Obscure-o-nyms

Caution: Reading the definitions of these obscure words may lead to sophomania.

Castrophenia:

The belief that one’s thoughts are being stolen by enemies.

Eugonic:

Rapid and luxuriant growth, such as bacteria bred in labs (and teenagers).

Rhytiscopia:

A neurotic preoccupation with wrinkles.

Nyctalopia:

An inability to see at night.

Gyrovagues:

Medieval Christian monks who wandered from monastery to monastery, or traveling salesmen and others who go door to door.

Tegestologist:

A collector of beer coasters.

Limophoitos:

Insanity caused by lack of food.

Ventoseness:

A tendency to fart.

Necromimesis:

A morbid state in which the sufferer believes himself to be dead.

Cumberworld:

One so idle as to be a burden on his friends.

Ozostomia:

Evil-smelling breath.

Maulifuff:

A woman who makes a fuss about everything but does little or nothing.

Frugivore:

An animal that eats fruit, such as the orangutan, whose diet is 65% fruit.

Collywobbles:

Intestinal cramps, such as colic, or a feeling of apprehension.

Quodlibetarian:

One who argues about anything.

Chiliarch:

In ancient Greece, the commander of 1,000 men (chilioi, a thousand; archos, leader).

Booboisie:

Coined in the 1920s by social critic H.L. Mencken to describe the gullible masses. A parody of the French word bourgeoisie.

Orchiectomy:

From the Greek word orkhis (testicles), the surgical removal of one, or both.

Flyspecked:

Marked with tiny stains from the excrement of flies.

Sophomania:

A delusional state in which the sufferer believes he or she is of exceptional intelligence.

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