@L-u-c-y / Mods: If You feel this belongs in Off Topic Discussion, feel free to move there. Post an obscure, fascinating, or intriguing word and it's definition. Something that is rarely used and you feel deserves some spotlight. Rules: 1. Only one definition per post, but make as many replies as you like if you have multiple words. 2. Definitions may be for a word in any language, but keep the definition in English please. 3. No disgusting acts from urbandictionary.com please, but urbandictionary.com is fine in practice. 4. You need not post the source of the definition, but feel free. Have fun!
crepuscular https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crepuscular adjective cre·pus·cu·lar | \ kri-ˈpə-skyə-lər \ Definition of crepuscular 1 : of, relating to, or resembling twilight : crepuscular light the crepuscular sky 2 : occurring or active during twilight crepuscular insects crepuscular activity crepuscular birds
Pluviophile https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Pluviophile pluviophile comes from the Latin word “pluvial,” which means rain, and “phile,” which denotes a thing or a person. Therefore, a pluviophile is a lover of rain, or someone that finds joy and peace of mind during the rainy days.
One of my favorite words is German: backpfeifengesicht - roughly translated as “a face in need of a slap” or “a slappable face”
eschatology /ˌɛskəˈtɒlədʒi/ noun the part of theology concerned with death, judgement, and the final destiny of the soul and of humankind. "Christian hope is concerned with eschatology, or the science of last things"
gallimaufry /ˌɡalɪˈmɔːfri/ noun noun: gallimaufry; plural noun: gallimaufries a confused jumble or medley of things. "a glorious gallimaufry of childhood perceptions"
Sootikin: A small mouse-shaped deposit formed in the vaginal cleft of poor women who did not wear undergarments - common until the 19th century. A sootikin built up over several weeks, even months, of not washing..
Defenestrated: 1 : a throwing of a person or thing out of a window. 2 : a usually swift dismissal or expulsion (as from a political party or office)
Avunculocality Based on the word "avuncular", it's used in anthropology to describe a practice in tribes where paternity of a child is uncertain (especially if conception frequently happens around wartime). In such instances, the child's closest male relative is their uncle, so after being weaned children move from their parents's home to the uncle's home.
Frass. Insect feces, esp. from a caterpillar. Also, small annoyances. "I just cannot deal with all the frass at work."
lagniappe. This is Mark Twain’s description of the word: We picked up one excellent word—a word worth traveling to New Orleans to get; a nice limber, expressive, handy word—'lagniappe.' They pronounce it lanny-yap. It is Spanish—so they said. We discovered it at the head of a column of odds and ends in the Picayune, the first day; heard twenty people use it the second; inquired what it meant the third; adopted it and got facility in swinging it the fourth. It has a restricted meaning, but I think the people spread it out a little when they choose. It is the equivalent of the thirteenth roll in a 'baker's dozen.' It is something thrown in, gratis, for good measure. The custom originated in the Spanish quarter of the city. When a child or a servant buys something in a shop—or even the mayor or the governor, for aught I know—he finishes the operation by saying— 'Give me something for lagniappe.' The shopman always responds; gives the child a bit of licorice-root, gives the servant a cheap cigar or a spool of thread, gives the governor—I don't know what he gives the governor; support, likely. When you are invited to drink, and this does occur now and then in New Orleans—and you say, 'What, again?—no, I've had enough;' the other party says, 'But just this one time more—this is for lagniappe.' When the beau perceives that he is stacking his compliments a trifle too high, and sees by the young lady's countenance that the edifice would have been better with the top compliment left off, he puts his 'I beg pardon—no harm intended,' into the briefer form of 'Oh, that's for lagniappe.'
floccinaucinihilipilification [ flok-suh-naw-suh-nahy-hil-uh-pil-uh-fi-key-shuhn ] estimating something as valueless. I pronounce it "flokky nokky nillypillyfication" and while i'm fairly sure it isn't correct, nobody corrects me lol
Perspicacious. Having or showing penetrating mental discernment; clear-sighted. synonym: shrewd. Quick-sighted; sharp of sight. Of acute discernment.
Confabulate 1. engage in conversation; talk. 2. fabricate imaginary experiences as compensation for loss of memory.
fecund producing or capable of producing an abundance of offspring or new growth; fertile. "a lush and fecund garden"
Or, The woman's fecund lover enjoyed having a very large penis, while her acarpous husband remained embarrassed by his diminutive member. So you inspired me to come up with a new one.....acarpous.
schadenfreude. (German) Literally...Schaden (damage), freaude (joy) A German word that means to get pleasure from from another person's misfortune. I guess that might be appropriate for some couples here......
re·cur·sion /rəˈkərZH(ə)n/ noun MATHEMATICS•LINGUISTICS the repeated application of a recursive procedure or definition. a recursive definition. plural noun: recursions
It"s a simple word, but it never fails to surprise me that it is not widely used in the English speaking world. I tend to use it all the time. Turns out it may be a peculiarly Scottish word not much used outwith the borders of said nation. outwith (aʊtwɪθ ) preposition In Scottish English, outwith means outside. It is, however, necessary on occasion to work outwith these hours.