Showing posts tagged as: Lexicons
A Logolept’s Diet of Obscure, Obsolete, Curious and Downright Odd “G” Words
G-words, words starting with the letter “G”, like “G-men” can be gritty, exacting and uncompromising…sometimes they salaciously and lustfully invoke “the beast with two backs”. Here’s some fairly unorthodox, non-mainstream “G” words you quite possibly have not encountered before.
Gallimaufry: a mixture of different things; a hodge-podge [MFr galimafree (“a kind of stew concocted from various ingredients)]
Galluptious: (or Goloptious) wonderful, delightful, delicious; provocative and sexually alluring [origin uncertain, perhaps alteration of “voluptous]
Gamic: carnal or sexual; requiring fertilisation (biol.) [Old Nth Fr. gam (from “animal’s leg”)]
Genoph: a pickpocket [origin unknown)
Geophilious: live in or near the ground [Gk geo (“earth”) + -phil (“love”)]
Gewgaw: a showy trifle; a trinket; useless, worthless [ME. giuegaue (orig. meaning uncertain)]
Gigantology: the study of giants [Gk. “giant” + -logy]
Glabrous: without hair; smooth [L. glaber (“smooth”; “bald”; “hairless”)] 👨🏾🦲
Glossoid: like a tongue [Gk. glōssoeidēs + -oid] 👅
Gnomic: a phrase that’s short, catchy and clever; puzzling, enigmatic and ambiguous yet seemingly profound [Gk. gnome (“an opinion”)]
Goliard: a learned person, esp in the humanities; (hist.) a wandering, fun-seeking scholar/clerical student in medieval Europe who wrote goliardy (irreverent , satiric Latin verse) [MF, origin uncertain)]
Grallator: someone who walks on stilts (taking quite long strides); an ichnogenus dinosaur [L. grallotores (“stilt-walker”)] 🦕
Gremial: pertaining to the lap or bosom; intimate [L. gremium (“lap”)]
Gymnogynomania: urge to rip women’s clothes off [Gk. gymnos (“naked”; “bare”) + gyn (-“wife”; “-woman”) + -mania
Gymnophoria: the sensation that someone is mentally undressing you [Gk. gymnos (“naked”; “bare”) + -phoria (“to bear”)
Gynotikolobo-massophilia: a proclivity for nibbling one’s earlobes [Gk. gyn + –lobos (“earlobe”) + -masáomai (“to chew”) + -phile] 👂
A Logolept’s Diet of Obscure, Obsolete, Curious and Downright Odd “F” Words
The sixth letter in the alphabet is the consonant “F”. Pre-English, the Phoenicians used to write “F” with a symbol that looked a lot like “Y,” and pronounced it waw. The ancient Greeks changed it into digamma and put a tip on the “Y”, transforming it into the sixth letter in the alphabet we readily recognise today. The “f” sound has a kindred spirit in the “ph” as the two can be interchangeable in spelling, eg, people who live in the Philippines are called “Filipinos”. “F” for frank and forthright and “F” for frivolous and fickle…it would however be remiss of us to not acknowledge that the expression “F-word” has another, polarising, connotation which for many in society is still is a taboo one, as, to use a somewhat old-fashioned-sounding term, a “swear” word… “fuck” and its many derivatives such as “motherfucker”, “fucker”, etc. ad nauseam. So there you have it, “F”, all in all a letter for all seasons and dispositions!
Falerist (or Phalerist): someone who collects and studies medals, badges, pins, ribbons and other decorations [from the Greek mythological hero Phalerus: Gk. Phaleros]
Farraginous: consisting of a confusing mixture, orig. of grains for cattle feed (cf. Farrago); jumbled; messy; heterogenous[L. far “spelt” (ie, grain)]
Favonian: pertaining to the west wind (esp mild, gentle) 💨 [L. fovēre (“to warm”)] (cf. Zephyr)
Firmament: (Relig.) the vault or arch of the sky; the heavens; the field or sphere of an interest or activity [Late Latin. firmamentum, from L. firmare (“support”)]
Flâneur: a man who saunters around observing society; a stroller (fem: approx comparable to Flaneuse). [Old Norse. flana (“to wander with no purpose)]
Flexiloquent: speaking evasively or ambiguously [L. flexibilis (“that may be bent”) + –loquēns (“speaking”; “talking”)]
Florilegium: an anthology esp excerpts of a larger work; collection of flowers [L. flos (“flower” +-legere (“to gather”)] 🌺
Frotteur: (Psycho-sex.) a person who derives sexual gratification—Frottage—thru contact with the clothed body of another person in a crowd [Fr. frotter (“to rub”)]
Funambulist/Funambulator: a tightrope walker; an acrobat who performs balancing acts on a taut, high horizontal rope (also known as an Equilibrist [L. funis (“rope”) + –ambulare (“to walk”)]
Fusilatelist: someone ( with a lot of time on their hands) who collects phone cards from telcos (origin unknown)
Futilitarian: a person devoted to futile pursuits; one who believes that human striving is futile [(19th neologism, a portmanteau word formed from blending “futile” and “utilitarian”]
Fysigunkus: a person devoid of curiosity [Scot. Eng, (19th. origin unknown]
A Logolept’s Diet of Obscure, Obsolete, Curious and Downright Odd ”E” Words
The fifth letter and second vowel in the modern English alphabet, “E” can trace its ancestry to the ancient Greek letter epsilon, which in turn has its source in the Semitic letter hê. Words beginning with “E” can be positive and affirmative—energetic, empathetic, etc—but they can also exclude, excise and excommunicate. Here’s some fairly unorthodox, non-mainstream “E” words you possibly have not encountered before.
Eccendentesiast: an insincere person who fakes a smile [L. ecce (“I present to you’) + –dentes (“teeth”) + –iast (“performer”)]
Ecdysiast: a striptease artist; erotic dancer [Gk. ekdysis (“a stripping or casting off”). Coined 1940 by HL Mencken]
Ectomorph: a person with a lean and delicate build of body; also can refer to someone with an introverted, thoughtful personality [Gk. ecto (“outside”, “external”) + –derm (“skin”) + –morphē (“form”; “shape”). Coined 1940 by WH Sheldon]
Eleemosynary: relating to or depending on charity; charitable [Gk. eleos (“mercy”; “pity”; “compassion”; (pertaining to alms)]
Encomium: a speech or piece of writing which praise someone or something highly (cf. eulogy) [Gk. en (“within”) + –komos (“revel”)]
Endomorph: a person with a heavy, rounded (big-boned) build of body [Gk. endon (“in”; “within”) + –morphē (WH Sheldon 1940)]
Endonym: (also known as Autonym) the native name for a national group, an individual, geographical place, language or dialect; used inside a particular group or linguistic community for self-identification [Gk. endon (“within) + –ónoma (“name”)]
Ennad: any group of nine; orig. a group of 9 deities in Egyptian mythology [Gk. ennea (the number 9)]
Epeolatry: the worship of words [Gk. epos (“word”) + -latry (“worship”)]
Epicrisis: something that follows a crisis, specifically a secondary crisis; a critical or analytical study, evaluation or summing up, esp of medical case [Gk. epíkrisis, (“determination”, “judgment”, “award”)]
Epigamic: attractive to the opposite sex, esp in zoological context [Gk. epi (“upon”; “on”; “near”) + –gamus (“wedding”; “marriage”)]
Epistolographer: a writer of epistles (elegant, formal didactic letters); a letter writer [Gk. epistellein (“send news”) + –graphe (“write”)] ✍️📝
Ergatocracy: rule by the workers [Gk. ergátēs (“workman”) + –crazy]
Eschatological: theological considerations relating to death, judgement and the finality of the soul and humankind [Gk. éskhatos (“last”) + -logy]
Excoriate: to denounce or berate severely; verbally flay; to strip or remove the skin (Gk. ex (“out”) + –coríum (“skin”; “hide”)
Excursus: a diversion or digression in a book from the main subject which involves a detailed side-discussion [L. excurrere (“run out”)]
Exonym: (also known as Xenonym) the non-native name for a national group, an individual, geographical place, language or dialect [Gk. exo (“outside) + –ónoma (“name”)]; eg, the exonym for Deutschland (Germany) in Spanish is Alemania
Expiscate: to find out thru scrupulous examination or detailed investigation; fish out (something) (usage Scot.) [L. expicatus from Gk. ex (“out”) + –piscari (“to fish”)] 🎣 🐠
❘༻༺༻༺❘༻༺༻༺❘༻༺༻༺❘༻༺༻༺❘༻༺༻༺❘༻༺༻
A Logolept’s Diet of Obscure, Obsolete, Curious and Downright Odd “D” Words
The letter “D” corresponds to the Semitic daleth and Greek delta (Δ). “D” is also the Roman numeral for 500. The form (D) is thought to derive from an early pictograph, possibly Egyptian, indicating the folding door of a tent. Later “D” got its more rounded shape, with which we are familiar, from the Chalcidian alphabet, which the Latins may have borrowed for their alphabet (https://www.britannica.com/topic/D-letter). Words beginning with “D”, numero quattro in the English alphabetical order, are an eclectic lot. They can be delightful, decadent or distasteful. Here’s a brief sampler of logophile-friendly “D” words for serious verbivores. 
⍔⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⍠⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⍔
(word) Dacnomania (meaning) a compulsive urge to bite (derivation) Gk dáknō (“bite”) + -mania 🦷
⍔⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⍠⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⍔
Dactylogram fingerprint Gk Daktylos (“finger”) + –gramma (“that which is written/drawn”)
⍔⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⍠⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⍔
Daedalist
aviator; pilot
Gk from Didalos, L Daedalus (“skilfully wrought”)
⍔⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⍠⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⍔
Dapifer one who brings meat to the table (ie, a servant) origin unknown 🍖
⍔⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⍠⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⍔
Defenestration
throw someone through a window; remove or dismiss someone from a position of authority
L de “down from” + –fenestra (“window”)
⍔⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⍠⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⍔
Deimatic pattern of behaviour of a bluffing character (zool) Gk deimatóo (“to frighten”)
⍔⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⍠⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⍔
Deipnosophist learned amateur Gk deipnon (“dinner”) + –sophistēs (“knowledgeable in the arts” (from Athenaeus’‘Deipnosophistaí’)
⍔⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⍠⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⍔
Deltiologist someone who collects and studies postcards [Gk. deltion (“writing tablet”) + -ist]
Deltiologist (image: emaniuz-collection.blogspot.com)
⍔⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⍠⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⍔
Depontification throw someone off a bridge L de + –pons (“bridge), following pattern of defenestration
⍔⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⍠⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⍔
Didascalar Didactic; pertaining to teaching origin unknown
⍔⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⍠⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⍔
Diddicoy scrap dealer; Brit: group of caravan-dwelling travellers who adopt a Gypsy-like lifestyle origin unknown
⍔⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⍠⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⍔
Diestrus a period of sexual inactivity New L dia + -estrus from Gk Oistros (“gadfly”, “sting”)
⍔⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⍠⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⍔
Digladiator swordfighter origin unknown
⍔⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⍠⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⍔
Dithyrambic wildly irregular in form Gk dithyrambos (unknown, pre-Hellenic?)
Diversiloquent able to speak on different topics; in different ways L. diversi (“diversus”) + –loquēns (“to speak”)
⍔⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⍠⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⍔
Docent an academic immediately below the professorial rank; a voluntary guide at a museum, zoo or art gallery L docēns (“to teach”)
⍔⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⍠⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⍔
Doctiloquent speaking learnedly L from doceō (“I teach”) +-loquēns (“to speak”)
⍔⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⍠⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⍔
Domatologist
professional housekeeper
origin unknown
⍔⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⍠⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⍔
Dontopedology science of putting your foot in your mouth Gk odoús (“tooth”) + –pes (“foot”) + –logos (“word”)
⍔⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⍠⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⍔
Douanier customs official Fr, origin unknown
⍔⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⍠⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⍔
Doulocracy rule by slaves Gk doûlos (“servant”, “slave”) + –kratéō (“rule)
Doulocracy: Spartacus, slave army leader
⍔⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⍠⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⍔
Dragoman interpreter, translator or guide Gk dragumanus from Arab targuman (“interpreter”)
⍔⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⍠⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⍔
Dulciloquent speaking in a sweet, pleasant and agreeable way L. dulcis (“sweet”) + -loquēns (“to speak”)
⍔⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⍠⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⍔
Durative describing an action that is continuing, incomplete; transforming L. durare (“to harden”)
⍔⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⍠⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⍔
Dysania Difficult to wake up in the morning origin unknown
⍔⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⍠⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⍔
Dyschromatopic colour-blind Gk dys (“bad”) + -chroma (“colour”) + -ops (“eye”)
⍔⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⍠⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⍔
Dysphemism using an offensive word in the place of an inoffensive one Gk dys (“bad”) + –pheme “speech”,
⍔⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⍠⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⌼⍔
Dystelology doctrine of purposelessness Gk dys (“bad”) + –télos (“end”, “purpose”, “goal”) + –logos
⚗︎⚗︎⚗︎⚗︎⚗︎⚗︎⚗︎⚗︎⚗︎⚗︎⚗︎⚗︎⚗︎⚗︎⚗︎⚗︎⚗︎⚗︎⚗︎⚗︎⚗︎⚗︎⚗︎⚗︎⚗︎⚗︎⚗︎⚗︎⚗︎⚗︎⚗︎⚗︎⚗︎⚗︎⚗︎
A Logolept’s Diet of Obscure, Obsolete, Curious and Downright Odd “C” Words
Continuing the A–Z series of out-of-the-norm, non-mainstream quirky words…this time exploring lexical items starting with the ostentatiously curvy letter “C“, the third letter and second consonant of the modern English alphabet. “C” comes from the same letter as “G”. The Semites named it gimel. The sign is possibly adapted from an Egyptian hieroglyph for a staff sling, which may have been the meaning of the name gimel. Another possibility, contested by some classical scholars, is that it depicted a camel, the Semitic name for which was gamal. The utility of “C” extends to the Romans’ numeral system where it represents the number for “100”, “C” for century!
Word | Meaning | Derivation |
Cacodoxy | bad doctrine or wrong opinion | Gk caco ("bad") + -doxia ("opinion") |
Cacogen | an anti-social person | Gk caco ("bad") + -genēs ("offspring") |
Cacophemism | a perjorative expression used instead of a mild one | Gk caco ("bad") + -logía ("speech") |
Cagamosis | an unhappy marriage | origin unknown |
Calcographer | one who draws with crayons and pastels✍️ | L calco ("thread", "trample on") + graphe ("write") |
Callpygous | having beautiful buttocks | Gk kallos ("beautiful") + -pūgē ("buttocks") |
Camelot | newspaper vendor ️ | F origin unknown |
Carpophagous | fruit-eating | Gk karpós ("fruit") + -phágous ("eating") |
Catapedamania | an impulse to jump from high places | Gk cata ("downward") + -ped ("ground") ⛰️ |
Catchpole | sheriff's deputy, esp one who makes an arrest for failure to pay a debt | OE cace ("catch") + Med L pullus (a chick") |
Celerity | swiftness of movement | L celer ("speedy"; "swift") |
Celsitude | loftiness, esp in rel. to position or standing | L celsus ("high"; "lofty") |
Cenobite | monk; member of religious order | Gk koinos ("common") + -bios ("life") |
Cereologist | someone who studies crop circles, esp one who believes they are not man-made or formed by other terrestrial processes ⭕️ | L Ceres (Roman goddess of agriculture ") + -logy ("study") |
Chaetophorous | having bristles | Gk khaítē ("hair") + -phoros ("bearing") |
Chasmaphilous | fond of nooks & crannies | Gk chasma ("abyss"; "cleft") + phil |
Chiliad | divide into parts of 1,000; Millennium | Gk khilioi ("thousand") |
Chorizent | someone who challenges the authorship of a major work, esp one who believes that the Iliad & the Odyssey were not penned by Homer ✍️ | origin unknown |
Chryosophist | a lover of gold ⚱️ | Gk chrys ("gold") + -philos ("phile") |
Cicisbeo | male companion of a married woman | origin unknown |
Cicerone | a guide for tourism information ℹ️ | L from Cicero, agnomen of Roman orator, (2th BCE |
Clerisy | class of the intelligentsia; group of learned & literary people | Gk klēros ("heritage") |
Concision | tenseness & brevity of speech & writing; saying much in a few words | L concīsus ("cut short") |
Consign | deserved & appropriate, esp a fair & fitting punishment | L con ("altogether") + -dignus ("worthy"; "appropriate" |
Copacetic | completely satisfactory; in good order | origin unknown |
Coruscating | sparkling; glittering | L coruscatus ("to vibrate", "glitter") |
Cosmocracy | rulership of the world; global government ️ | Gk cosmo ("universe") + -krátos ("rule"; "power") |
Coterminous | having the same boundaries | Eng, (18th. |
Crepuscular | resembling or rel to twilight | L crepusculum ("twilight") |
Cruciverbalist | one who is skilled at or enjoys solving crosswords 里 | L cruci ("cross" + -verbum ("word"). Neologism, 1977) |
Cryptarcy | secret government or rulership | Gk kryptos ("hidden"; "secret") |
Cryptogenic | (disease) of unknown origin | Gk kryptos ("hidden"; "secret") + genēs ("offspring") |
Cryptonym | a code or secret name | Gk kryptos ("hidden"; "secret") + -nym ("name") |
Cumbent | "lying down"; "reclining" | L incumbere ("lie or lean on") |
Curiosa | pornographic books | L curiosus ("curious") |
Curlicue | calligraphic twist or curl in the design object; decorative | Eng, (18th. "Curly" + "cue" ("pigtail") |
Cursoril | limbs adapted to running (zool.) | Med L cursorius ("of running") |
Cyesolagnia | attracted to pregnant women | Gk cyeso(?) + -lagnia ("lust") |
Cynoid | dog-like; canine | Gk kyn ("dog") + oid ("resembling") |
Cynosure | anything that attracts attention; object of interest | Gk kunosoura (lit. "dog's tail") an association der. from the shape of the constellation Ursa Minor |
Cereologist: pondering the enigma of the crop circle ⭕️
Chorizent: Not Homer!
The Cruciverbalist’s playground
Cynosure: all eyes on Ursa Minor, aka “the Little Dipper”
A Logolept’s Diet of Obscure, Obsolete, Curious and Downright Odd “B” Words
The letter “B” has quite a backstory on route to its destination in the English alphabet. Its equivalent second letter in Phoenician, beth, was part of that ancient language’s alphabet more than 3000 years ago. It looked a little different, but it made the same sound as “B”/”b”. The shape of the letter resembled the floor plan of a house, and the word beth meant “house.” In Hebrew, the letter was called beth, bet or bayt which also means “house.” (‘The Letter B Once Had A Much Longer Name’, (2014), www.dictionary.com). Here’s a far from definitive selection of unusual, obscure and archaic words beginning with “B” – useful additions to the vocabulary of any budding lexiphile, logophile or verbivore out there.
Word | Meaning | Derivation |
Babeldom | a confused sound of noise | ME babble + OE -dōm ('state') |
Bacchanal | drunkard; reveller | L bacchanalis (from the god Bacchus) |
Bahadur | self-important official | Persian bahādur ('brave', 'valiant') |
Balatron | joker; clown | L balatrō ('jester'; 'buffoon') 嵐 |
Barmecide | an insincere benefactor (someone who promises but doesn't deliver) | Per Barmeki ('The Arabian Nights', family name) |
Barratry | inciting riot or violence | OF Barraterie (der from 'deceive') |
Bathykolpian | deep-bosomed | Gk bathys ('deep') + kolpos ('breast') |
Bedswerver | an unfaithful spouse | Eng (17th, Shakespeare |
Benedict | benign; a newly-married after being a long-time bachelor | L bene ('good') + -dicte ('speak') |
Bersatrix | babysitter | Fr berseaux ('cradle') + trix (fem. suffix) |
Bibliognost | well-read individual: person with a wide knowledge of books | Gk biblio ('book') + -gnōstēs ('one who knows'j |
Bodacious | remarkable; unmistakable; sexy; voluptuous | Eng 'bold' + 'audacious' |
Boursocrat | Stock exchange official | origin unknown |
Brio | enthusiastic vigour | It 'mettle'; 'fire'; 'life' |
Bromaphile | lover of food; a "foodie" | Gk brôma ('food') + -phile ('lover') |
Bromopnea | bad breath | Gk brômos ('stink') + nea |
Brumal | wintry; of, like or pertaining to winter 略 | L brūmalīs ('relating to the winter solstice') |
Burrole | an eavesdropper | origin unknown |
Bywoner | agricultural labourer | Afrikaans from Mid Dutch bi + ('dweller') |
ADDENDUM | ||
Barbigerous | bearded; bearing a beard 倫♂️ | L barbiger ("beard"; + -gero ('bearing') |
Bavian | baboon; insignificant or unskilled poet | D baviaan |
Belliferous | bringing war | L bellum ('war') + ferō ('to bear') |
Bloviate | talk at length in empty, pompous, inflated fashion | Eng (19th. 'blow' (as in boasting, orig. to describe politicians) |
Brobdingnagian | immense in size; gigantic | Eng (18th. novel by Jonathan Swift ✍️ |
