Word of the Day

1. 82

   ptosisposted 7 years ago

   mammothrept
   
   PRONUNCIATION:
   (MAM-uh-thrept)
   
   MEANING:
   noun:
   1. A spoilt child.
   2. A person of immature judgment.
   
   ETYMOLOGY:
   From Latin mammothreptus, from Hellenistic Ancient Greek mammothreptos (brought up by one’s grandmother), from mamme (grandmother) + trephein (to bring up or nourish). Earliest documented use: 1601.
   
   USAGE:
   “And having seen the parents I am impatient to see this youth, the fruit of their strangely unattractive loins: will he be a wretched mammothrept? A little corporal?”
   Patrick O’Brian; Master and Commander; Lippincott; 1969.
   
   

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   1. 60

      Live to Learnposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      This could be fun. We should find a new word for every day on Hub Pages. Here's one:
      
      Nihilarian
      
      A person who deals with things lacking importance (pronounce the ‘h’ like a ‘k’).
      
      I love the fact that the h is pronounced like a k. It makes me think of Nicolodean. Which plays to how you would view a person who fit the definition.
      
      
      Neither of our words could feasibly be used in a normal conversation without sounding as if we were a bit pretentious but, it's always fun to learn a new word. Yes?

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      1. 82

         ptosisposted 7 years agoin reply to this

         Yup, but dotard is now conversational again!
         
         dotard (ˈdəʊtəd)
         n
         a person who is weak-minded, esp through senility
         [C14: from dote + -ard]
         ˈdotardly adj

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         1. 60

            Live to Learnposted 7 years agoin reply to this

            Hmm. Haven't heard that one used in a sentence outside of your posts here but, I'm sure it will eventually catch on.
            
            Jargogle. - To jumble; confuse or mess up.

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            1. 82

               ptosisposted 7 years agoin reply to this

               Reminds me of Gargoyle!
               
               
               tchotchke and chotchke
               n. a trinket or ornament. (From Yiddish.) Her whole house is filled with tchotchkes and old photographs.

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               1. 60

                  Live to Learnposted 7 years agoin reply to this

                  Interesting that you say that. One of the definitions I saw for that word did have to do with gargoyles.
                  
                  Here's one I'm going to use in a sentence soon.
                  
                  winklepicker
                  
                  n. – style of shoe or boot with a sharp and long pointed toe.
                  
                  I wonder how the girls who think their shows are so fashionable will feel when I tell them this is one descriptive name for their footwear.

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                  1. 82

                     ptosisposted 7 years agoin reply to this

                     show shoes - tap dancing?
                     
                     
                     
                     I find the above stupid shoes;
                     
                     inelegant
                     having or showing a lack of physical grace, elegance, or refinement.
                     "he came skidding to an inelegant halt"
                     
                     Yeah - with THOSE shoes - of course he will!, Probably poke his own eye in the process!
                     

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         2. 78

            wildernessposted 7 years agoin reply to this

            My ears are burning!

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