July 04, 2013

Strange, Lost and Unusual Words

July 04, 2013/ M.M.Vaughan

The Project Twins, based in Ireland, have used their graphic art skills to illustrate this collection of strange, unusual and lost words. I am determined to start using as many of these words as I can in conversation - do this with me and together we can help bring them out of obscurity!

Scripturient. Possessing a violent desire to write. — Scripturient. Possessing a violent desire to write.

Yonderly. Mentally or emotionally distant; absent-minded. — Yonderly. Mentally or emotionally distant; absent-minded.

Acersecomic. A person whose hair has never been cut. — Acersecomic. A person whose hair has never been cut.

Cacodemonomania. The pathological belief that one is inhabited by an evil spirit. — Cacodemonomania. The pathological belief that one is inhabited by an evil spirit.

Biblioclasm. The practice of destroying, often ceremoniously, books or other written material and media. — Biblioclasm. The practice of destroying, often ceremoniously, books or other written material and media.

Dactylion. An anatomical landmark located at the tip of the middle finger. — Dactylion. An anatomical landmark located at the tip of the middle finger.

Enantiodromia. The conversion of something into its opposite. — Enantiodromia. The conversion of something into its opposite.

Fanfaronade. Swaggering; empty boasting; blustering manner or behavior; ostentatious display. — Fanfaronade. Swaggering; empty boasting; blustering manner or behavior; ostentatious display.

Gorgonize. To have a paralysing or mesmerising effect on: Stupefy or Petrify. — Gorgonize. To have a paralysing or mesmerising effect on: Stupefy or Petrify.

Hamartia. The character flaw or error of a tragic hero that leads to his downfall. — Hamartia. The character flaw or error of a tragic hero that leads to his downfall.

Infandous. Unspeakable or too odious to be expressed or mentioned. — Infandous. Unspeakable or too odious to be expressed or mentioned.

Jettatura. The casting of an evil eye. — Jettatura. The casting of an evil eye.

Ktenology. The science of putting people to death. — Ktenology. The science of putting people to death.

Leptosome. A person with a slender, thin, or frail body. — Leptosome. A person with a slender, thin, or frail body.

Montivagant. Wandering over hills and mountains. — Montivagant. Wandering over hills and mountains.

Noegenesis. Production of knowledge. — Noegenesis. Production of knowledge.

Ostentiferous. Bringing omens or unnatural or supernatural manifestations. — Ostentiferous. Bringing omens or unnatural or supernatural manifestations.

Pogonotrophy. The act of cultivating, or growing and grooming, a mustache, beard, sideburns or other facial hair. — Pogonotrophy. The act of cultivating, or growing and grooming, a mustache, beard, sideburns or other facial hair.

Quockerwodger. A rare nineteenth-century word for a wooden toy which briefly became a political insult. — Quockerwodger. A rare nineteenth-century word for a wooden toy which briefly became a political insult.

Recumbentibus. A knockout punch, either verbal or physical. — Recumbentibus. A knockout punch, either verbal or physical.

Tarantism. A disorder characterised by an uncontrollable urge to dance. — Tarantism. A disorder characterised by an uncontrollable urge to dance.

Ultracrepidarian. A person who gives opinions and advice on matters outside of one’s knowledge. — Ultracrepidarian. A person who gives opinions and advice on matters outside of one’s knowledge.

Vernalagnia. A romantic mood brought on by Spring. — Vernalagnia. A romantic mood brought on by Spring.

Welter. A confused mass; a jumble; turmoil or confusion. — Welter. A confused mass; a jumble; turmoil or confusion.

Xenization. The act of traveling as a stranger. — Xenization. The act of traveling as a stranger.

Zugzwang. A position in which any decision or move will result in problems. — Zugzwang. A position in which any decision or move will result in problems.