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CHOSISME

PRONUNCIATION: (sho-ZEEZ-muh)

MEANING: noun: A literary style which focuses on description of objects, not on interpretation, plot, characterization, etc.

ETYMOLOGY: From French, from chose (thing), from Latin causa (case, thing). The idea is associated with the writer and filmmaker Alain Robbe-Grillet. Earliest documented use: 1960s.
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ECHOS IS ME - when I repeat myself, I'm redundant, I say the same things over and over again

CHORISME - I live to sing !

CHO-SI SMEE - Captain Hook's First Mate is married to a Korean woman

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PILCROW

PRONUNCIATION: (PIL-kroh)

MEANING: noun: A symbol (¶) used to indicate paragraph breaks.

ETYMOLOGY: Apparently an alteration of the word paragraph, with r changing into l and remodeled along the more familiar words pill and crow. Earliest documented use: 1440.
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PILO-ROW - shaving one's head so that all the remaining hairs are in a single line (see "Mohawk haircut")

PILGROW - what happens after you plant a pil in fertile soil

NIL-CROW - what a truly modest person has to eat ever

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PAREMIOGRAPHY or PAROEMIOGRAPHY

PRONUNCIATION: (puh-ree-mee-AH-gruh-fee)

MEANING: noun:
1. The writing or collecting of proverbs.
2. A collection of proverbs.

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin paroemia (proverb), from Greek paroimia (proverb) + -graphy (writing). Earliest documented use: 1818.
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SPAREMIOGRAPHY - images of extra mios

PARE-GIOGRAPHY or - alongside regular giography

PAROLE MIOGRAPHY - Let Miography out of jail !

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DITHYRAMB

PRONUNCIATION: (DITH-i-ram/ramb)

MEANING: noun:
1. A piece of writing or speech in an inflated or wildly enthusiastic manner.
2. An impassioned Greek choral song, originally in honor of the god Dionysus or Bacchus.

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin dithyrambus, from Greek dithyrambos. Earliest documented use: 1603.
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DITCH YRAMB - get away from Yramb

DITZY RAM B. - sometimes my guru acts exceedingly strange

EDIT: HYRAM B - not "Hyram A"

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OBELUS

PRONUNCIATION: (OB-uh-luhs)

MEANING: noun:
1. A sign (- or ÷) used in ancient manuscripts to indicate a spurious or doubtful word or passage.
2. A sign (†) used to indicate reference marks. Also known as obelisk or dagger.

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin obelus, from Greek obelos (spit). Earliest documented use: c. 450.

NOTES: In typography, an asterisk is used to indicate a footnote as is an obelus aka obelisk. In Asterix comics, the character Obelix is the best friend of the hero Asterix.
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OBILUS - just send us the charges

OBOELUS - a diminutive double-reeded woodwind

NOBEL US - Well? We're waiting for the prize!

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DOVECOTE

PRONUNCIATION: (DUHV-koht or DUHV-kot)

MEANING: noun:
1. A structure with holes for housing domestic pigeons.
2. A settled group, especially one of a quiet, conservative nature.

ETYMOLOGY: From dove, from Old English dufe + cote (shelter, coop), from Old English cote. Earliest documented use: 1425. A synonym is columbarium.
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MOVECOTE - Git yer consarned chickencoop outa here!

DOVE-NOTE - These billets-doux are for the birds.

DOVE NOTE - Having trouble finding that tritone, Signor?

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PUTTOCK

PRONUNCIATION: (PUHT-uhk)

MEANING: noun:
1. Any of various birds of prey.
2. A greedy person, especially one who preys on others.

ETYMOLOGY: Of uncertain origin, perhaps from Old English putta (hawk). Earliest documented use: 1175.
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PUTROCK - what one does on the gravestone of a respected forebear

PUTT ICK - My golf game stinks today; I can't hole anything

PET TOCK - but be careful you don't get Lome disease

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RAVEN MESSENGER

PRONUNCIATION: (RAY-vuhn mes-uhn-juhr)

MEANING: noun: A messenger who does not arrive or return in time.

ETYMOLOGY: In the Bible, Noah sends a raven to go scout the scene, but the bird never returns to the ark. Earliest documented use: 1400. Also known as a corbie messenger.
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CRAVEN MESSENGER - when the courier deserts rather than face danger...

RIVEN MESSENGER - ...and with good reason, perhaps; this one's been drawn and quartered

RAMEN MESSENGER - announces when the noodles are ready

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PIGEONHOLE

PRONUNCIATION: (PIJ-uhn-hohl)

MEANING: noun: 1. A hole or recess for a pigeon to nest or rest.
2. One of a series of small compartments for filing papers, etc.
3. A stereotypical category, not reflecting the complexities.
verb tr.: 1. To place in, or as if in, a pigeonhole.
2. To lay aside for future consideration.
3. To stereotype, to put into a preconceived, rigid category.

ETYMOLOGY: From pigeon, from Old French pijon (a young bird), from Latin pipio, from pipere/pipare (to chirp) + Old English hol. Earliest documented use: 1577.
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BIG EON HOLE - a wormhole in space that lasts a very long time

PIGEON HOPE - faith that someday we'll find a passenger pigeon hiding deep in the mountains

PIG-PEON HOLE - where the medieval swineherd raises his stock

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WAR HAWK

PRONUNCIATION: (WAR hawk)

MEANING: noun: One who advocates war, military intervention, or other aggressive measures.

ETYMOLOGY: After hawk, a bird of prey + war, from Old English (werre) + hawk, from Old English heafoc. Earliest documented use: 1792.

NOTES: A war hawk (or, simply, hawk) advocates for war, a dove (or, peace dove) for peace. Then there’s the species chicken hawk, which clamors for war only to send others to fight and do the dirty work while staying safely behind. Most war hawks are simply chicken hawks.

The term war hawk was especially applied to members of the 12th US Congress (1811-1813) who advocated for war with Britain. Among other motives for the war was the annexation of Canada. They got their war, now known as the War of 1812. The British burned the White House and the Capitol, among other federal buildings. The war ended in 1815. Some 25,000 died. It was a draw.
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OAR HAWK - an advocate of returning to slave-powered ships

PAR HAWK - Improve your golf score by ten strokes or your money back!

WAR HACK - a lingering cough in those lucky enough to survive a wartime gas attack

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