Good Words

[Margot]

Perhaps it is just the English major in me, but every time I learn a new word I want to share it with the world. I'm signed up for all sorts of words-of-the-day emails, but, seriously, I know what a flipping archetype is.

Anyway, this is for posting good words that you've just learned, or words that you treasure (and which confuse your peers to the nth).


My newly learned word for today is misology. (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misology)

[Margot]

Also, Ratiocinate. (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ratiocinative%20)

[Non Sequitur]

Supralapsarianism: belief that God decreed before the fall who was saved and who wasn't.

It's a theological term that's fun to confuse people with.

[Margot]

Supralapsarianism: belief that God decreed before the fall who was saved and who wasn't.

It's a theological term that's fun to confuse people with.

I remember that from my 10th grade history class! I'd forgotten all about it! I should have gone to school in Texas, it seems...

[dilettante]

My favorite odd word:

anatiferous
adj. Producing a duck; resulting in a duck; giving rise to a duck or ducks.

[Non Sequitur]

I remember that from my 10th grade history class! I'd forgotten all about it! I should have gone to school in Texas, it seems...

:lol: nah, they would typically deny that theology and embrace another fun theology term

Arminianism: the theology of Jacobus Arminius and his followers, who rejected the Calvinist doctrines of predestination and election and who believed that human free will is compatible with God's sovereignty.

[Michael]

Perhaps it is just the English major in me, but every time I learn a new word I want to share it with the world. I'm signed up for all sorts of words-of-the-day emails, but, seriously, I know what a flipping archetype is.

Anyway, this is for posting good words that you've just learned, or words that you treasure (and which confuse your peers to the nth).

So you are an English major eh? (we have the Urban Dictionary bbcode plugin!)

Then why did you use punctuation for the thread title? :lol:

Cool thread by the way. ;)

[Donkey]

I've always liked the word "facetious."

It's a rare word that has all the vowels, in order.

[Margot]

Then why did you use punctuation for the thread title? :lol:


I saw that this morning, thought "fuck. i.t!" and went back to bed.

[Michael]

I saw that this morning, thought "fuck. i.t!" and went back to bed.
I think Margot is being facetious here! ;)

(P.S. I just edited the thread title to remove the period!) :lol:

[andrewl]

"prestidigitation"

Sleight of hand.

[Margot]

vituperative (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vituperative)

I feel like this is a word devised with the single purpose of describing trolls.

[Michael]

"prestidigitation"

Sleight of hand.

I'm not sure if that's a good word - given that the word seems to be longer than the definition. ;)

[Michael]

vituperative (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vituperative)

I feel like this is a word devised with the single purpose of describing trolls.
You haven't spent much time in the working world have you? ;)

[Margot]

You haven't spent much time in the working world have you? ;)

I have this terrible habit of quitting at the first sign of trouble. My last job ended with my name tag being slung to my boss and not another word being spoken. I'm rather irascible. (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/irascible)

[andrewl]

I have this terrible habit of quitting at the first sign of trouble. My last job ended with my name tag being slung to my boss and not another word being spoken. I'm rather irascible. (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/irascible)

That is not a terrible habit at all, its actually very meritorious (http://thesaurus.com/browse/meritorious)of you.

[wphelan]

I love the word temulent. It's just another way to say drunk, but it sounds so much more dignified. Tussles with temulence can be rather enjoyable.

[Zarquon]

Erudite, context, and contingent.

[Americano]

I've certainly learned some new words in this thread, most of which will follow my two years of high school French which has seemingly been flushed from my brain.

I like to use the figurative definition of facade (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facade) when discussing government structures.

"Fuckit" is still my favorite term for dismissal.

[The Drunk Girl]

Sternutation- a sneeze or the act of sneezing

[Michael]

I like to use the figurative definition of facade (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facade) when discussing government structures.

Then you might like one of my favorite terms for similar analogy: Potemkin Village (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potemkin_village) :D

[Margot]

Then you might like one of my favorite terms for similar analogy: Potemkin Village (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potemkin_village) :D

The day I first learned about that was the day I first learned that I was in love with Russia. BEST. STORY. EVER.

[Americano]

Then you might like one of my favorite terms for similar analogy: Potemkin Village (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potemkin_village) :D

I'm familiar with it from a past hobby interest in ww2 history but never used it in writing or conversation.

[Margot]

One of my favorite words of all time is truculent (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/truculent%20).

Hearing the word "weird" used to negatively describe something just turns me into a truculent little gnome.

[Lily]

Being the medical geek that I am, I just like the sound of the word subclavian. (http://www.proceduresconsult.com/medical-procedures/central-venous-catheterization-subclavian-approach-IM-procedure.aspx) The procedure is pretty cool, too. It places a central line into the superior vena cava, just above the right atrium of the heart.

[The Drunk Girl]

Being the medical geek that I am, I just like the sound of the word subclavian. (http://www.proceduresconsult.com/medical-procedures/central-venous-catheterization-subclavian-approach-IM-procedure.aspx) The procedure is pretty cool, too. It places a central line into the superior vena cava, just above the right atrium of the heart.

Make me think of the names of some of the muscles we had to know for IM injections today: ventrogluteal, vastus lateralis, dorsogluteal.

I always liked the way "clavical" sounded, plus it has a neat shape too :lol:

[Michael]

Make me think of the names of some of the muscles we had to know for IM injections today: ventrogluteal, vastus lateralis, dorsogluteal.

I always liked the way "clavical" sounded, plus it has a neat shape too :lol:
That's a long way from "the shin-bone connects to the ankle-bone and the ankle-bone connects to the foot-bone". :lol:

[The Drunk Girl]

That's a long way from "the shin-bone connects to the ankle-bone and the ankle-bone connects to the foot-bone". :lol:

Tibia, talus and all these (http://www.podiatrychannel.com/pod/Images/ftbns_tpvw.gif)...and these (http://www.podiatrychannel.com/pod/Images/ftbns_tpvw.gif) ;)

[andrewl]

Solastalgia.

A form of homesickness one gets when one is still at home, but the environment is changed.

Andrew

[Michael]

Solastalgia.

A form of homesickness one gets when one is still at home, but the environment is changed.

Andrew

I know that one as "vu-ja-de" - the reverse of "deja-vu". It is the feeling of being somewhere familiar, but feeling like you've never been there before. :lol:

[Donkey]

Then you might like one of my favorite terms for similar analogy: Potemkin Village (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potemkin_village) :D
Excellent. Now I just need a chance to use it.
Solastalgia.

A form of homesickness one gets when one is still at home, but the environment is changed.

Andrew
I was reading about that in the National Geographic the other day at the gym.

[Lily]

I know that one as "vu-ja-de" - the reverse of "deja-vu". It is the feeling of being somewhere familiar, but feeling like you've never been there before. :lol:

Like when you forget where you've parked your car? Yeah, that's called old timer's disease. lol :lol:

[Michael]

Like when you forget where you've parked your car? Yeah, that's called old timer's disease. lol :lol:

I'm way too young for that - I never forget where my car is parked - I drive a sports car!

It is more like walking through the halls of the elementary school you went to. :lol:

[Lily]

I'm way too young for that - I never forget where my car is parked - I drive a sports car!

It is more like walking through the halls of the elementary school you went to. :lol:


I live in Florida. I can't tell you the number of people I've found wandering around the parking lots in Publix and helped them find their car. They just have this look...:ummm:

[Michael]

I live in Florida. I can't tell you the number of people I've found wandering around the parking lots in Publix and helped them find their car. They just have this look...:ummm:

I'm familiar with the type. I'm just not one of them. :D

Ask me where my car is parked at a mall or plaza and I'll tell you EXACTLY which row and how many down from the end. I'm just that way about my car (its probably a male-thing). :)

[Margot]

I'm familiar with the type. I'm just not one of them. :D

Ask me where my car is parked at a mall or plaza and I'll tell you EXACTLY which row and how many down from the end. I'm just that way about my car (its probably a male-thing). :)

Naw, I do that, too. And I drive a Sentra. I think it's more of an anal-retentive thing than a male thing.

[Greendruid]

Naw, I do that, too. And I drive a Sentra. I think it's more of an anal-retentive thing than a male thing.

Yeah, I pretty much lose my car about once a week. The loss lasts for about 30 seconds but it does take me a bit by surprise every time. The worst is when I walk to a parking lot at work that I'm used to parking in and then have to cross campus to get to where I actually parked in a less used (for me) area. Fortunately that's not very far on our campus but annoying nonetheless.

[Michael]

Naw, I do that, too. And I drive a Sentra. I think it's more of an anal-retentive thing than a male thing.

Yeah, I pretty much lose my car about once a week. The loss lasts for about 30 seconds but it does take me a bit by surprise every time. The worst is when I walk to a parking lot at work that I'm used to parking in and then have to cross campus to get to where I actually parked in a less used (for me) area. Fortunately that's not very far on our campus but annoying nonetheless.

Well, given that no one has EVER accused me of being 'anal' about anything, and I do know that Greendruid definitely is 'anal' about lots of things, I'm going to have to conclude here that always tracking where one's car is parked isn't an 'anal' thing! :D

Actually, I'll bet that the people who suffer this problem the most drive blasted minivans! :lol:

[The Drunk Girl]

I drive a POS Camry and I lose my car at WalMart all the time. I used to be pretty good at remembering which lane number I parked in, but over time I just started to not pay attention.

What usually gets me, is I usually park over by the grocery entrance. When I park on the other end of the store, I am so used to parking at the other end that I walk out of the grocery side exit and it goes from there.

Talking on the phone is a good way to help me not remember where I parked, too. I looked for 10-15 minutes back when I had the swine flu trying to remember where I parked.

The minivans, big ass trucks, and SUVs don't help in trying to find my little car either.

[Donkey]

The problem is that my little 34 mpg vehicle likes to hide behind monoliths from the early 2000s.

[Michael]

Around here, I see all kinds of people with colored ribbons tied to their aerial antennae, or alternatively, little plastic cartoon/toys impaled on the end of the antennae to make it easier to spot their car in a parking lot.

I admit I have a little 'road-runner' head on the top of my present antennae. (mee-meep!) But that's there for my amusement rather than for finding my car.

Besides, I can just click my key-fob and make my horn sound and that's an easy way to find one's car in a busy parking lot.

[Greendruid]

One of my favourite, though probably least used words, is circuitous (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/circuitous). I just love the way it sounds.

[Margot]

One of my favourite, though probably least used words, is circuitous (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/circuitous). I just love the way it sounds.

Thats the kind of word poets love. Not quite onomatopoeia (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/onomatopoeia), but close. Full of fricatives (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fricatives). Damn fine word.

You can rhyme it, you can use it to fill in all sorts of syllabic constraints... The possibilities are endless. I approve.

[Margot]

lazaretto (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lazaretto)

What an ominous word! It has the ridiculously effective ability to conjure the images you'd associate with one just by saying it: lazaretto

[Margot]

If I ever begin to ask "hey, what's the word that means...?" the answer is "esoteric." It's always "esoteric."

There is just something about that excellent, excellent word that makes it slip through my mind-fingers like jello.

[Michael]

If I ever begin to ask "hey, what's the word that means...?" the answer is "esoteric." It's always "esoteric."

There is just something about that excellent, excellent word that makes it slip through my mind-fingers like jello.

My favorite in that context is "ostensibly". Whenever people ask me stupid questions, that's always my answer! :lol:

[Zarquon]

pecuniary

[Michael]

If I ever begin to ask "hey, what's the word that means...?" the answer is "esoteric." It's always "esoteric."

There is just something about that excellent, excellent word that makes it slip through my mind-fingers like jello.

Btw, your second sentence there is very good poetic prose. :thumbsup:

[Margot]

Michael, this one made me think of you:

funambulism \fyoo-NAM-buh-liz-um\ noun
1 : tightrope walking
2 : a show especially of mental agility

[Michael]

Michael, this one made me think of you:

funambulism \fyoo-NAM-buh-liz-um\ noun
1 : tightrope walking
2 : a show especially of mental agility

That word seems very odd. The second half of the word makes it look like some nasty medical condition - kinda like what happens if you have too much fun and your brain explodes! :lol:

That being said, funambulism appeals to me! :D

[The Drunk Guy]

Michael, this one made me think of you:

funambulism \fyoo-NAM-buh-liz-um\ noun
1 : tightrope walking
2 : a show especially of mental agility
Do they use that word in the song "Black Betty"? :ummm:

[Michael]

Do they use that word in the song "Black Betty"? :ummm:

From what I know of the song, that Black Betty is anything but a funambulist! :lol:

[Margot]

I could say a whole helluvalot right now regarding how foolish people define the word "atheism" as a rejection of a God or gods, but I'll just say this instead:
Apostasy, bitches. (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apostasy)

[The Drunk Girl]

I could say a whole helluvalot right now regarding how foolish people define the word "atheism" as a rejection of a God or gods, but I'll just say this instead:
Apostasy, bitches. (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apostasy)

I can ride with that but....

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agnosticism

[Non Sequitur]

adiaphora: Literally, "matters of indifference." Beliefs or practices that are neither necessary nor forbidden because scripture neither mandates nor rejects them.

[Michael]

I can ride with that but....

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agnosticism

I reject that term because those who claim to be agnostics (along with theists) are the ones who have been the most aggressive in debasing the perfectly good definition of atheism into something that it is not.

Agnostics need to debase the term of atheism otherwise their favored term has no meaning.

Theists need to debase the term of atheism in order to be able to attack it.

[Donkey]

Hangover. A perfect word for describing what you have when you are hungover.

[Margot]

I reject that term because those who claim to be agnostics (along with theists) are the ones who have been the most aggressive in debasing the perfectly good definition of atheism into something that it is not.

Agnostics need to debase the term of atheism otherwise their favored term has no meaning.

Theists need to debase the term of atheism in order to be able to attack it.

Quite.

[The Drunk Girl]

I reject that term because those who claim to be agnostics (along with theists) are the ones who have been the most aggressive in debasing the perfectly good definition of atheism into something that it is not.

Agnostics need to debase the term of atheism otherwise their favored term has no meaning.

Theists need to debase the term of atheism in order to be able to attack it.

To each his own :)

[Margot]

To each his own :)

Think of it this way: all Christians are agnostic. If you know God then faith is no longer required. Faith is what religion is all about.

More importantly, if you don't know if there is a God or not, then how can you believe in one? "Atheism" is the lack of a belief in a God or gods.

Etc, etc.

[The Drunk Girl]

Think of it this way: all Christians are agnostic. If you know God then faith is no longer required. Faith is what religion is all about.

More importantly, if you don't know if there is a God or not, then how can you believe in one? "Atheism" is the lack of a belief in a God or gods.

Etc, etc.

I believe there is a "higher power" for lack of better words. I'm not going to say which religion is right and I'm not going to say which religion is wrong. It doesn't necessarily have to be a God either. I just don't think that things (space, people, trees, water, etc) are just here. Someone or something had to get the ball rolling. It is a total mind fuck when you think of it that way because how can something just be here without having something being before it, and something being before it, etc, etc.

I won't piss on the science aspect of it all either. I think the two, whatever they may be, go together.

(I have done a poor job explaining myself...)

[Zarquon]

I believe there is a "higher power" for lack of better words. I'm not going to say which religion is right and I'm not going to say which religion is wrong. It doesn't necessarily have to be a God either. I just don't think that things (space, people, trees, water, etc) are just here. Someone or something had to get the ball rolling. It is a total mind fuck when you think of it that way because how can something just be here without having something being before it, and something being before it, etc, etc.

I won't piss on the science aspect of it all either. I think the two, whatever they may be, go together.

(I have done a poor job explaining myself...)
That's just simple anthropocentrism (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthropocentrism). We humans experience the world in a certain way, and our aware of how we create artifacts and from natural materials and social systems around them, and naturally presume that as we build our worlds, so too did somebody like us build this (and/or all) one(s).

[Non Sequitur]

That's just simple anthropocentrism (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthropocentrism). We humans experience the world in a certain way, and our aware of how we create artifacts and from natural materials and social systems around them, and naturally presume that as we build our worlds, so too did somebody like us build this (and/or all) one(s).

A certain theologian called that the sensus divinitatis (http://philofreligion.homestead.com/files/calvinepistemology.html)

[Greendruid]

A certain theologian called that the sensus divinitatis (http://philofreligion.homestead.com/files/calvinepistemology.html)

Calvin's reasoning is deeply flawed. His limited exposure to other-than-European cultures is clearly evident by the assumptions outlined in section A. I can't abide any belief system that makes this Eurocentric set of assumptions, let alone the anthropocentric ones that I concur with Zarquon about.

[Non Sequitur]

Calvin's reasoning is deeply flawed. His limited exposure to other-than-European cultures is clearly evident by the assumptions outlined in section A. I can't abide any belief system that makes this Eurocentric set of assumptions, let alone the anthropocentric ones that I concur with Zarquon about.

:lol: all theology is just an attempt to explain our own experience (however flawed that experience might be). My point is that while it might be anthropocentric, I believe it is responding to something.

For a further discussion on Calvin someone can create another thread. Often at my Lutheran seminary I am accused of being a Calvinist

[nanacat]

Juxtaposition. I had a professor in grad school who would dare us to use it in a sentence.

[Donkey]

Juxtaposition. I had a professor in grad school who would dare us to use it in a sentence.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b145/camilosmurf/Mobile%20Uploads/0527011547.jpg

[Zarquon]

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b145/camilosmurf/Mobile%20Uploads/0527011547.jpg
:rofl:

[NickKIELCEPoland]

I like the word 'baffoon', because it makes me laugh.
I like the word 'toff' (upper-class person), because it makes me laugh.

[Michael]

I love to use the word ostensibly because it is so useful. :)

I love this definition for it: "Apparently or purportedly, but perhaps not actually". That's precisely why I use it so often! :lol:

[Michael]

I like the word 'baffoon', because it makes me laugh.
:thumbsup:

That word is a particularly good one as the sound of the word mirrors the silliness of the person being described. :)

[Margot]

:thumbsup:

That word is a particularly good one as the sound of the word mirrors the silliness of the person being described. :)

There are lots of onomatopoeia-esque words like that, particularly in the buffoon-adjective genre.

[JHC]

Solastalgia.

A form of homesickness one gets when one is still at home, but the environment is changed.

Andrew

I just learned this word from NPR this past Sunday.

[JHC]

Molest

I like the non-sexualized meaning and it irritates me that society has obfuscated a perfectly useful definition.

Eddie Izzard "si moleste'".

[Margot]

Molest

I like the non-sexualized meaning and it irritates me that society has obfuscated a perfectly useful definition.

Eddie Izzard "si moleste'".

That wasn't Eddie Izzard.

It was Tig Notaro (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwqPeVkiDR4&feature=player_embedded)

EDIT: and also, I too like the non-sexual molestation of things. Like how I molest the cats. I like that very much.

[Donkey]

In Spanish "molestar" is basically the catch-all term for bothering, irritating, inconveniencing, etc.

[Margot]

In Spanish "molestar" is basically the catch-all term for bothering, irritating, inconveniencing, etc.

Did you not watch the clip? ;)

[Donkey]

Did you not watch the clip? ;)

No... don't watch much youtube at work.

[Margot]

No... don't watch much youtube at work.

Oh, well, you've got a lot of egg on your face. :p

[Donkey]

Oh, well, you've got a lot of egg on your face. :p

Good thing I like egg. *slurp slurp slurp*

[The Drunk Girl]

That wasn't Eddie Izzard.

It was Tig Notaro (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwqPeVkiDR4&feature=player_embedded)

EDIT: and also, I too like the non-sexual molestation of things. Like how I molest the cats. I like that very much.

Good video. However, I would prefer you molested me in the sexual way :erm:

Good thing I like egg. *slurp slurp slurp*

My mind is in the gutter now. Thanks

[Margot]

In Spanish "molestar" is basically the catch-all term for bothering, irritating, inconveniencing, etc.

More importantly, that's what it means in English, too.

[The Drunk Girl]

More importantly, that's what it means in English, too.
Not if you have a gutter-brain

[Donkey]

More importantly, that's what it means in English, too.

And in our society it also definitively implies bother of a sexual nature.


It's like the word rape...

[Michael]

And in our society it also definitively implies bother of a sexual nature.
Our pop-culture low-brow media definitely has a 'gutter-brain'.

[Donkey]

Our pop-culture low-brow media definitely has a 'gutter-brain'.

English is a wealthy language.

Irritate, bother, annoy, aggravate, harass... it's definitely not the end of the world that molest is used primarily in an (unwanted) sexual connotation.

[Michael]

English is a wealthy language.

Irritate, bother, annoy, aggravate, harass... it's definitely not the end of the world that molest is used primarily in an (unwanted) sexual connotation.

No, its not the end of the world - just indicative of an American cultural obsession with sexual terms.

[JHC]

No, its not the end of the world - just indicative of an American cultural obsession with sexual terms.

Yes, exactly.