Seldom-Used Words

From Pride and Prejudice;

supercilious - haughtily contemptuous

Another from Pride and Prejudice;

condescend - 1.a. to descend to a less formal or dignified level: STOOP b. to waive the privileges of rank 2. to assume an air of superiority

bathetic - effusively or insincerely emotional

My new favorite word.

galliard - 1. gay, lively 2. hardy, valiant

AllardChardon said:

galliard - 1. gay, lively 2. hardy, valiant

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It's a medieval dance.

This is a bit off-topic, but does anyone else know this memory game;

*ONE HEN

*ONE HEN, TWO DUCKS

*ONE HEN, TWO DUCKS, THREE SQUAWKING GEESE

*ONE HEN, TWO DUCKS, THREE SQUAWKING GEESE, FOUR LIMNETIC OYSTERS

*ONE HEN, TWO DUCKS, THREE SQUAWKING GEESE, FOUR LIMNETIC OYSTERS, FIVE CORPULENT PORPOISES

*ONE HEN, TWO DUCKS, THREE SQUAWKING GEESE, FOUR LIMNETIC OYSTERS, FIVE CORPULENT PORPOISES, SIX PAIRS OF DON L. SWIETZER'S TWEEZERS

*ONE HEN, TWO DUCKS, THREE SQUAWKING GEESE, FOUR LIMNETIC OYSTERS, FIVE CORPULENT PORPOISES, SIX PAIRS OF DON L. SWIETZER'S TWEEZERS, SEVEN MACEDONIANS IN FULL BATTLE ARRAY

*ONE HEN, TWO DUCKS, THREE SQUAWKING GEESE, FOUR LIMNETIC OYSTERS, FIVE CORPULENT PORPOISES, SIX PAIRS OF DON L. SWIETZER'S TWEEZERS, SEVEN MACEDONIANS IN FULL BATTLE ARRAY, EIGHT BRASS MONKEYS FROM A SACRED ANCIENT CRYPT OF EGYPT

*ONE HEN, TWO DUCKS, THREE SQUAWKING GEESE, FOUR LIMNETIC OYSTERS, FIVE CORPULENT PORPOISES, SIX PAIRS OF DON L. SWIETZER'S TWEEZERS, SEVEN MACEDONIANS IN FULL BATTLE ARRAY, EIGHT BRASS MONKEYS FROM A SACRED ANCIENT CRYPT OF EGYPT, NINE OLD MEN ON ROLLER SKATES WHO HAUL-STALL AROUND THE QUAY OF THE QUIVY ALL AT THE SAME TIME

ONE HEN, TWO DUCKS, THREE SQUAWKING GEESE, FOUR LIMNETIC OYSTERS, FIVE CORPULENT PORPOISES, SIX PAIRS OF DON L. SWIETZER'S TWEEZERS, SEVEN MACEDONIANS IN FULL BATTLE ARRAY, EIGHT BRASS MONKEYS FROM A SACRED ANCIENT CRYPT OF EGYPT, NINE OLD MEN ON ROLLER SKATES WHO HAUL-STALL AROUND THE QUAY OF THE QUIVY ALL AT THE SAME TIME, TEN DIABOLICAL DENIZENS OF THE DEEP WITH A MARKED PROCLIVITY FOR PROCLAMATION AND SLOTH

OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

palaver - 1. a. a long parley usu. between persons of different levels of culture or sophistication b. CONFERENCE, DISCUSSION 2. a. idle talk b. misleading or beguiling speech

AllardChardon said:

palaver - 1. a. a long parley usu. between persons of different levels of culture or sophistication b. CONFERENCE, DISCUSSION 2. a. idle talk b. misleading or beguiling speech

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Awesome find. Has a more sinister edge than bloviate.

umbrage - 1. SHADE, SHADOW 2. shady branches, FOLIAGE 3. a. an indistinct indication, vague suggestion, HINT b. a reason for doubt: SUSPICION 4. DISPLEASURE, RESENTMENT

trysail said:

Sterquilinian​

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Uh... definition?

Did you forget the definition?

sterquilinian - of, like or pertaining to a dunghill

sthenic means pyknic, which means endomorphic

trysail said:

pica •
2. n, a size of letter in typewriting, with 10 characters to the inch (about 3.9 to the centimeter).

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol9no8/03-0033.htm

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1/72nd of an inch.

AllardChardon said:

palaver - 1. a. a long parley usu. between persons of different levels of culture or sophistication b. CONFERENCE, DISCUSSION 2. a. idle talk b. misleading or beguiling speech

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Also part of Pidgin English. Palaver mean a conversation or meeting.

hooey - origin unknown: NONSENSE

multifarious - diverse.

Put them both together and you have multifarious hooey or diverse nonsense, hehehe

hop-o'-my-thumb - a very small person

pyrrhic - a meter consisting of two unaccented syllables in a foot, or pertaining to a Greek war dance that uses said meter.

From the first definition, we get the other meaning of something markedly underwhelming.

Example:

Pyrrhic Victory: A victory where the victor loses everything else.

ululant - HOWLING, WAILING

ululate - HOWL, WAIL

I have never read "The wolves were ululating at the moon" as yet, maybe I will use that in my second novel during a visit to the Moors of Scotland.