The counterpart is hyponym.
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HYPER-NOM - a chatboard alias with ADHD

HOPERNYM - euphemism for "Pollyanna"

HYPER-NIM - a two-person game where players alternate removing one or more tokens from a multi-dimensional array of piles. Whoever takes the last token is the loser.

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ARTHROPLASTY

PRONUNCIATION: (AR-thruh-plas-tee)

MEANING: noun: The surgical repair or replacement of a joint.

ETYMOLOGY: From Greek arthro- (joint) + -plasty (formation, repair, molding). Earliest documented use: 1890.
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EARTHROPLASTY - plate tectonics

ARTHROBLAST - an embryonic cell precursor that differentiates into a new joint

A.C.T.H.-ROPLASTY - genetic manipulation that alters the folding of Adreno-Cortico-Tropic Hormone, and thus its shape

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NEOPHILE

PRONUNCIATION: (NEE-uh-fyl)

MEANING: noun: One who loves new or novel things.

ETYMOLOGY: From Greek neo- (new) + -phile (lover). The opposite is neophobe.
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GEOPHILE - lover of our home planet; or, a tree-hugger, if that's your persuasion.

ONE-O-PHILE - one who appreciates very close, low-scoring games

NEONPHILE - lover of brightly-colored lights

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HEIROPHANT

PRONUNCIATION: (HY-uhr-uh-fant, HY-ruh-)

MEANING: noun:
1. An interpreter of sacred mysteries or esoteric knowledge.
2. One who explains or provides commentary on complex or obscure topics.

ETYMOLOGY: From Greek hiero- (sacred, priestly) + -phant (one who shows). Earliest documented use: 1676.
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HEIR TO pH: ANT - the Formicidae had a prehistoric progenitor who first produced formic acid in the species

THEIR "O'PHANT" - they had an ancestor, Patrick Phant, who founded the clan

HEIROPLANT - the Priests' potions were of vegetable origin

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EXHORT

PRONUNCIATION: (ig-ZORT)

MEANING: verb tr., intr.: To urge, persuade, advise, etc. earnestly.
noun: The act or an instance of earnest urging, advising, etc.

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin ex- (out) + hortari (to urge). Ultimately from the Indo-European root gher- (to like or want), which also gave us yearn, charisma, greedy, and hortatory. Earliest documented use: 1475.
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SEXHORT - attempt to seduce

EXSHORT - a dwarf after receiving Growth Hormone. Sometimes, anyway

EPHORT - What you get an "E" for in Spelling class. Nice try, but...no.

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EXTORT

PRONUNCIATION: (ik-STORT)

MEANING: verb tr.: To obtain something by psychological pressure, intimidation, force, threat, etc.

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin extorquere (to wrench out), from ex- (out) + torquere (to twist). Earliest documented use: 1529.
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EXTART - reformed prostitute

EXTORY - disgruntled British Conservatory

EXCORT - like Exchequer, Queens Bench, and Common Pleas, since the Judicature Act of 1873

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NEMOROUS

PRONUNCIATION: (NEM-uh-ruhs)

MEANING: adjective: Relating to a forest; wooded.

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin nemus (grove). Earliest documented use: 1623.
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FEMOROUS - like a long legbone

NEMO ROUSE - wake up Jules Verne's submarine captain

ONE-MOR-OUS - ...and Baby makes three

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MEMOROUS

PRONUNCIATION: (MEM-uhr-uhs)

MEANING: adjective: Likely to be remembered; notable.

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin + memoria (memory). Earliest documented use: 1530.
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MENOROUS - suitable for holding candles

MEMO: ROUST - Note: Get 'em outa here!

MAMOROUS - formally in love with a woman

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