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 19 of 22 1 2 17 18 19 20 21 22
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,696
Likes: 2
W
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,696
Likes: 2
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.
_________________________________

ASPERSICON - a collection of insinuations

ASSERSION - accusation made while intoxicated

CASPER'S ION - a friendly but charged ghost

Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,696
Likes: 2
W
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,696
Likes: 2
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.
_________________________________________

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?

Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,696
Likes: 2
W
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,696
Likes: 2
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.
____________________________

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

Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,696
Likes: 2
W
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,696
Likes: 2
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.
________________________

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

Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,696
Likes: 2
W
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,696
Likes: 2
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.
_________________________________

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

Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,696
Likes: 2
W
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,696
Likes: 2
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.
________________________

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

Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,696
Likes: 2
W
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,696
Likes: 2
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.
_______________________________

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

Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,696
Likes: 2
W
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,696
Likes: 2
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.
________________________________________

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!

Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,696
Likes: 2
W
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,696
Likes: 2
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
_____________________________

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

Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,696
Likes: 2
W
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,696
Likes: 2
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.
_____________________________

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

Page 19 of 22 1 2 17 18 19 20 21 22

Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,550
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 (), 166 guests, and 3 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
wofahulicodoc 10,696
tsuwm 10,542
LukeJavan8 9,928
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