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There's a Word for It!
There's a Word for It!: A Grandiloquent Guide to Life | Charles Harringto Elster
90 posts | 1 read | 10 to read
In the tradition of Anguished English, a mischievous and madcap expedition through the depths of the unabridged dictionary promises hilarious word fun for language enthusiasts. Reprint.
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
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psalva
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I‘m packing up books for a move and came across this handy book full of #weirdwords which I didn‘t know I had! Not even sure where I got it but it seems like the perfect reference for language explorers. And who of us hasn‘t feeked or dwaled through bookshops- that must have been how I discovered this book originally!
@CBee

CBee Sometimes I haingle and feek quite a bit 😂😂 I probably dwale when I‘m tired 😂🤪 (edited) 2y
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keithmalek
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CouronneDhiver Librarian? 🤫 6y
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keithmalek
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keithmalek
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Aeolist: (EE-uh-list) A pompous, windy bore who pretends to have inspiration.

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Sace
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Went to the library for another mini haul. The tagged book was recommended by @keithmalek. I was thrilled the library had it. Bonus joy- two of my students were at the library. #teachersoflitsy

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keithmalek
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Acritition (AK-ri-TISH-un): Sex without orgasm.

Reecaspieces 😂😂 I should not laugh..because she is the saddest woman I have ever seen. Money does not buy happiness! 7y
Mommamanzi I just laughed so freaking hard. 7y
sprainedbrain 🤣🤣🤣 7y
See All 8 Comments
AmyG $50 none of that happens anymore. ;) (edited) 7y
Samplergal @AmyG just $50??? 😂 7y
Samplergal @Reecaspieces if this were normal, I‘d agree. I tend to think it was a business arrangement more than anything. Karma baby. 7y
Reecaspieces @Samplergal you are probably right 7y
AmyG I have read she was going to divorce him after the campaign...thinking he would lose. @Samplergal Oh, did I forget the word million? ;) (edited) 7y
16 likes8 comments
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keithmalek
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keithmalek

Obmutescent (AHB-myoo-TES-int): Inclined to silence, taciturn.

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keithmalek

Acokoinonia (AK-oh-koy-NOH-nee-uh): Sex without passion or desire.

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keithmalek

Acedolagnia (uh--SEE-doh-LAG-nee-uh): Complete indifference to sex.

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keithmalek
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Abulia (uh-BYOO-lee-uh): A complete loss of willpower or the ability to act.

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keithmalek
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keithmalek
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Abderian (ab-DEER-ee-in): Given to incessant or idiotic laughter.

Suet624 That‘s hysterical! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 7y
23 likes1 comment
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keithmalek
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Eggtaggle: To waste time in bad company.

Suet624 Oh boy. Yes. 7y
20 likes2 comments
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keithmalek
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Latrinalia: Graffiti found in restrooms.

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keithmalek
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Apricate: To bask in the sun.

Lcsmcat Does the book give the etymology for this? I‘m quite curious. 7y
Lcsmcat Dictionary.com says: from Latin apricatus, past participle of apricari "to bask in the sun," from apricus "exposed" (to the sun); perhaps contracted from *apericus, from aperire "to open." And apparently it dates from the 1690‘s! 7y
keithmalek @Lcsmcat Interesting. I LOVE this book! 7y
Lcsmcat I enjoy the quotes you post. 7y
14 likes5 comments
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keithmalek

Sciloist (SY-uh-list) An intellectual fake, a person who affects erudition.

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keithmalek

Aristophren: (uh-RIS-tuh-fren) A person with a superior intellect.

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keithmalek

Longanimity (LAWNG-guh-NIM-i-tee): The ability to suffer patiently. It is endurance in the face of hardship, tolerance of mental or physical pain.

RebelReader I'd like my longanimity to go untested please! 😬 7y
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keithmalek

Cacogen: An antisocial person.

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keithmalek

Exsibilation: (ek-SIB-i-LAY-shin) The collective sound of hissing made by a disappointed or offended audience. To exsibilate is to reject or object to by hissing.

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keithmalek

Logomachy (loh-GAHM-uh-kee) A war of words or a battle about words. Anyone who contends verbally--e.g., a lawyer, politician, or critic--is a logamachist or logamacher (stress the gom). To logamachize (loh-GAHM-uh-kyz) is to wage or engage in a war of or about words.

Leniverse Glad you included the pronunciation guide for that. I would have put the stress on "mak", not on "gom". 7y
keithmalek @Leniverse I would have too. 7y
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keithmalek

Gongoozler: A person who stares idly at nothing or who loiters in the street gawking at everything.

tournevis So, a teenager. 🤗 7y
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keithmalek

Galligantus: A tall, gangling, awkward person.

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keithmalek

Hadeharia (HAY-di-HAR-ee-uh): The practice of constantly using the word "hell" in one's speech.

Dolly Amazing there is a word for that 🤔 7y
Lcsmcat I wonder if there‘s a word for people who constantly use the f-word? 7y
night_shift @Lcsmcat a dummy? Lol .. I imagine there's something! 7y
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keithmalek

Parapraxis: A blundering act, lapse of memory, or slip of the tongue, especially one that reveals a hidden motive--colloquially known as a Freudian slip. The plural is parapraxes.

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keithmalek

Periclitate (puh-RIK-li-TAYT): To put in danger, expose to risk.

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keithmalek

Crugset: To drive an animal into such a situation as to prevent its escape. Figuratively, it means "to drive a person into a corner in an argument."

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keithmalek

Ipsedixitism (IP-si-DIK-si-tiz'm) The practice of dogmatic assertion.

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keithmalek
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Crepuscle: The fading light at the end of the day, twilight.

Blaire I learned this word from my then 4 year old son who told me about animals that are crepuscular. I had to google I‎t. 7y
22 likes1 comment
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keithmalek
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Izles (EYE-zuls): Sparks, embers, or particles of soot rising from a fire or coming out of a chimney.

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keithmalek
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Rasorial: Habitually or compulsively scratching the ground in search of food, the way chickens and other fowl do.

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keithmalek
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Spiculate: To sharpen to a point.

Clwojick Yesss! Never heard of this one! 7y
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keithmalek
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Siffilate: To speak in whispers.

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keithmalek
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Pysmatic: Always asking questions or inquiring.

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keithmalek
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Pernoctation: The act of staying up all night; pulling an "all-nighter" to work, party, or study.

My thoughts: Daft Punk does pernoctation for subagitation. (They stay up all night to get lucky. See my last post) Yeah...those lyrics aren't nearly as catchy. But to quote Bill Maher, "Maybe if they didn't wear those stupid helmets, they wouldn't have to stay up all night to get lucky."

LitLogophile 😂 7y
jpmcwisemorgan Ha! That‘s awesome though. 7y
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keithmalek

Subagitation: Sexual intercourse.

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keithmalek
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Witzelsucht: A feeble attempt at humor.

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keithmalek
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Thanatopsis: Contemplation of death.

--We take Halloween very seriously in this apartment. And yes, Oreo is sleeping on a beer bottle. It's a Roadsmary's Baby Pumpkin Ale. A nice touch, if I do say so myself.

TheBookAddict 😂 it seems like Oreo had a few too many...🤣 7y
27 likes1 comment
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keithmalek

Metutials (me-TYOO-shee-uls): Small, irksome chores that must be done before anything else can be done.

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keithmalek

Amphigory (AM-fi-GOR-ee): A poem that on first reading appears to be profound but that on further inspection turns out to be complete nonsense.

bookwrm526 I love that there‘s a word for that 7y
16 likes1 comment
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keithmalek
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Galeophobia (GAY-lee-uh-phobia): Fear of sharks. Also, selacophobia (SEL-uh-kuh-phobia).

Another picture I took myself.

Nebklvr I have that. 7y
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keithmalek
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Selachian (suh-LAY-kee-in): Like a shark.

Note: I actually took this picture myself.

Cortg Very cool photo! 7y
keithmalek @Cortg Thank you. When sharks bite down, for a split second, they roll their eyes back in order to protect them. I happened to capture that here. 7y
Cortg Amazing! 7y
britt_brooke 😱 7y
17 likes4 comments
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keithmalek

Scaldabanco: A preacher who delivers a fiery sermon.

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keithmalek

Rabiator (RAY-bee-AY-tur): A man who likes to fight or perpetrate violent crimes.

LauraJ Is there a term for a woman who likes to fight or perpetrate violent crimes? Asking for a friend. 7y
jpmcwisemorgan I want to know what @LauraJ wants to know. 7y
keithmalek @LauraJ @jpmcwisemorgan I just returned this book to the library, so I'm not sure if the author mentioned it. The definitions on the internet don't specify gender. The next time I'm at the library I'll look into it. 7y
jpmcwisemorgan Thank you! I find this book fascinating and perhaps one day I will have a copy of my own. 😊 7y
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keithmalek

Ponerologist: Someone who expounds on the nature of evil.

MrBook Love learning new words! 😁👍🏻👍🏻 7y
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keithmalek

Kirkbuzzer: A robber of churches.

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keithmalek

Clapperdudgeon: A beggar born of beggars; also, a beggar who bangs on a dish or a cup.

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keithmalek

Martext: A blundering preacher who stumbles through a sermon.

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keithmalek

Thaumaturge: One who performs wondrous things, a miracle worker. The corresponding noun is thaumaturgy.