December 2015 – WOTDs

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31 December 2015

adoxography

noun

– fine writing in praise of trivial or base subjects;

Examples

– Elizabethan schoolboys were taught adoxography, the art of eruditely praising worthless things

– adoxography is particularly useful to lawyers

Anagram

parody hag ox

30 December 2015

shicer

[shahy-ser]

noun, Australian.

1. Slang. a swindler.
2. any unscrupulous person.

Origin of shicer

German
1850-1855; German Scheisser, equivalent to scheiss (en) to shit + -er -er1

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for shicer

Historical Examples

A ‘ shicer ‘ is first a mining claim which turns out to be useless, and then anything that does so.
Town Life in Australia
R. E. N. (Richard) Twopeny

‘I think the practical miner, who had been hard at work night and day, for the last four or six months, and, after all, had just bottomed a shicer, objected to the tax itself, because he could not possibly afford to pay it’.
The Eureka Stockade
Raffaelo Carboni
1927

Anagram

riches

29 December 2015

Vandemonian

[van-dih-mohn-ee-en]

noun

1. a native or inhabitant of the former Van Diemen’s Land (now Tasmania)
adjective
2. of or relating to Van Diemen’s Land or its inhabitants

Collins English Dictionary – Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Examples from the Web for vandemonian

Historical Examples

The husband was about forty years old; and was a vulgar looking wretch—even for a “ vandemonian.”
Lost Lenore
Charles Beach

Anagram

a manned vino
dove in manna
neon maid van

28 December 2015

jape

[jeyp]

verb (used without object), japed, japing.

1. to jest; joke; gibe.
verb (used with object), japed, japing.
2. to mock or make fun of.
noun
3. a joke; jest; quip.
4. a trick or practical joke.

Origin of jape

Middle English, Old French

1300-1350; Middle English japen, perhaps < Old French jap (p) er to bark, of imitative orig.

Related forms

japer, noun
japery, noun
japingly, adverb

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for jape

Contemporary Examples

While Zuckerberg hasn’t said exactly who will benefit from his philanthropy, the message claiming that random Facebook users can grab $4.5 million by simply liking a post on the social network site did not originate with the Facebook founder. This post is simply another example of the plentiful “something for nothing” hoaxes that have circulated since the early days of the Internet, japes that trick gullible users into forwarding, liking, or sharing messages with the promise of large financial rewards in return.
‘Thanks, Zuckerberg! Mark Zuckerberg is not giving $4.5 million to Facebook users who share a “thank you” message’.
Dan Evon
Snopes.com
December 3, 2015

It was clearly meant to be a sycophantic gesture, but the jape backfired like a blocked Victorian shotgun.
Royal Cover-Up as Prince of Wales Shoots Owl (In 1896)
Tom Sykes
February 26, 2013

Historical Examples

It made a new game for him, you see, amusing and rather flattering as well, the kind of a jape he was all too apt at.
Where the Pavement Ends
John Russell

I’m goin’ to jape a bit with our friend, a’ la ‘Molly’ Fairburn.
Stalky & Co.
Rudyard Kipling

And when this jape is told another day I shall be halden a daffe or a Cokenay.
Notes and Queries, Vol. IV, Number 111, December 13, 1851
Various

26 December 2015

zetetic

[zuh-tet-ik]

adjective

1. proceeding by inquiry; investigating

Collins English Dictionary

noun

1. one who seeks

Zetetics

[zuh-tet-ix]

noun

– A branch of algebra which relates to the direct search for unknown quantities.

Word Origin
from New Latin, from Greek zētētikos, from zēteō to seek

Examples from the Web for zetetic

Historical Examples

As to the cosmology of the story-tellers, all we can say is, that they appear to uphold the zetetic school.
The Folk-Tales of the Magyars
Various

25 December 2015

yclept

[ee-klept]

adjective

(poetic, archaic)

– called, named

Verb

– past particple of clepe (to call or name)

Origin

before 900; Middle English clepen, Old English cleopian, variant of clipian; akin to Middle Low German kleperen to rattle

Historical

At the foot of this rock there is a deep, narrow, crooked cleft, yclept the ‘Needle’s Eye.’
Nooks and Corners of Shropshire
H. Thornhill Timmins

Am I not yclept quacksalver by those that come not near me, and wizard by those I heal?
The Cloister and the Hearth
Charles Reade

Who, in your opinion, is the greatest leader of the “opposition” yclept the Christian religion?
The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Vol. 8 (of 12)
Robert G. Ingersoll

24 December 2015

xenobombulate

[zen-uh-bom-yuh-leyt]

verb

– to malinger

Example

The airman was known to xenobombulate whenever required for a military exercise.

Anagram

baboon telex um
exult bean boom

 

23 December 2015

witzelsucht

[vit-zuhl-sookht]

noun

– a psychological disease that causes sufferers to speak in puns, usually at the most inopportune or inappropriate time (also known as ‘the joking disease’).

– a joke that falls flat.

Origin

German

witzeln meaning to joke or wisecrack, and sucht, meaning addiction or yearning

Anagram

scuttle whiz

22 December 2015

ventripotent

[ven-trip-oh-tuhnt]

Adjective

(comparative more ventripotent, superlative most ventripotent)

1. Having a big belly.

Examples

1694, Thomas Urquhart, translating François Rabelais, Pantagruel, Book LIX, (chapter title):
Of the ridiculous statue Manduce; and how, and what the Gastrolaters sacrifice to their ventripotent god.

1982, Lawrence Durrell, Constance, Faber & Faber 2004 (Avignon Quintet), p. 714:
The reception committee consisted of Constance and a ventripotent Swiss banker, representing the Red Cross […].

2. Gluttonous.

2008, A. C. Kemp, The Perfect Insult for Every Occasion, ISBN 978-1-59869-327-0, page 198:
I’m sure your being so ventripotent is useful in county fair competitions, George, but it’s driving our bakery into the ground, so we’re replacing you.

Anagram

invent potter
penitent or TV

21 December 2015

ultracrepidarian

[uhl-truh-krep-i-dair-ee-uh n]

adjective

1. noting or pertaining to a person who criticizes, judges, or gives advice outside the area of his or her expertise:
The play provides a classic, simplistic portrayal of an ultracrepidarian mother-in-law.

noun

2. an ultracrepidarian person.

Origin of ultracrepidarian

Latin, Greek

1800-1820; ultra- + Latin crepidam ‘sole of a shoe, sandal’ (< Greek krepis ‘shoe’); in allusion to the words of Pliny the Elder ne supra crepidam sutor judicare ‘let the cobbler not judge above the sandal’; cf. the English proverb “let the cobbler stick to his last”

Related forms

ultracrepidarianism, noun

Dictionary.com

Anagram

a particular diner
a radical pier runt

20 December 2015

tachyphagia

[tak-uh-fey-gee-uh]

Noun

– Excessively rapid eating or bolting of food.

Example

Meal time at the high school camp was an exercise in tachyphagia.

Anagram

a yacht hag pi

19 December 2015

sphallolalia

[sfel-oh-lah-lee-ya]

noun

– flirtatious talk that leads nowhere.

Origin

From the Ancient Greek σφάλλω ‎(sphállō, “to stumble”) and λαλιά ‎(laliá, “talking”).

Example

The sphallolallia between him and her was driving their friends crazy with frustration, wondering whether or not the relationship would develop further.

Anagram

aloha alls lip

18 December 2015

recumbentibus

[rek-uhm-ben-tuh-bus]

noun

– a knockdown blow (verbal or physical)

The advantage of inflicting upon an assailant a recumbentibus — J. R. Newman

Merriam-Webster Dictionary

Anagram

bribe scum tune
bisect emu burn

17 December 2015

qualtagh

[kwal-tak]

Noun

1. The first person one encounters, either after leaving one’s home or (sometimes) outside one’s home, especially on New Year’s Day.

Origin

Manx (Isle of Man)

16 December 2015

pyknic

[pik-nik] Psychology

adjective

1. (of a physical type) having a fat, rounded build or body structure.
Compare asthenic (def 2), athletic (def 5).
noun
2. a person of the pyknic type.

Origin of pyknic
Greek
1920-1925; < Greek pykn (ós) thick + -ic

Dictionary.com

15 December 2015

oculoplania

[ok-yoo-loh-plan-ee-uh]

noun

– Letting one’s eyes wander while assessing someone’s charms.

Example

Maintaining eye contact with his attractive manager was an exercise in futility for the young man who seemed perpetually afflicted with oculoplania whenever he was in her presence.

Anagram

up a colonial

14 December 2015

nelipot

[nel-ee-pot]

noun

– one who walks barefoot

Origin:

Greek: nelipous (nelipodos): unshod

The Barefoot in the Park concert attracted nelipots from all walks of life.

Anagram

top line
tin pole

13 December 2015

maledicent

[mal-eh-dee-sent]

Adjective

(archaic) one who enjoys using slanderous language or is addicted to abusive speech
(archaic) reproachful in speech
(archaic) slanderous

(comparative more maledicent, superlative most maledicent)

Origin

Latin: maledicere

Usage

The debate resulted only in proving which politician was more maledicent.

Anagram

menaced lit
citadel men
climate end
candle emit

12 December 2015

lalochezia

lal·o·che·zi·a (lāl’ō-kē’zē-ə)

noun.

Emotional relief gained by using indecent or vulgar language.

(The American Heritage® Stedman’s Medical Dictionary)

Anagram

hi cola zeal
ha localize

Example

After a frustrating day in which he sold nothing, the salesman found a good bout of lalochezia to be very therapeutic.

11 December 2015

knismesis

[niz-muh-sis]

Noun

knismesis

– Light tickling often accompanied by an itching sensation.

Coordinate term

gargalesis

– heavy tickling often leading to laughter

Example

1999 Christine R. Harris & Nicholas Christenfeld, “Can a machine tickle?,” Psychonomic Bulletin & Review,6(3) pp. 504-510
One can readily elicit knismesis in oneself (this is easily demonstrated by dragging a fingernail lightly over one’s skin). However, one cannot produce gargalesis in oneself; the present investigation focuses on this peculiar fact.

Anagram

miss skein

10 December 2015

jen

[zhuhn, ruhn]

noun, (in Chinese philosophy)

1. a compassionate love for humanity or for the world as a whole.

Origin of jen

Chinese< Chinese (Wade-Giles) jên 2, (pinyin) rén

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for jen

Contemporary Examples

Between Plouffe and jen Psaki, Air Force One had no room for Robert Gibbs.
No Drama Obama’s Dramatic 2012 Reelection Campaign
Richard Wolffe
September 11, 2013

jen goes to Claremont McKenna, which, though not quite in Los Angeles, is still California.
The West Coast Gossip Girl
Isabel Kaplan
June 30, 2009

Last year, jen Yates asked people to send her pictures of “cake wrecks.”
World’s Ugliest Cakes
Rachel Kramer Bussel
August 31, 2009

9 December 2015

interfenestration

[in-ter-fen-uh-strey-shuh n]

noun

1. a space between two windows.
2. the art or process of arranging the openings in a wall.

Origin of interfenestration

1815-1825; inter- + fenestration

Related forms

interfenestral [in-ter-fuh-nes-truh l], adjective

Dictionary.com

Anagram

a ferrets intention
a softener inert nit

8 December 2015

hadeharia

[had-eh-har-ee-uh]

noun

– constant use of the word ‘hell’.

Origin

– Greek, ‘Hades’ meaning ‘hell’.

Anagram

ah airhead
ahead hair

7 December 2015

gambrinous

– being full of beer

Origin

– Gambrinus is a mythical Flemish king, reputedly responsible for inventing beer.

Example

‘I’m so gambrinous’.

Anagram

barium song

6 December 2015

filipendulous

adjective

[Fil`i`pen´du`lous]

1.(Bot.) Suspended by, or strung upon, a thread; said of tuberous swellings in the middle or at the extremities of slender, threadlike rootlets.

2. Hanging by a thread.

Origin

From Latin filum (thread) + pendere (to hang). Ultimately from the Indo-European root (s)pen- (to draw, to spin), which is also the source of pendulum, spider, pound, pansy, pendant, ponder, appendix, penthouse, depend, and spontaneous. Earliest documented use: 1864.

Exampl
“A group of filipendulous constructions that evoke Brobdingnagian hornets’ nests.”
The New Yorker; Sep 25, 1989.

(wordsmith.org)

Anagram

nullified soup
upon fluid isle

5 December 2015

eccedentesiast

noun

[ek-se-den-tee-zhe-ist]

– a person who fakes a smile

Example

– After an hour of wedding photos, the couple felt more like eccedentesiasts than bride and groom.

Anagram

dessicates teen
detest a science
dictate essence
see ecstatic end

4 December 2015

dactylonomy

[dak-til-on-uh-mee]

noun

– the act of counting using one’s fingers.

Example

Dactylonomy is not the domain of children or the slow of thought. Back in the day, pre-calculators, dactylonomy was an art form in which people could count up to 9,999 with one knuckle, two joints and three bones per finger available for calculations(1).

Anagram

my candy loot
my tycoon lad

Source:

1. http://www.worldwidewords.org/weirdwords/ww-dac1.htm

3 December 2015

cachinnate

[kak-uh-neyt]

verb (used without object), cachinnated, cachinnating.

1. to laugh loudly or immoderately.

Origin of cachinnate

Latin

1815-1825; < Latin cachinnātus (past participle of cachinnāre to laugh aloud, laugh immoderately), equivalent to cachinn- laugh aloud + -ātus -ate1

Related forms

cachinnation, noun
cachinnator, noun
cachinnatory [kak-uh-nuh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee, kuh-kin-uh-] (Show IPA), adjective

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for cachinnate

Historical Examples

That definition excludes women, because they giggle, or chuckle, or cachinnate.
Punchinello, Vol. II., No. 35, November 26, 1870
Various

Anagram

enchain cat
canine chat

2 December 2015

borborygmus

[bawr-buh-rig-muh s]

noun, plural borborygmi [bawr-buh-rig-mahy] (Show IPA). Physiology.

1. a rumbling or gurgling sound caused by the movement of gas in the intestines.

Origin of borborygmus

Greek

1710-1720; New Latin; Greek borborygmós intestinal rumbling

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for borborygmus

Historical Examples

It is knotted and lumpy to the touch and a rumbling noise ( borborygmus) is heard within it.
A Treatise on Sheep:
Ambrose Blacklock

Anagram

grubby rooms
burn bog sorry

1 December 2015

Aeolist ‎(plural Aeolists)

Noun

(rare)

A pompous person, pretending to have inspiration or spiritual insight.

Anagrams

et alios, isolate

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