Nah, this isn't about making America great again though if we were to implement the singing of octaves again (I have no clue what that is) it just might do the trick that auto tune can't.
MAGADIZING
A term sometimes used for the "most primitive type of polyphony," i. e., singing in octaves. The term is derived from magadis, an ancient Greek harp in which each string was doubled by one giving the higher octave.
from The Harvard Brief Dictionary of Music by Willi Apel and Ralph T. Daniel
My Dictionaries
PAGES
- 2000 MOST CHALLENGING AND OBSCURE WORDS
- A BROWSER'S DICTIONARY
- A HOG ON ICE
- AMERICAN ILLUSTRATED MEDICAL DICTIONARY
- AMERICAN POCKET MEDICAL DICTIONARY
- AMERICAN SLANG
- AMO, AMAS, AMAT AND MORE
- ARS AMORIS
- BOOK OF EUPHEMISM
- CONCISE OXFORD DICTIONARY OF LITERARY TERMS
- CRAZY ENGLISH
- DEVIL'S DICTIONARY
- DICTIONARY OF CONTEMPORARY SLANG
- DICTIONARY OF GERMAN SLANG
- DICTIONARY OF IDIOMS
- DICTIONARY OF WORD ORIGINS
- DIMBOXES, EPOPTS, AND OTHER QUIDAMS
- DUNCES, GOURMANDS & PETTICOATS
- EUPHEMANIA
- FOOLISH DICTIONARY
- FORGOTTEN ENGLISH
- GRAND PANJANDRUM
- GRANDILOQUENT DICTIONARY
- HARVARD BRIEF DICTIONARY OF MUSIC
- HEAVENS TO BETSY!
- HOME MEDICAL DICTIONARY
- HOW TO SPEAK SOUTHERN
- I ALWAYS LOOK UP THE WORD "EGREGIOUS"
- INSOMNIAC'S DICTIONARY
- KLINGON DICTIONARY
- LATIN FOR THE ILLITERATI
- MERDE! ET
- MORRIS DICTIONARY OF WORD AND PHRASE ORIGINS
- MRS. BYRNE'S DICTIONARY
- NEW DICTIONARY OF AMERICAN SLANG
- NYT DICTIONARY OF MISUNDERSTOOD, MISUSED & MISPRONOUNCED WORDS
- -OLOGIES & -ISMS
- PARTRIDGE'S CONCISE DICTIONARY OF SLANG
- PHRASE-DROPPER'S HANDBOOK
- POCKET CATHOLIC DICTIONARY
- POPLOLLIES AND BELLIBONES
- ROAD & TRACK ILLUSTRATED DICTIONARY
- SLANG AND EUPHEMISM
- SUPERIOR PERSON'S BOOK OF WORDS
- THERE'S A WORD FOR IT
- THEREBY HANGS A TALE
- THEY HAVE A WORD FOR IT
- TOTES REDICTIONARY
- WHAT'S IN A WORD?
- WHY DO WE SAY IT?
- WHY YOU SAY IT
- WICKED WORDS
- WORD ORIGINS
- WORDS
- WORDS YOU SHOULD KNOW
- YANKEE DICTIONARY
Tuesday, April 23, 2019
Monday, April 22, 2019
LOGOMACHY
Note: As a general rule I still don't think that this book is particularly witty.
LOGOMACHY
n. A war in which the weapons are words and the wounds punctures in the swim-bladder of self-esteem—a kind of contest in which, the vanquished being unconscious of defeat, the victor is denied the reward of success.
from The Devil's Dictionary by Ambrose Bierce
LOGOMACHY
n. A war in which the weapons are words and the wounds punctures in the swim-bladder of self-esteem—a kind of contest in which, the vanquished being unconscious of defeat, the victor is denied the reward of success.
from The Devil's Dictionary by Ambrose Bierce
Sunday, April 21, 2019
LA SAUCE
LA SAUCE
torrential rain
from Merde Et!: The Real French You Were Never Taught at School by Genevieve Edis
torrential rain
from Merde Et!: The Real French You Were Never Taught at School by Genevieve Edis
Saturday, April 20, 2019
ROSTENEARS
ROSTENEARS
Fresh corn suitable for roasting or boiling. "Go over to the cornfield and pick me a dozen nice rostenears."
from How To Speak Southern by Steve Mitchell
Fresh corn suitable for roasting or boiling. "Go over to the cornfield and pick me a dozen nice rostenears."
from How To Speak Southern by Steve Mitchell
Friday, April 19, 2019
SMELLSMOCK
Since this book has a bad habit of intertwining two lost words into one definition, and then moving in that direction for a page or so, I'll give half a definition to avoid the circle of pain of inserting 12 words into a one-word slot.
Paggling means bulging or hangly down loosely.
SMELLSMOCK
A smellsmock is a licentious man, perhaps a former priest, with roving eyes, who often has a paggling stomach.
from Poplollies and Bellibones: A Celebration of Lost Words by Susan Kelz Sperling,
Paggling means bulging or hangly down loosely.
SMELLSMOCK
A smellsmock is a licentious man, perhaps a former priest, with roving eyes, who often has a paggling stomach.
from Poplollies and Bellibones: A Celebration of Lost Words by Susan Kelz Sperling,
Thursday, April 18, 2019
CAVIL
Listen, if you're going to use a word like "cavil" in a sentence don't mash it up with clunky common language. At least insert "punctuality" for "lateness" and "acceded" for "gave in" and "squared her account" for "paid the bill".
CAVIL
(KAV-ihl), verb
To find fault in trivial matters or raise petty objections. As a noun, cavil can mean a trivial objection.
Susan cavilled for some time about the lateness of the milk delivery, but since it was only a matter of minutes, she eventually gave in and paid the bill.
from The Words You Should Know by David Olsen
CAVIL
(KAV-ihl), verb
To find fault in trivial matters or raise petty objections. As a noun, cavil can mean a trivial objection.
Susan cavilled for some time about the lateness of the milk delivery, but since it was only a matter of minutes, she eventually gave in and paid the bill.
from The Words You Should Know by David Olsen
Wednesday, April 17, 2019
'ODSBODIKINS!
I've not a clue what the hell the explication after the definition means but it's interesting enough, no? Actually, now I see and I don't like the succinct nature of the phrasing. It's almost quick speak.
'ODSBODIKINS!
an oath and an exclamation. "By God's (little) bodies!" This is an oath sworn on the Communion wafers, thus the plural. [British, 1800s]
from Slang and Euphemism by Richard A. Spears
'ODSBODIKINS!
an oath and an exclamation. "By God's (little) bodies!" This is an oath sworn on the Communion wafers, thus the plural. [British, 1800s]
from Slang and Euphemism by Richard A. Spears
Tuesday, April 16, 2019
NAKHES
NAKHES
(Yiddish) A mixture of pleasure and pride, particularly the kind that a parent receives from a child.
[noun]
When your daughter spends all morning cutting and pasting and drawing and then proudly presents you with a valentine, the feeling that wells up inside is the emotion that Jews describe as nakhes (NOKH-ess, with the KH pronounced in the Hebrew manner, in the back of the throat). It is a special kind of pleasure, a feeling of love infused with sensations of pride and joy. It is something one receives, as in: "May you get only nakhes from your son!" A secondary and far less emotionally powerful meaning is a general feeling of gratification one receives from creating something that turns out well: "I got a lot of nakhes from working in my garden, especially at harvest time" or "I got nakhes from building that chair."
from They Have A Word For It by Howard Rheingold
(Yiddish) A mixture of pleasure and pride, particularly the kind that a parent receives from a child.
[noun]
When your daughter spends all morning cutting and pasting and drawing and then proudly presents you with a valentine, the feeling that wells up inside is the emotion that Jews describe as nakhes (NOKH-ess, with the KH pronounced in the Hebrew manner, in the back of the throat). It is a special kind of pleasure, a feeling of love infused with sensations of pride and joy. It is something one receives, as in: "May you get only nakhes from your son!" A secondary and far less emotionally powerful meaning is a general feeling of gratification one receives from creating something that turns out well: "I got a lot of nakhes from working in my garden, especially at harvest time" or "I got nakhes from building that chair."
from They Have A Word For It by Howard Rheingold
Monday, April 15, 2019
CLUCKY
More proof that the Brits are daffy c**ts and the Aussies a tad less so, though both are daft examples of latter humanity in the endtimes. Our own staid example proves that our staying power has long subsided as well.
CLUCKY
Pregnant. In Australia this euphemism comparing a pregnant woman to a brooding hen has been used by women since 1941. Our American equivalent is ON THE NEST. A more jocular British variant style alludes to pregnancy as THE RESULT OF A LARK IN THE PARK AFTER DARK (pub slang, ca. 1930)
from The Wordsworth Book of Euphemism by Judith S. Neaman & Carole G. Silver
CLUCKY
Pregnant. In Australia this euphemism comparing a pregnant woman to a brooding hen has been used by women since 1941. Our American equivalent is ON THE NEST. A more jocular British variant style alludes to pregnancy as THE RESULT OF A LARK IN THE PARK AFTER DARK (pub slang, ca. 1930)
from The Wordsworth Book of Euphemism by Judith S. Neaman & Carole G. Silver
Sunday, April 14, 2019
SIC ITUR AD ASTRA
SIC ITUR AD ASTRA
seek IH-tuur ahd AH-strah
this is the path to immortality
Literally, "thus one goes to the stars."
from Amo, Amas, Amat and More by Eugene Ehrlich
seek IH-tuur ahd AH-strah
this is the path to immortality
Literally, "thus one goes to the stars."
from Amo, Amas, Amat and More by Eugene Ehrlich
Saturday, April 13, 2019
GALLIMAUFRY
Forgive my thoughtlessness over not posting one day. It's not that I forgot but I was cleaning up a cemetery, getting in my 10k steps and uncovering a tombstone mystery whereby a surname was changed and the subject hung himself in an apple tree over a slander charge. I had good reasons and not enough hours.
GALLIMAUFRY
(a hodgepodge, jumble, hash). "Her life is a gallimaufry of Vitton, Gucci, Pucci, and Sears."
from The Phrase-Dropper's Handbook by John T. Beaudouin and Everett Mattlin
GALLIMAUFRY
(a hodgepodge, jumble, hash). "Her life is a gallimaufry of Vitton, Gucci, Pucci, and Sears."
from The Phrase-Dropper's Handbook by John T. Beaudouin and Everett Mattlin
Friday, April 12, 2019
SANGFROID
SANGFROID
n Literally "cold blood" in French, sangfroid in English means great calmness under strain, self-possession, almost cold-blooded refusal to act emotionally: <When the theater caught fire, his sangroid was unbelievable.>
from The Grand Panjandrum by J. N. Hook
n Literally "cold blood" in French, sangfroid in English means great calmness under strain, self-possession, almost cold-blooded refusal to act emotionally: <When the theater caught fire, his sangroid was unbelievable.>
from The Grand Panjandrum by J. N. Hook
Thursday, April 11, 2019
POOR MAN'S MANURE
This sounds like today's forecast in Detroit! Egads!
POOR MAN'S MANURE
An early spring snowfall of an inch or two that melts gradually when the sun comes out, giving all its moisture to the top soil. This is thought to be more beneficial to the land than an ordinary rain, which may run off quickly, eroding the field and leaving only part of its moisture for the ground. this notion that spring snow is a boon to the man who cannot afford extra loads of "dressing" is an example of Yankee optimism.
from the Yankee Dictionary by Charles F. Haywood
POOR MAN'S MANURE
An early spring snowfall of an inch or two that melts gradually when the sun comes out, giving all its moisture to the top soil. This is thought to be more beneficial to the land than an ordinary rain, which may run off quickly, eroding the field and leaving only part of its moisture for the ground. this notion that spring snow is a boon to the man who cannot afford extra loads of "dressing" is an example of Yankee optimism.
from the Yankee Dictionary by Charles F. Haywood
Wednesday, April 10, 2019
ECDYSIAST
Since I have no organization skills I literally open the book when fishing for an entry and whatever word I see first usually goes into the post at hand. In this instance I opened to the quiz portion of the book where one attempts to recall a previously discussed entry. Luckily, there is an index or I would have saddled the reader with an obvious multiple choice quiz that basically answered itself. Nonetheless, here's the word:
ECDYSIAST
(ek diz'ē ast") One who rhythmically disrobes; stripteaser
from The Grandiloquent Dictionary: A Guide to Astounding Your Friends with Exotic, Curious, and Recherché Words by Russell Rocke
ECDYSIAST
(ek diz'ē ast") One who rhythmically disrobes; stripteaser
from The Grandiloquent Dictionary: A Guide to Astounding Your Friends with Exotic, Curious, and Recherché Words by Russell Rocke
Tuesday, April 9, 2019
TOMECIDE
While I had high expectations for this book it is a little disappointing in that the words are generally pertaining to certain -ides or -isms, etc. Which are somewhat boring but in this instance it's a great word. I guess that you just have to pick and choose carefully.
TOMECIDE
To destroy books (especially as in book-burning)
from The Insomniac's Dictionary: The Last Word on the Odd Word by Paul Hellweg
TOMECIDE
To destroy books (especially as in book-burning)
from The Insomniac's Dictionary: The Last Word on the Odd Word by Paul Hellweg
Monday, April 8, 2019
IMPECUNIOUS
IMPECUNIOUS
To be in a state of poverty. From Eng. in, and Lat. pacco, to sin, poverty being the greatest of all sins.
from The Foolish Dictionary by Gideon Wurdz
To be in a state of poverty. From Eng. in, and Lat. pacco, to sin, poverty being the greatest of all sins.
from The Foolish Dictionary by Gideon Wurdz
Sunday, April 7, 2019
HUGGER-MUGGER
HUGGER-MUGGER
Disorder. Confusion. [And so in Hamlet, though the form appears earlier with many variants, among them XV hoder moder, which is traceable to a dead end (prob. < old dialect) in ME *hoder, huddle heap; *mokere, a store of goods ("makings"? "made things"?), hence, "disorderly heap of stuff," and when applied to a person, "clumsy, disorderly lout."]
from A Browser's Dictionary by John Ciardi
Disorder. Confusion. [And so in Hamlet, though the form appears earlier with many variants, among them XV hoder moder, which is traceable to a dead end (prob. < old dialect) in ME *hoder, huddle heap; *mokere, a store of goods ("makings"? "made things"?), hence, "disorderly heap of stuff," and when applied to a person, "clumsy, disorderly lout."]
from A Browser's Dictionary by John Ciardi
Saturday, April 6, 2019
CONTRETEMPS
CONTRETEMPS
(disagreement)
This obviously French word (literally 'against the time') was originally used as a fencing term in the seventeenth century, to denote an untimely thrust, one made at the wrong moment. From this, the word came to acquire its present sense of 'disagreement', basically implying that at the right time, there could have been agreement. This sense arose in the nineteenth century.
from Dunces, Gourmands & Petticoats by Adrian Room
(disagreement)
This obviously French word (literally 'against the time') was originally used as a fencing term in the seventeenth century, to denote an untimely thrust, one made at the wrong moment. From this, the word came to acquire its present sense of 'disagreement', basically implying that at the right time, there could have been agreement. This sense arose in the nineteenth century.
from Dunces, Gourmands & Petticoats by Adrian Room
Friday, April 5, 2019
Thursday, April 4, 2019
SCHMATTE
SCHMATTE
(SCHMAT tə) n (Variations: schmattah or schmatteh or shmatte or shmotte) A shabby or unstylish garment: a tired old school schmattah--Xaviera Hollander [fr Yiddish shmatte, literally "rag"]
from American Slang by Robert L. Chapman
(SCHMAT tə) n (Variations: schmattah or schmatteh or shmatte or shmotte) A shabby or unstylish garment: a tired old school schmattah--Xaviera Hollander [fr Yiddish shmatte, literally "rag"]
from American Slang by Robert L. Chapman
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