Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us  

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 17 of 26 1 2 15 16 17 18 19 25 26
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,742
Likes: 2
W
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,742
Likes: 2

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

Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,742
Likes: 2
W
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,742
Likes: 2

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

Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,742
Likes: 2
W
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,742
Likes: 2

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.

Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,742
Likes: 2
W
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,742
Likes: 2

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

Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,742
Likes: 2
W
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,742
Likes: 2

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.
__________________________

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

Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,742
Likes: 2
W
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,742
Likes: 2

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

Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,742
Likes: 2
W
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,742
Likes: 2

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.
________________________________

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

Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,742
Likes: 2
W
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,742
Likes: 2

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

Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,742
Likes: 2
W
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,742
Likes: 2

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.
_____________________________

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

Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,742
Likes: 2
W
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,742
Likes: 2

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.
______________________________

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?


Page 17 of 26 1 2 15 16 17 18 19 25 26

Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,622
Members9,187
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members
Karin, JeffMackwood, artguitar, Jim_W, Rdbuffalo
9,187 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 161 guests, and 0 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
wofahulicodoc 10,742
tsuwm 10,542
LukeJavan8 9,933
AnnaStrophic 6,511
Wordwind 6,296
of troy 5,400
Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site. Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.

Home | Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Subscribe | FAQ | Archives | Search | Feedback
Wordsmith Talk | Wordsmith Chat

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5