|
Posted on Wednesday, May 16, 2012 10:06 AM
The following words were once a common part of the English language. Today, if they appear in a dictionary at all, they are marked as obsolete. But just think what opportunities they offer if you want to insult someone without being understood. I really wish I had known some of them when I was writing lots of letters of recommendation for problematic students.
1. Jargogle
Verb trans. – “To confuse, jumble” – First of all this word is just fun to say in its various forms. John Locke used the word in a 1692 publication, writing “I fear, that the jumbling of those good and plausible Words in your Head..might a little jargogle your Thoughts…” I’m planning to use it next time my husband attempts to explain complicated Physics concepts to me for fun: “Seriously, I don’t need you to further jargogle my brain.”
2. Deliciate
Verb intr. – “To take one’s pleasure, enjoy oneself, revel, luxuriate” – Often I feel the word “enjoy” just isn’t enough to describe an experience, and “revel” tends to conjure up images of people dancing and spinning around in circles – at least in my head. “Deliciate” would be a welcome addition to the modern English vocabulary, as in “After dinner, we deliciated in chocolate cream pie.”
3. Corrade
Verb trans. – “To scrape together; to gather together from various sources” – I’m sure this wasn’t the original meaning of the word, but when I read the definition I immediately thought of copy-pasting. Any English teacher can picture what a corraded assignment looks like.
4. Kench
Verb intr. – “To laugh loudly” – This Middle English word sounds like it would do well in describing one of those times when you inadvertently laugh out loud while reading a text message in class and manage to thoroughly embarrass yourself.
5. Ludibrious
Adj. – “Apt to be a subject of jest or mockery” – This word describes a person, thing or situation that is likely to be the butt of jokes. Use it when you want to sound justified in poking fun at someone. “How could I resist? He’s just so ludibrious.”
These items in this list (and others to follow) appeared in a blog entry by Heather Carreiro on November 8, 2010. Words are from Erin McKean’s two-volume series:" Weird and Wonderful Words" and "Totally Weird and Wonderful Words." Definitions have been quoted from the Oxford English Dictionary.
|
|
|
Posted on Monday, August 22, 2011 7:38 PM
We do a lot of talking here on the blog. Words are the basic tools of every writer, it's true, but now and then we need a reminder that it is possible to get a message across without the use of a single word.
Sunday's New York Times offered some new hand signals to extend the usefulness of the old children's game, Rock, Paper, and Scissors.
|
|
|
Posted on Wednesday, February 02, 2011 12:19 PM
I think it's time we did something about February! It's already the shortest month, thanks
to Julius Caesar, who revised the calendar for us. His astronomers Failed to reconcile a 365¼ -day solar cycle
with a 291/2-day lunar one, so they ended up with one month shorter than the
others. I'm grateful they
made it February rather than wasting two of the lovely days of June. Personally, I would have been even
happier if they had made it only 20 days long.
After all, what does February have going for it? The days are getting a bit longer, but
when the sky is gray and ugly all day long, it's hard to get excited about the
sun rising a minute earlier than the day before. The glitter and fun of the holidays is over. All we have left are the unpaid bills, Freezing temperatures and the unexplainable extra Five
pounds on the scales.
February seems to have its own "F" word –
"Fat." Magazines on every news counter are telling us to "Lose
Ten Pounds by Tomorrow" and "Walk Off Your Belly Fat." Makes you want to get up in the morning, doesn't it?
And the weather
-- if it's going to snow in Memphis, it'll snow in February. Now, if we
had those Flakes back in November, we'd all have been singing "Over the
river and through the woods."
If they came in December, we'd be crooning about "Frosty the
Snowman" and "Sleighrides." But February snow? "I'm Dreaming of a White
Groundhog" just doesn't cut it.
And speaking of groundhogs, have you thought about the Freaky-ness of February holidays? We
start the month by waiting for a glimpse of a bleery-eyed and Fuzzy rodent, hoping he'll
tell us that winter is over.
Actually February 2 used to be celebrated in pagan Europe
as a cross-quarter day, halfway between the winter solstice and the vernal
equinox. Christians made it into Candlemas
Day, 40 days after the birth of Jesus and a time for the blessing of the year's
supply of candles. Punxsutawney Phil,
of course, is a purely American invention: he made his first official weather Forecast on February 2, 1887.
Where did we get that idea?
I haven't a clue.
Then there's Valentine's Day – a time for sweethearts
everywhere, right? Well, maybe
not. The real St. Valentine was a
Christian priest in 269 A.D., in the reign of Claudius II. Legend tells us that he was thrown into prison for his
beliefs, and while he was there,
he made Friends with his jailor's daughter. When he was taken out to be executed, he left her a Farewell
note, signed, "Your Valentine."
The day just happened to be February 14, the Roman Festival
of Lupercalia, in which Roman girls drew names out of a box to see who
their lover would be in the coming
year. So the two ideas--lovers and
friendly farewell notes—gradually grew into our current celebration of hearts
and flowers. The next time someone
asks you to "Be My Valentine," however, you might want to remember
what happened to the first Valentine!
In mid-month we have Lincoln's Birthday and Washington's
Birthday. A few years ago, there
was an attempt to reduce those two holidays to one by creating a Presidents'
Day. Now we have three days, none
of which seems to be celebrated with any enthusiasm. After all, what do you do for a dead president? You could bake a cherry pie, I suppose,
since it's also National Cherry Month.
Or you could honor Lincoln by celebrating Black History Month and International Friendship Month. Still, these holidays don't really get
the blood racing.
Then there's Mardi Gras, which can fall can on any Tuesday between February 3 and March 9. This year it doesn't happen until March 8, but during most years, it's just another one of those February holidays. In the
medieval world, Mardi Gras was the last day of Carnivale, a period of silliness
that began back on January 6 and extended up to the first day of
Lent. It was a time when everyone
ignored the ordinary rules of society and the prohibitions of religion for a
short while. But Mardi Gras also
carried a stern warning that the season for repentance was at hand. All meat, oil, and eggs had to be
consumed before midnight, since Lent brought with it 40 days of Fasting. In French Mardi Gras means "Fat
Tuesday," and there's that "F" word again.
Maybe we just ought to give in and celebrate everything that
comes along in February, in the Fervent hope that it will make the month go Faster. Here are a few other
opportunities for Frivolity. This Friday will be "Create a Vacuum Day,' which also
happens to be "Thank a Mailman Day." The second Monday in February is "Clean Out Your
Computer Day." The 15th is "National Gumdrop Day,"
and the 16th is "Do A Grouch a Favor Day." The whole month has been designated "Responsible Pet
Owners Day," with a special nod on the 23rd for "International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day." Hope you'll find something to make the
month special for you.
|
|
