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Love this from David Markson's "Going Down", but not sure even I can employ itsoricine
[ sawr-uh-sahyn, -sin, sor-uh-
adjective Zoology.
of or resembling the shrews.
Love this from David Markson's "Going Down", but not sure even I can employ itsoricine
[ sawr-uh-sahyn, -sin, sor-uh-
adjective Zoology.
of or resembling the shrews.
And this from the same sourcestercoraceous
[ stur-kuh-rey-shuhs
adjective Physiology.
consisting of, resembling, or pertaining to dung or feces.
ORIGIN OF STERCORACEOUS
1725–35;
sesquipedalian[ ses-kwi-pi-dey-lee-uhn, -deyl-yuhn ]
adjective Also ses·quip·e·dal [ses-kwip-i-dl].
given to using long words.
(of a word) containing many syllables.
noun
a sesquipedalian word.
What I have been accused of in my writing.
incunabula[ in-kyoo-nab-yuh-luh, ing- ]
plural noun, singular in·cu·nab·u·lum [in-kyoo-nab-yuh-luhm, ing-].
extant copies of books produced in the earliest stages (before 1501) of printing from movable type.
the earliest stages or first traces of anything.
Been long while since I've accessed this chain! Will add a very ordinary word (yes, word play intended):My word for 1/6/23:
quotidian – adj.
1. occurring every day (quotidian fever)
2. belonging to everyday (quotidian routine)
3. commonplace, ordinary (quotidian drabness)
Middle English cotidian, from Middle French, from Latin cotidianus, quotidianus, from cotidie, quotidie each day, daily (from quot as many as, how many + dies day) + -anus -an — more at quote, deity
From Merrium Webster online
Happy 2023 to Marc and any and all who still visit this long lived word swap/talk/record.
altricial[ al-trish-uhl ]
adjective Zoology.(of an animal species)
helpless at birth or hatching and requiring parental care for a period of time (opposed to precocial.)
ORIGIN OF ALTRICIAL
1870–75;
prosopagnosianoun
an inability to recognize faces
maieuticadjective
of or relating to the method used by Socrates of eliciting knowledge in the mind of a person by interrogation and insistence on close and logical reasoning.
ORIGIN OF MAIEUTIC
1645–55;
cadastraladjective
Surveying. (of a map or survey) showing or including boundaries, property lines, etc.
of or relating to a cadastre.
cadastre
noun
an official register of the ownership, extent, and value of real property in a given area, used as a basis of taxation.
1795–1805;
falcateadjective
curved like a scythe or sickle; hooked; falciform.
ORIGIN OF FALCATE
1
1820–30;
thanks Marc Nash. You make my English better
Cosplay1 cos(tume) + 1play, after Japanese kosupure, short for kosuchūmupurē, borrowed from English costume + (role) play
Note: The Japanese word was allegedly introduced in print by publisher and media producer Noboyuki Takahashi in the June, 1983 issue of the magazine Mai Anime/My Anime (see Brian Ashcraft and Luke Plunkett, Cosplay World [Prestel, 2014], pp. 18-20; the authors quote from an interview with Takahashi and reproduce pages from the magazine).
First Known Use: 1993
“Cosplay.” Merriam-Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://unabridged.merriam-webster.co.... Accessed 2 Feb. 2024.
Encountered in NYT article referring to "Mafiosa furs"
From Marc Nash review elsewhere on Goodreads: August 22, 2021
Video review https://youtu.be/j4jGfNsZ8sE
Just came across tonight.
propaedeutic[ proh-pi-doo-tik,
adjective Also pro·pae·deu·ti·cal.
pertaining to or of the nature of preliminary instruction.
introductory to some art or science.
noun
a propaedeutic subject or study.
propaedeutics, (used with a singular verb) the preliminary body of knowledge and rules necessary for the study of some art or science.
ORIGIN OF PROPAEDEUTIC
1
1830–40; pro-2 + Greek paideutikós pertaining to teaching, equivalent to paideú(ein) to teach (derivative of paîs child; cf. pedo-1) + -tikos-tic
From [book:Two Sherpas|64645422]
Marc wrote: "in the novels that I read!"give me an example please I might find them weird, but I like weird,
sequela[ si-kwel-uh, -kwee-luh ]
noun
,Pathology.
an abnormal condition resulting from a previous disease.
Origin of sequela1
1785–95; < Latin sequēla sequel
edentulous[ ee-den-chuh-luhs ]
adjective
lacking teeth; toothless.
exuviaeplural noun
the cast skins, shells, or other coverings of animals.
Origin of exuviae1
First recorded in 1645–55; from Latin, derivative of exuere “to remove, strip off, divest oneself of,” from ex- ex- 1 + -uere “to put on”
abulianoun
, Psychiatry.
a symptom of mental disorder involving impairment or loss of volition.
Origin of abulia1
1840–50; < New Latin, probably not < Greek aboulíā thoughtlessness, but freshly formed from a- 6, Greek boulḗ will,
hypogeumnoun
, Plural hy·po·ge·a [hahy-p, uh, -, jee, -, uh, hip-, uh, -].
Ancient Architecture. the underground part of a building, as a vault.
an underground burial chamber.
Origin of hypogeum1
1700–10; < Latin hypogēum < Greek hypógeion underground chamber (neuter of hypógeios underground), equivalent to hypo- hypo- + gê earth + -ion neuter adj. suffix
eclosionnoun
Entomology.
the emergence of an adult insect from its pupal case.
the hatching of a larva from its egg.
Origin of eclosion1
1885–90; < French éclosion, equivalent to éclos (past participle of éclore to hatch < Vulgar Latin *exclaudēre, for Latin exclūdēre to hatch,
catoptric/ kə-tŏp′trĭk /
Relating to the reflection of light, especially by a mirror. Catoptric lenses are used in Fresnel lenses and many telescopes.
Origin of catoptrics1
1560–70; < Greek katoptrikós, equivalent to kátoptr ( on ) mirror ( kat- cat- ( def ) + op- see + -tron suffix of instruments) + -ikos -ic; -ics
This recent batch all came from this novel which I can highly recommend though it demands an investment in time and focus as a maximalist work.
Solenoid
saprophytenoun
any organism that lives on dead organic matter, as certain fungi and bacteria.
sapro-
a combining form meaning “rotten,” used in the formation of compound words:
turbinateadjective
Also turbi·nated.
having the shape of an inverted cone; scroll-like; whorled; spiraled.
Anatomy. of or relating to certain scroll-like, spongy bones of the nasal passages in humans and other vertebrates.
inversely conical.
noun
a turbinate shell.
Also called nasal concha. Anatomy. a turbinate bone.
Origin of turbinate1
1655–65; < Latin turbinātus shaped like a top, equivalent to turbin- (stem of turbō a top; turbine ) + -ātus -ate 1
xericadjective
of, relating to, or adapted to a dry environment.
Origin of xeric1
First recorded in 1925–30; from Greek xēr(ós) “dry” + -ic ( def 3 )
Both these words from wonderful poetry book Mojave Ghost
Nombrilisme is a French word that translates to "navel-gazing" or "self-absorption" in English. It refers to someone who is only concerned with themselves and has no interest in the lives of others. For example, "il est si nombriliste, il ne pense jamais à personne d'autre" translates to "he is so self-centered; he never thinks about anyone else".
The word nombrilisme comes from the noun nombril, which means "navel" or "belly button", and the adjectival suffix -iste.
festschriftnoun
plural fest·schrift·en [fest, -shrif-t, uh, n], fest·schrifts.
(often initial capital letter) a volume of articles, essays, etc., contributed by many authors in honor of a colleague, usually published on the occasion of retirement, an important anniversary, or the like.
Origin of festschrift1
1900–05; < German, equivalent to Fest feast, festival + Schrift writing
entelechynoun
, plural en·tel·e·chies.
1) a realization or actuality as opposed to a potentiality.
2) (in vitalist philosophy) a vital agent or force directing growth and life.
1595–1605; < Late Latin entelechīa < Greek entelécheia, equivalent to en- en- 2 + tél ( os ) goal + éch ( ein ) to have + -eia -y 3
stridor[ strahy-der ]
noun
a harsh, grating, or creaking sound.
Pathology. a harsh respiratory sound due to any of various forms of obstruction of the breathing passages.
1625–35; < Latin strīdor, equivalent to strīd ( ēre ) ( strident ) + -or -or 1
really like this one when applied as a metaphor to humansfumarole
noun
a hole in or near a volcano, from which vapor rises.
1805–15; < French fumerolle < Late Latin fūmāriōlum, diminutive of Latin fūmārium smoke chamber, equivalent to fūm ( us ) smoke + -ārium -arium; -ole 1
shamblesnoun
a place of great disorder
the room was a shambles after the party
a place where animals are brought to be slaughtered
any place of slaughter or carnage
dialect.
a row of covered stalls or shops where goods, originally meat, are sold
C14 shamble table used by meat vendors, from Old English sceamel stool, from Late Latin scamellum a small bench, from Latin scamnum stool
Marc wrote: "festschriftnoun
plural fest·schrift·en [fest, -shrif-t, uh, n], fest·schrifts.
(often initial capital letter) a volume of articles, essays, etc., contributed by many authors..."
Hey, I've heard this word! (promo time)
Verbivoracious Festschrift Volume Three: The Syllabus
apophatic adj
of or relating to the belief that God can only be described by a process of negation
Cenaclenoun
a supper room, esp one on an upper floor
(capital) the room in which the Last Supper took place
Etymology
Origin of cenacle
1375–1425; late Middle English < French cénacle < Latin cēnāculum top story, attic (originally, presumably, dining room), equivalent to cēnā ( re ) to dine (derivative of cēna dinner) + -culum -cle 2
[ hahy-puh-kuh-ris-tik, hip-uh- ]
adjective
endearing, as a pet name, diminutive, or euphemism.
ORIGIN OF HYPOCORISTIC
First recorded in 1600–10; from Greek hypokoristikós “diminutive,” equivalent to hypokor(ízesthai) “to play the child, call by endearing names” (hypo- “under” + kor- “child”; compare kórē “girl,” kóros “boy”) + -istikos adjective suffix; see hypo-, -istic