The Word Lover's Dictionary: Unusual, Obscure, and Preposterous Words

by Josefa Heifetz

Book by Heifetz, Josefa

Genres: Reference, Nonfiction, Writing, Language

Paperback

First published October 1, 2000

Reviews

[Violetta]

From the oddly specific to the delightfully vague, this collection of oddball obscurities is a treasure on every page.

lopadotemachoselachogaleokranioleipsanodrimhypotrimmatosilphioparaomelitokatakechymenokichlepikossyphophattoperisteralektryonoptekephalliokigklopeleiolagoiosiraiobaphetraganopterygon

"a goulash composed of all the leftovers from the meals of the leftovers from the meals of the last two weeks" or, hash. Hash.

Depending on how you feel about that example, will determine if you are right for this book.

[Linda McSwain]

Love leafing through this book for quirky and peculiar words. It's always a favorite at family games-we use it to play dictionary and love guessing weird words. Fizgig - a flirtatious women and also fireworks that hiss when they explode - who knew?

[Martina]

Oooooh, the joy. Psychrolusia- to bathe in cold water. A

[Sara]

Almost farcical in its introduction, it makes for very entertaining reading. Who knew that basophobia was the inability to stand because of a fear of falling?

[Julie]

A cool reference for people who love unusual words!

[J.M.]

Fun, interesting, full of odd and quirky words one would never really use in day-to-day conversation.