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GRANDEZZA

PRONUNCIATION: (gran-DEZ-uh, -DET-suh)

MEANING: noun: Grandeur, greatness, magnificence, etc.

ETYMOLOGY: From Italian grandezza and Spanish grandeza, from Italian and Spanish grande (grand). Earliest documented use: 1629.
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GRAND EZRA - my Grampa, who founded Cornell University

GRADE ZZA - a relatively poor review (unless you're Papa Gino)

GARANDEZZA - the granddaddy of all thumb bruises, inflicted by careless handling of the (recoilling) bolt of a rifle

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AQUAPHOBIA

PRONUNCIATION: (ak-wuh-FOH-bee-uh)

MEANING: noun: A fear of water, especially of drowning.

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin aqua (water) + -phobia (fear), from Greek -phobia (fear). Earliest documented use: 1875.

NOTES: Not to be confused with hydrophobia, which, despite its literal meaning of “fear of water” from Greek hydro- (water), is commonly used in a medical context to describe a symptom of rabies. In rabies, hydrophobia refers to a difficulty or intense fear of swallowing, especially liquids, due to painful throat spasms.
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AQUAPROBIA - SONAR (acronym of SOund Navigation And Ranging)

EQUAPHOBIA - fear of balance-points

ABU-APHOBIA - fear of animated mischievous monkeys, esp. when there is a genie nearby

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JUXTAPOSITIVE

PRONUNCIATION: (juhk-stuh-POZ-i-tiv)

MEANING: adjective: Relating to placing side by side.

ETYMOLOGY: From juxtaposition, from Latin juxta (near, next) + French poser (to place). Earliest documented use: 1880.
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JUST A POSITIVE - we're only collecting one blood type today

JUXTAPOS: "I LIVE !" - put that next to an affirmation of viability

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SWANKY

PRONUNCIATION: (SWANG-kee)

MEANING: adjective:
1. Stylish; fashionable; luxurious.
2. Pretentious; ostentatious.

ETYMOLOGY: From swank (swagger), of uncertain origin, perhaps from Middle High German swanken (to sway). Earliest documented use: 1842.
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STANKY - major league infielder and then manager, in the 40s and 50s

S'WINKY - it's the Crouch's former house elf

SWAN KAY - unheralded sister of the founder of a large direct-to-consumer cosmetic sales company

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CRUCIFORM

PRONUNCIATION: (KROO-suh-form)

MEANING: adjective: In the shape of a cross.
noun: Something in the shape of a cross.

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin crux (stake, cross) + -form (having the shape). Earliest documented use: 1661.
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CRUCIFARM - a place where cauliflower and cabbage and Brussels sprouts are grown

CRUCIFORUM - an Easter discussion group

CRUCIO FORM - official approval to use an Unforgivable Curse

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NUMERO UNO

PRONUNCIATION: (NOO/NYOO-muh-roh OO-noh)

MEANING: noun:
1. Oneself; one’s own interests.
2. The highest in rank, quality, importance, etc.

ETYMOLOGY: From Italian numero uno (number one) or Spanish número uno (number one). Earliest documented use: 1944
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NUMERO UNDO - Mister I-Take-It-Back

SUMER OÙ NO? - Should we visit Mesopotamia or go somewhere else?

NUMER OSO - Papa Bear

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NOODGY

PRONUNCIATION: (NOO-jee)

MEANING: adjective: Nagging, pestering, annoying, or complaining.

ETYMOLOGY: From noodge (to pester; one who pesters), from Yiddish nudyen (to pester, bore), from Polish nudzic. A cousin of this word is nudnik (a boring pest). Earliest documented use: 1969.
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NOODLY - over-intellectual, egg-headed

GOOD-GY - Battler against Evil; the one in the white hat

NOOGY - (var. sp.) head rub with knuckles, intended playfully to cause irritation and minor discomfort

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PNEUMATOLOGY

PRONUNCIATION: (noo/nyoo-muh-TOL-uh-jee)

MEANING: noun: The study of spiritual phenomena.

ETYMOLOGY: From Greek pneuma (breath, wind, spirit). Ultimately from the Indo-European root pneu- (to breathe), which is also the source of pneumatic, French pneu (tire), pneumonia, apnea, sneer, sneeze, snort, and snore. Earliest documented use: 1648.
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PONE- (UM) -ATOLOGY - the, er, study of corn bread

PNEUMANOLOGY - the many faces of MAD Magazine (What - me worry?)

P/NP-UMATOLOGY - the study of decidability problems

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NUCIFORM

PRONUNCIATION: (NOO/NYOO-suh-form)

MEANING: adjective: Like a nut.

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin nux (nut) + -form (having a shape). Earliest documented use: 1843.
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NUK FORM - used to make Baby's pacifier

LUCIFORM - looking like the Devil incarnate

BUCIFORM - like Alexander's Great horse

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NUTANT

PRONUNCIATION: (NOO/NYOO-tuhnt)

MEANING: adjective: Drooping; nodding.

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin nutare (to nod repeatedly), frequentative of -nuere (to nod), from numen (nod of the head, command, divine will). Earliest documented use: 1751.
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NUT-AUNT - my mother's crazy sister

NUITANT - like the end of the soirée

NUT-ANTE - fee to play in the squirrels' poker game

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