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DISNEYFY

PRONUNCIATION: (DIZ-ni-fy)

MEANING: verb tr.:
1. To sanitize, romanticize, or simplify something to make it more palatable for mass consumption.
2. To turn something of historical or cultural importance into trivial entertainment.

ETYMOLOGY: After The Walt Disney Company, founded by Walt Disney (1901-1966), known for its films and theme parks. Many popular fairy tales shown in Disney films actually have much grimmer stories. Earliest documented use: 1965. See also, Mickey Mouse.
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DISNEYFEY - Tinkerbell

DISNEYFI - after Disneyfee but before Disneyfo

EISNEYFY - to prepare the company for its next leader

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MACADAMIZE

PRONUNCIATION: (muh-KAD-uh-myz)

MEANING: verb tr.: To construct or pave a road with small, broken stones bound with asphalt or tar.

ETYMOLOGY: After John Loudon McAdam (1756-1836), civil engineer, who pioneered this method of building a road. Earliest documented use: 1823. McAdam also appears in the word tarmac. The word was originally a trademark, coined by combining tar + McAdam.
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ACADAMIZE - to convert to an institution of higher learning

MAC AD AMAZE - that latest Apple computer promotion is astonishing

MACADAMIAE - nut trees native to Australia, with a high fat content and extremely hard shells

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LEGIONNAIRE

PRONUNCIATION: (lee-juh-NAYR)

MEANING: noun: A member of a legion (a group of soldiers or former soldiers).

NOTES: Originally, a legion was the basic unit of the ancient Roman army, typically about 5000 soldiers. Today, the word is used in a number of senses. It can refer to any large military force. Various veterans’ organizations call themselves legions, such as the American Legion or The Royal British Legion. Finally, a legion can mean a multitude, a very large number of people, things, etc.

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin legere (to gather). Ultimately from the Indo-European root leg- (to collect), which also gave us lexicon, lesson, lecture, legible, legal, select, cull florilegium (anthology), subintelligitur (something that is not stated but understood), prolegomenon (an introduction to a text), lignify (to turn into wood), and lection (a version of a text in a particular edition). Earliest documented use: 1595.
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LEGION NAIVE - babes in arms

LEG: IONIA IRE - miniskirt in ancient Greece evokes anger

LEGION NACRE - the jewel of the army

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MORIBUND

PRONUNCIATION: (MOR-uh-buhnd)

MEANING: adjective:
1. Nearing death.
2. Stagnant; lacking vigor or vitality.

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin moribundus (dying), from mori (to die). Ultimately from the Indo-European root mer- (to rub away or to harm), which also gave us morse, mordant, amaranth, morbid, mortal, mortgage, nightmare, premorse, morbidezza, ambrosia, and amaranthine. Earliest documented use: 1721.
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MORI-BOUND - headed toward a village in Chine (or Italy)

MAORI BUND - a German organization whose members are native New Zealanders

MOORIBUND - King Lear isn't long for this world

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CARNY / CARNEY / CARNIE

MEANING: noun:
1. A person who works in a carnival.
2. A carnival: a traveling amusement show.
3. The jargon used by carnival workers.

ETYMOLOGY: Short for carnival, from Italian carnevale, from carnelevare (removal of meat), from carne (flesh) + levare (to remove or lift). A carnival is named so because it was a period of merrymaking before Lent (a season of fasting and penitence before Easter). Earliest documented use: 1931.
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Art CARNEY - the entertainer

CARRIE Fisher - the entertainer

James CAGNEY - the entertainer

Arnold Palmer, a.k.a. ARNIE - the entertainer

Mariah CAREY - the entertainer

Jim CARREY - the entertainer

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NANNY STATE

PRONUNCIATION: (NAN-ee stayt)

MEANING: noun: A government regarded as having an excessive interest in the welfare of its citizens, as evidenced by public health measures, safety regulations, etc.

ETYMOLOGY: From nanny (a child’s caregiver), of baby-talk origin, perhaps a pet form of the name Anne + state, from Old French estat, from Latin status (stature). Earliest documented use: 1965.
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NANNOSTATE - Rhode Island

NANNY STAT - one out of 1,500 children has a governess

NANCY STATE - I'm not sure about that, but Sluggo grew up as an orphan in the town of Three Rocks, wherever that is



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INVEIGLE

PRONUNCIATION: (in-VAY-guhl, -VEE-)

MEANING: verb tr.: To get something or to persuade someone to do something by deception or flattery.

ETYMOLOGY: From Old French aveugle (blind), from Latin ab- (away from) + oculus (eye). Earliest documented use: 1513.
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IN VEHIGLE - riding in the gar / bus / van

IN VEILLE - (French) during the evening before a notable event

INVEILE - to conceal a woman's face behind a thin translucent cloth

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HERMAPHRODITE

PRONUNCIATION: (huhr-MAH-fruh-dyt)

MEANING: noun: 1. An animal or plant having both male and female reproductive organs.
2. Someone or something having opposite qualities or characteristics.
adjective: 1. Having both male and female reproductive organs.
2. Having opposite qualities or characteristics.

ETYMOLOGY: After Hermaphroditus, a blend of Hermes + Aphroditus. Hermaphroditus was the son of Hermes (who also gave us hermeneutic and hermetic) and Aphrodite (who gave us aphrodisiac). Earliest documented use: 1400.
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HERAPHRODITE - another portmanteau word - Paris couldn't make up his mind who was the fairest (but in any case it wasn't Athena)

HARM APHRODITE - Couldn't happen. She was a Goddess, y'know.

HER MAP: HERODITE - Her chart of all the King's construction projects in Judea was from around the time of the birth of Christ

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MEEPLE

PRONUNCIATION: (MEE-puhl)

MEANING: noun: A game piece shaped in a stylized human form.

ETYMOLOGY: A blend of my + people or mini + people. Earliest documented use: early 21st century.
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SMEEPLE - a humanoid piece from the game "Peter Pan"

MERPLE - aquatic humanoids; only Dumbledore could speak their language

MEEPEE - Change my diaper, Mommy!

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CREMAINS

PRONUNCIATION: (kri-MAYNZ)

MEANING: noun: Ashes remaining after cremation of a body.

ETYMOLOGY: A blend of cremated and remains. Earliest documented use: 1947

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ACREMAINS - the circuit breakers that control the entire home and its large lot

CREAMAINS - the dregs of a Latte Grande

CREMARINS - Conjugated Equine Estrogens in a milky solution for oral ingestion

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