Unusual or unfamilar word or phrase? - Page 3

zelda_pinwheel · 05-09-2008, 10:44 AM

heh. i thought it was "vestigial virgins" for a long time too.

tompe · 05-09-2008, 10:52 AM

I have for a very long time used defenestrate to test dictionaries.

HarryT · 05-09-2008, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pshrynk

I find it amusing that defenestration is first defined as a political tactic.

The word was coined specifically to describe "The Defenestration of Prague".

Taylor514ce · 05-09-2008, 10:54 AM

Any dictionary that survives the action must be hefty enough to contain all the words you need? Hopefully you haven't killed any passing cats.

Back to task, a word I found in "Chaos" by James Gleick I loved well enough to use it whenever I can (even previously on MR):

quasiperiodicity

pshrynk · 05-09-2008, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taylor514ce

Any dictionary that survives the action must be hefty enough to contain all the words you need? Hopefully you haven't killed any passing cats.

Back to task, a word I found in "Chaos" by James Gleick I loved well enough to use it wheneve I can (even previously on MR): quasiperiodicity

It got a little dodgy for the squirrels, one would assume.

mores · 05-09-2008, 11:03 AM

Syzygy is a german new media agency!
http://www.syzygy.de/

Katzenjammer? Miau

Actually I just wanted to subscribe to this thread

Taylor514ce · 05-09-2008, 11:04 AM

I am laughing at my own joke (again). I picture tompe sitting at his desk with a large stack of ponderous dictionaries, methodically "testing" them... cut to the scene outside the building, the scattering passerby, the screech of an unfortunate cat (katzenjammer!), the taxi run into the fire hydrant, and the one young man holding a test victim and saying, "so that's what that means".

Do we have any cartoonists in the house? The above, with the caption quoting tompe, "I have for a very long time used defenestrate to test dictionaries.".

My spleen aches.

HarryT · 05-09-2008, 11:06 AM

Knowledge of Latin is a huge help in understanding words. The other day, for example, I came across a word that I'd never seen before: "adjuvant". Thanks to my knowledge of Latin, though, I knew immediately what it meant.

tompe · 05-09-2008, 11:06 AM

I have always wondered if "arachibutyrophobia" is a real word or just contructed from parts for one book (which book?).

zelda_pinwheel · 05-09-2008, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mores

Katzenjammer? Miau

miau, miau, hörst Du mich schreien ?
miau, miau, willst Du mich freien ?
Folgst Du mir aus den Gemächern
Singen wir hoch auf den Dächern
Mi-au komm geliebte Katze
Mi-au reich mir deine Tatze !

montsnmags · 05-09-2008, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taylor514ce

...

Back to task, a word I found in "Chaos" by James Gleick I loved well enough to use it wheneve I can (even previously on MR):

quasiperiodicity

Oh, yeah, baby, talk dirty to me. Say:

- Mandelbrot set

- strange attractor

- bifurcation parameters

and best of all

- Brownian motion

Phew! Is it hot in here? I think I need to have a sit down and a nice cup of tea.

Cheers,
Marc

pshrynk · 05-09-2008, 11:13 AM

Well, arachibutyrophobia is not an actual phobia, but I came across anachrophobia and anoraknophobia whilst wikiing it, so that's all right, then.

Taylor514ce · 05-09-2008, 11:15 AM

Marc, you're obviously suffering from sensitive dependence on initial conditions.

HarryT, it can be a mixed blessing. For example, the word "dependence" above. It usually brings mental images of the unfortunately named "Depends" adult diapers. Seriously, no one on that product marketing team ever took Latin?

montsnmags · 05-09-2008, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taylor514ce

Marc, you're obviously suffering from sensitive dependence on initial conditions....

Yes, it's true. It makes me so anxious I get butterflies.

Cheers,
Marc

pshrynk · 05-09-2008, 11:26 AM

Wait! Update on arachibutyrophobia : It does exist, from the Modesty Blaise series. Talk about recursive allocutions.

05-09-2008, 10:54 AM	#34
Taylor514ce Actively passive. Posts: 2,042 Karma: 478376 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: US Device: Sony PRS-505/LC	Any dictionary that survives the action must be hefty enough to contain all the words you need? Hopefully you haven't killed any passing cats. Back to task, a word I found in "Chaos" by James Gleick I loved well enough to use it whenever I can (even previously on MR): quasiperiodicity Last edited by Taylor514ce; 05-09-2008 at 11:23 AM.

05-09-2008, 11:03 AM	#36
mores Guru Posts: 834 Karma: 102419 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Vienna, Austria Device: iPhone	Syzygy is a german new media agency! http://www.syzygy.de/ Katzenjammer? Miau Actually I just wanted to subscribe to this thread Last edited by mores; 05-09-2008 at 11:03 AM. Reason: missed a "a"

05-09-2008, 11:04 AM	#37
Taylor514ce Actively passive. Posts: 2,042 Karma: 478376 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: US Device: Sony PRS-505/LC	I am laughing at my own joke (again). I picture tompe sitting at his desk with a large stack of ponderous dictionaries, methodically "testing" them... cut to the scene outside the building, the scattering passerby, the screech of an unfortunate cat (katzenjammer!), the taxi run into the fire hydrant, and the one young man holding a test victim and saying, "so that's what that means". Do we have any cartoonists in the house? The above, with the caption quoting tompe, "I have for a very long time used defenestrate to test dictionaries.". My spleen aches. Last edited by Taylor514ce; 05-09-2008 at 11:35 AM.

05-09-2008, 11:15 AM	#43
Taylor514ce Actively passive. Posts: 2,042 Karma: 478376 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: US Device: Sony PRS-505/LC	Marc, you're obviously suffering from sensitive dependence on initial conditions. HarryT, it can be a mixed blessing. For example, the word "dependence" above. It usually brings mental images of the unfortunately named "Depends" adult diapers. Seriously, no one on that product marketing team ever took Latin? Last edited by Taylor514ce; 05-09-2008 at 11:17 AM.

05-09-2008, 11:26 AM	#45
pshrynk Beepbeep n beebeep, yeah! Posts: 11,726 Karma: 8255450 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: La Crosse, Wisconsin, aka America's IceBox Device: iThingie, KmkII, I miss Zelda!	Wait! Update on arachibutyrophobia : It does exist, from the Modesty Blaise series. Talk about recursive allocutions. Last edited by pshrynk; 05-09-2008 at 11:52 AM.

05-09-2008, 10:44 AM	#31
zelda_pinwheel zeldinha zippy zeldissima Posts: 27,827 Karma: 921169 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Paris, France Device: eb1150 & is that a nook in her pocket, or she just happy to see you?	heh. i thought it was "vestigial virgins" for a long time too.

05-09-2008, 10:52 AM	#32
tompe Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,452 Karma: 7185064 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Linköpng, Sweden Device: Kindle Voyage, Nexus 5, Kindle PW	I have for a very long time used defenestrate to test dictionaries.

05-09-2008, 11:06 AM	#38
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,560 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Knowledge of Latin is a huge help in understanding words. The other day, for example, I came across a word that I'd never seen before: "adjuvant". Thanks to my knowledge of Latin, though, I knew immediately what it meant.

05-09-2008, 11:13 AM	#42
pshrynk Beepbeep n beebeep, yeah! Posts: 11,726 Karma: 8255450 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: La Crosse, Wisconsin, aka America's IceBox Device: iThingie, KmkII, I miss Zelda!	Well, arachibutyrophobia is not an actual phobia, but I came across anachrophobia and anoraknophobia whilst wikiing it, so that's all right, then.

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