Franksolich

[mamacags]

I just saw a new word for you.  I have never in my entire life seen this word used in any sort of way but it was used today in a LTTE about Bill Clinton's legacy.

pusillanimity

pu·sil·la·nim·i·ty      /ËŒpyusÉ™ləˈnɪmɪti/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[pyoo-suh-luh-nim-i-tee] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun the state or condition of being pusillanimous; timidity; cowardliness. 

n.   The state or quality of being pusillanimous; cowardice.

contemptible fearfulness

[franksolich]

I just saw a new word for you.  I have never in my entire life seen this word used in any sort of way but it was used today in a LTTE about Bill Clinton's legacy.

pusillanimity

pu·sil·la·nim·i·ty      /ËŒpyusÉ™ləˈnɪmɪti/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[pyoo-suh-luh-nim-i-tee] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun the state or condition of being pusillanimous; timidity; cowardliness. 

n.   The state or quality of being pusillanimous; cowardice.

contemptible fearfulness

Alas, madam, I've known that word since the 5th grade; used it in a paper to describe a medieval king of Portugal.

I don't recall however using it on the internet anywhere.

I did notice in a medical advice column in the newspaper last week however that "boryborygmia" seems to be catching on, even though the physician writing the column insisted no one uses that word any more, or has used it since 1842 or something. 

I sent him him an e-mail to correct the matter, and if I ever hear back, I'll pass it on.

[mamacags]

Dang, I thought I found a new one.

[franksolich]

Dang, I thought I found a new one.

Actually, the deal was that because no one had any idea how to educate franksolich, much of his grade-school work from the second grade on was what one might call "independent study."

I used to read encyclopedias; I wasn't any child prodigy or anything.

I learned early on how to relate to words.

Unfortunately, I didn't learn much about how to relate to people.

[mamacags]

I liked to read them too when I was little.  I had an obsession about weird diseases and could only find them in encyclopedias and the adult section of the library.  I knew way more about small pox, elephantitis, and syphilis than any kid should ever know.

[Lord Undies]

The word is not knew, but really, what word is?  It is also the origin of "oh, don't be such a *****!".

[Chris_]

Dang, I thought I found a new one. :bawl:

Actually, the deal was that because no one had any idea how to educate franksolich, much of his grade-school work from the second grade on was what one might call "independent study."

I used to read encyclopedias; I wasn't any child prodigy or anything.

I learned early on how to relate to words.

Unfortunately, I didn't learn much about how to relate to people.

Well, FWIIW, most words are pretty neat and most people suck.

[mamacags]

I know it isn't new, but I had never heard or read it before in my life.  I was just impressed with it enough to share.

[Amityschild]

Now, children, if we were to play a game called stump Franksolich would a word such as Snollygoster do the trick?  Now, not fair using the dictionary! 

Snollygoster has always been one of my very favorite words and how very appropos in this season of electing!

[franksolich]

Now, children, if we were to play a game called stump Franksolich would a word such as Snollygoster do the trick?  Now, not fair using the dictionary! 

Snollygoster has always been one of my very favorite words and how very appropos in this season of electing!

"Snollygoster" conjures up a picture, an image, not a definition, in me.

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

Exsanguination.

[franksolich]

Okay, I have not looked up the word.

I've seen the word before, but never paid attention.

The word suggests something both complicated and ridiculous at the same time, perhaps some pomposity in it.

[Amityschild]

Now, children, if we were to play a game called stump Franksolich would a word such as Snollygoster do the trick?  Now, not fair using the dictionary! 

Snollygoster has always been one of my very favorite words and how very appropos in this season of electing!

"Snollygoster" conjures up a picture, an image, not a definition, in me.

Would that image be winged?

[franksolich]

Exsanguination.

I am sitting nowhere near a dictionary, and I don't google.

I've seen this word too, but never paid attention.

It has something to do with wisdom, or the lack thereof, I suspect.

[Amityschild]

Okay, I have not looked up the word.

I've seen the word before, but never paid attention.

The word suggests something both complicated and ridiculous at the same time, perhaps some pomposity in it.

Now that is quite good!  When I first encountered this word (oh so long ago) it was in the New American Standard Dictionary.  I never find quite that definition anymore.  They defined it as a mythical creature that preyed on small children and poultry.  The more common usage is a shrewd, unprincipled person.  Especially a politician (see Messalina Agrippina).

[franksolich]

Now that is quite good!  When I first encountered this word (oh so long ago) it was in the New American Standard Dictionary.  I never find quite that definition anymore.  They defined it as a mythical creature that preyed on small children and poultry.  The more common usage is a shrewd, unprincipled person.  Especially a politician (see Messalina Agrippina).

Well, I definitely goofed.

For some reason, the first "picture" that came into the mind when seeing the word, was the Bostonian Drunkard.

[Chris_]

Exsanguination.

Bleeding to death.
Twisted little ****er I am, I learned this at 11...

[franksolich]

Exsanguination.

Bleeding to death.
Twisted little ****er I am, I learned this at 11...

Damn, you're right.

Remember, I'm just sitting here, not looking anything up.

Sanguine suggests red, which suggests blood.

I was thinking of sanguine in the sense of "wise," which was wrong I guess.

[Amityschild]

Now that is quite good!  When I first encountered this word (oh so long ago) it was in the New American Standard Dictionary.  I never find quite that definition anymore.  They defined it as a mythical creature that preyed on small children and poultry.  The more common usage is a shrewd, unprincipled person.  Especially a politician (see Messalina Agrippina).

Well, I definitely goofed.

For some reason, the first "picture" that came into the mind when seeing the word, was the Bostonian Drunkard.

The Bostonian Drunkard could be mistaken for either a mythical creature, a small child OR poultry!

[franksolich]

The Bostonian Drunkard could be mistaken for either a mythical creature, a small child OR poultry!

Or, one supposes, his preference for high school girls.

[mamacags]

I think we need a word of the day here!

[DixieBelle]

Well I've been waiting for a thread to post this in!

http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/booksellers/press_release/100words/

A sampling -

abjure
abrogate
abstemious
churlish
expurgate
facetious
fatuous
jejune
moiety
pecuniary
supercilious
tautology
ziggurat

[delilahmused]

I liked to read them too when I was little.  I had an obsession about weird diseases and could only find them in encyclopedias and the adult section of the library.  I knew way more about small pox, elephantitis, and syphilis than any kid should ever know.

So, you're an autodidactic!

Cindie

[franksolich]

I liked to read them too when I was little.  I had an obsession about weird diseases and could only find them in encyclopedias and the adult section of the library.  I knew way more about small pox, elephantitis, and syphilis than any kid should ever know.

You know, when I was a little lad, in the second grade I think (because I have some unfond memories of that teacher, so it must have been the second grade), I decided to make some money, and took three books out of my father's library to school.

One of them was a very large book with transparent plates, showing the layers of the human eye.  Another of them was a small manual about dealing with women in labor.  A third was about contagious diseases, profusely illustrated with photographs.

At first, I charged classmates five cents a peek for any of the three books.

Then I had to adjust my rates for the market.

A look at the human eye was still five cents, but I upped a look at the contagious diseases to ten cents, and oftentimes had to offer a look at the naked women in distress as a "free bonus" for looks at either one of the other two books.

[mamacags]

I liked to read them too when I was little.  I had an obsession about weird diseases and could only find them in encyclopedias and the adult section of the library.  I knew way more about small pox, elephantitis, and syphilis than any kid should ever know.

So, you're an autodidactic!

Cindie

I have to say that I learned at least 80% of what I know by reading.  I am addicted to reading like some people get addicted to coffee or exercise.