Lost Word Of The Day (50)

Writing reviews can test the limits of one’s vocabulary. Here are some helpful suggestions culled mainly from the 17th century.

If the product is a little bland, insipid, and flat, then vappous is the perfect adjective to describe it. Almost the polar opposite and with less of a pejorative flavour is spiscious, meaning having a thick consistency. If you are disappointed with the size of the portion, then you might term your meal a prandicle, a small meal or perhaps a snack, and move off somewhere else to adimpleate, fill up, your stomach.

If the venue is sparsely patronised, then you might comment on its vacivity, a now long-lost noun meaning emptiness.

You never know, the recipients of the review might not realise they are being damned by faint praise.