Weird Word Wednesday: Jackanapes

Jackanapes

Today's weird word is jackanapes. I wish I could say that I knew this word and use it all of the time. Truth is, my computer screen saver throws up random words and their definition, and I happened to be paying attention when this one popped up. 

I am drawn to this word, because it is weird, of course, but also because of it's sound. You could totally call someone this and it would sound like the insult it is intended to be! Short of jack-a** but they would still get the idea!

Love it. Got a list of people to start yelling this to. Enjoy!

=J

 

jack·a·napes 

noun \ˈja-kə-ˌnāps\

Definition of JACKANAPES

1: monkey, ape

2a : an impudent or conceited fellow

b : a saucy or mischievous child 

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jackanapes

Weird Word Wednesday - Zaftig

ZAFTIG 

 

Today's weird word is ZAFTIG. It means "having a full rounded figure: pleasingly plump." 

Zaftig sounds WONDERFUL! It sounds hot and cool at the same time! 

If I heard "Hey, that chick is zaftig!" 

I would think "they are TOTALLY complimenting me!" 

If I heard "Hey, that chick is plump!" 

I would go over and punch them in the face. 

Just saying.

zaf·tig

adj \ˈzäf-tig, ˈzȯf-\

Definition of ZAFTIG

of a woman

: having a full rounded figure : pleasingly plump

See zaftig defined for English-language learners »

Variants of ZAFTIG

zaf·tig also zof·tig

Examples of ZAFTIG

1. The actress playing the lead role was a zaftig blonde.

Origin of ZAFTIG

Yiddish zaftik juicy, succulent, from zaft juice, sap, from Middle High German saf, saft, from Old High German saf — more at sap

First Known Use: circa 1936

 

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zaftig 

Weird Word Wednesday - Spanghew

SPANGHEW

This is a term that I think would be used more often if little boys were introduced to it. Two reasons that I think that are because first, it's fun to say, and second, it involves throwing things. I wouldn't tell them about the frog part though...

Definition: to throw violently into the air; especially, to throw (a frog) into the air from the end of a stick About the Word: Although it originally involved an unsavory pastime in which sticks were used to hurl frogs into the air, this word has had other meanings as well. For example, one 19th century report refers to a particular horse's insistence on "spang–hewing" its riders. (Spang, by the way, is a verb in its own right. It's mostly used in Scotland and means "throw" or "jump.")

http://www.merriam-webster.com/top-ten-lists/top-10-words-with-bizarre-meanings/spanghew.html

Weird Word Wednesday - Pule

PULE

Having children provides one with multiple opportunities to describe whining.  This is a new one for me that I will definitely use! S-)

Definition of PULE

intransitive verb

: whine, whimper

See pule defined for kids »

Examples of PULE

1. <a distressed baby puling in its crib>

Origin of PULE

probably imitative

First Known Use: 1534

Related to PULE

Synonyms: bleat, mewl, whimper

Related Words: fuss, sniffle, snivel, snuffle, whine; bawl, blub [chiefly British], blubber, cry, sob, weep; peep, squeak; yelp; mumble, murmur

Rhymes with PULE

boule, boulle, cool, drool, fool, fuel, ghoul, gul, mewl, mule, pool, Poole, pul, rule, school, spool, stool, tool, tulle, yule

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pule 

Weird Word Wednesday - Pulchritude

PULCHRITUDE

This Wednesday's Weird Word is PULCHRITUDE. Credit goes to Cecily K at http://www.uppercasewoman.com and twitter @Cecilyk for giving us the idea and permission to use it.

On Tuesday, Cecily had tweeted:

"Trying to make a word trend: pulchritude. Yep, PULCHRITUDE. It means beautiful. Really." 

So here is our little part in helping to make her wish come true! =) Though in all honesty, Cecily could do just about anything all by herself. We are just happy she is our twitter friend. Oh, and the highlight color is also a nod to Cecily and her wonderfully fun hair. (Am I starting to sound like a stalker now?)

Pulchritude means (beautiful or) physical comeliness. Now I have to look up the word comeliness... or maybe I'll just save it for next Wednesday.

pul·chri·tude

noun \ˈpəl-krə-ˌtüd, -ˌtyüd\

Definition of PULCHRITUDE

: physical comeliness

— pul·chri·tu·di·nous adjective

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pulchritude 

Weird Word wednesday - Recrudescence

Today's weird word is Recrudescence. I enjoy taking the Merriam-Webster quizzes to assess my vocabulary skills.  This word appeared and I have never ever heard of it before. 

re·cru·des·cence

noun \-ˈde-s^ən(t)s\

Definition of RECRUDESCENCE

: a new outbreak after a period of abatement or inactivity : renewal <a recrudescence of the symptoms> <a recrudescence of guerrilla warfare>

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recrudescence

The weeks following Christmas, my boys just want to be home and playing with their new things.  Unfortunately, a recrudescence of requests and desire to go somewhere else and DO something occurs soon after.

My husband promised not to go gambling, but after a period of 6  months there was a recrudescence.

S-)

Weird Word Wednesday - Vociferous

VOCIFEROUS

Today's Weird Word is Vociferous! It basically means an intense reaction. I would use it in the same place I would use the word vehement. And you know with how much I use my fancy talk, I use that word ALL of the time too. =) For some reason, I'm actually excited that I now have an alternate for vehement. Now if I can just remember to say vociferous and not turn it into something like velociraptor-saurus.

vo·cif·er·ous    adj \vō-ˈsi-f(ə-)rəs\

Definition of VOCIFEROUS

: marked by or given to vehement insistent outcry

— vo·cif·er·ous·ly adverb

— vo·cif·er·ous·ness noun

Examples of VOCIFEROUS

1. He is her most vociferous critic.
2. He was vociferous in his support of the proposal.
3. The decision was made over their vociferous objections.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vociferous 

Thank you to Celina Murphy at http://www.winecheeseandbabies.blogspot.com for Tweeting me the suggestion. If you have a weird word, let me know and if I use it, you'll get the credit!

Celina Murphy

@WineCheeseBaby view full profile →

New York

My Mommy Mantra - Make your kids an incredible Part of your life not your WHOLE life.  http://www.winecheeseandbabies.blogspot.com

Weird Word Wednesday - Abnormous

ABNORMOUS!

I LOVE the word abnormous. These are the reasons why:

1. It's a REAL word, but spell check thinks it's not.
2. It is the base word of abnormously.
3. It's a perfectly good word, that no one uses.
4. It means abnormal.
5. It's fun to say!
6. It sounds like a made up word, like ginormous.

ab·nor·mous

adj \(ˈ)ab¦nȯrməs, -ȯ(ə)m- also əbˈ-\

Definition of ABNORMOUS

archaic

: abnormal, irregular

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abnormous

Weird Word Wednesday - retroussé

retroussé

Today's weird word is retroussé. It is a word used specifically for the upturn of a person's nose. You know, like the famous Bob Hope slope? Umm... you never heard of Bob Hope? Great. I'm used to kids making me feel old by not knowing things, like what a rotary phone is, but now even adults are even making me feel old. Oh well.

Here is some more information I found about a turned up nose:
" Turned Up Nose
Also called a celestial nose, a turned up nose runs in a smooth line right from the eyes to the tip of the nose. The fall line of the nose ends in a slightly peaked tip with a delicate outward curve, though it is not pointed."

Just for taking the time to classify the types of noses, I'd like to thank: http://www.lifestylekarma.com/2011/09/12/types-of-noses/

The SUN did a whole article on what the shape of your nose says about you. The article can be found here: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/2875607/What-your-nose-shape-says-about-you.html This is what they say about a turned up nose.

"Turned-up

FAMOUS EXAMPLE: Marilyn Monroe

Cute ... Marilyn Monroe's turned-up nose

NOSE NOTES: Those with these types of cute, turned-up noses are mostly kind, optimistic and full of character.
They usually have nurturing personalities and like to provide love and support for their friends and family.
People with this nose type often have an endless enthusiasm for new things and experiences.
Often a sign of the sexually adventurous but at the same time a person with a turned-up nose usually takes well to marriage."

OK, well I'm not sure that I would want to read that much into the nose shape of a potential future spouse, but hey, who am I to judge? 

My computer added this information to the definition: "(of a person's nose) turned up at the tip, esp. in an attractive way."


Here is the Merriam-Webster definition.

re·trous·sé

adj
\rə-ˌtrü-ˈsā, rə-ˈtrü-ˌ, ˌre-tru̇-ˈ\

Definition of RETROUSSÉ

: turned up <retroussé nose>

Origin of RETROUSSÉ

French, from past participle of retrousser to tuck up, from Middle French, from re- + trousser to truss, tuck up — more at truss

First Known Use: 1837

 

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/retrouss/

So next time you see someone with a turned up nose, you'll think "I know there's a name for that... some famous guy I never heard of had one, oh ya, and Marilyn Monroe did too... can't for the life of me remember the word for it though. Gotta go Google Venti With the Girls and look that up!"

=J

Weird Word Wednesday: Scarp

 

This is an example of a scarp that we saw in the U.P. of Michigan. It was absolutely beautiful, and at the time, I didn't know that there was a name for it. Now we know!

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scarp?show=0&t=1314191020 

scarp

noun \ˈskärp\

Definition of SCARP

1: the inner side of a ditch below the parapet of a fortification

2a : a line of cliffs produced by faulting or erosion — see fault illustration  

b : a low steep slope along a beach caused by wave erosion

Weird Word Wednesday - finial

Image borrowed from : http://www.lampfinials.com/

I was unscrewing the metal piece that holds a lampshade in place in order to change the lampshade.  My sister commented that I could also change out the finial if I wanted to.  She had worked in a department store in housewares and said that it can also refer to the decorative ends of curtain rods.  Apparently this may be a familiar word to people in decorating.

S-)

http://www.merriam-webster.com/

fin·i·al

noun \ˈfi-nē-əl\ 

Definition of FINIAL

1: a usually foliated ornament forming an upper extremity especially in Gothic architecture

2: a crowning ornament or detail (as a decorative knob)

Origin of FINIAL

Middle English, from final, finial final

First Known Use: 15th century

Rhymes with FINIAL

lineal

Weird Word Wednesday - Fribble

^{Today's weird word is fribble. I came across it when my screen saver was active. Usually, I know the words that it shows, but not this one. I was excited to see it, because I knew it was a great Weird Word Wednesday word. Fribble doesn't even show up in my spell check dictionary. It doesn't recognize it as a word, but it is in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, so it's definitely a word. I like the word because it sounds like a silly made up word, and can be used in place of "goof around". As in, "don't fribble" instead of "don't goof around".  I plan on using it regularly!}

^{Enjoy your new weird word, and please take some time to fribble now and then! =)}

^=J

^{http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fribble}

¹frib·ble

verb \ˈfri-bəl\

frib·bledfrib·bling

Definition of FRIBBLE

transitive verb: to trifle or fool away

intransitive verb

1: trifle

2obsolete : dodder

Examples of FRIBBLE

1. <somehow, he managed to spend the whole morning fribbling instead of doing his assigned work>

Origin of FRIBBLE

origin unknown

First Known Use: 1633

Related to FRIBBLE

Synonyms: doodle, fool around, fiddle (around), goof (around), hang about [British], kick around, mess around, monkey (around), play, potter (around), putter (around), trifle

Weird Word Wednesday - otiose

While pondering my frustrations with a male relative, I came across this wonderful word that is appropriate to describe him.

otiose - adjective
1.  producing no useful result: futile
2. being at leisure: idle
3. lacking use or effect:  functionless

"While listening to my sister I become angered by her husband's otiose lifestyle  which forces her to be the only adult in the household."

I am sure each of us knows an otiose person.  Now we can say it to their faces without them understanding!
S-)
 
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/otiose

oti·ose

adj \ˈō-shē-ˌōs, ˈō-tē-\

Definition of OTIOSE

1: producing no useful result : futile

2: being at leisure : idle

3: lacking use or effect : functionless

— oti·ose·ly adverb

— oti·ose·ness noun

— oti·os·i·ty noun

Examples of OTIOSE

1. <since you haven't read the book, I suppose that it would be otiose to inquire what you thought of it>

Origin of OTIOSE

Latin otiosus, from otium leisure

First Known Use: 1794

Related to OTIOSE

Synonyms: abortive, barren, bootless, empty, fruitless, ineffective, ineffectual, inefficacious, futile, profitless, unavailing, unproductive, unprofitable, unsuccessful, useless, vain

Antonyms: deadly, effective, effectual, efficacious, efficient, fruitful, potent, productive, profitable, successful, virtuous

Weird Word Wednesday - tittle

"I have been having pain in my hand while writing and tittles are actually causing me the most discomfort."

"My son prefers to make his tittles a circle instead of a dot".

Who knew?  The word for the dot above a lowercase “i” or “j” is called a tittle. It can also be used to mean a small piece of something, for example, "we could not find a tittle of common sense in her entire rant".

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tittle 

tit·tle

noun \ˈti-t^əl\

Definition of TITTLE

1: a point or small sign used as a diacritical mark in writing or printing

2: a very small part

Weird Word Wednesday - Aglet

My weird word for today is Aglet. If you are between the ages of 5 and 11 and watch a certain popular American cartoon, you already know what it is. In fact, it was my sons, who roughly fall into that age category, that told me what it meant. I can't say that they have never come home and told me something fascinating that they learned at school only for me to reply with "I didn't know that." But this time, I looked at them suspiciously, like they were trying to trick me into believing the information. It happened as we were trying to get ready to leave the house. As they both sat down to put on their gym shoes, they simultaneously asked me the question. "Mom, do you know what this is called?" pointing to the hard plastic ends of their laces. I'm not sure if I EVER wondered what it was called, or even thought it might have a name. The grins on my sons' faces threw me. I thought, this is where they make some funny joke at Mom's expense. So, being the good sport that I am, responded and waited for the punch line. "Aglet" was all they said. I think I responded with something like "Really? How do you know that?" Then they went on to tell me about the show and even sang a song about it. It's quite catchy, I can hear it now "A - G - L - E - T, don't forget it". So now, YOU TOO know what most kids already know. The hard plastic end of your shoelace, is called an AGLET.


=J

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aglet

ag·let

noun \ˈa-glət\

1: the plain or ornamental tag covering the ends of a lace or point

2: any of various ornamental studs, cords, or pins worn on clothing 

p.s. This photo was borrowed from:
http://www.wikihow.com/Raise-Awareness-of-the-Aglet

Weird Word Wednesday: Pandiculate

 

Today's weird word is PANDICULATION. We all do it. I have even seen cats and dogs do it. What is it? Think about how you feel the first thing in the morning. You don't want to get up but you some how get yourself out of bed. As your feet hit the floor you have an uncontrollable urge to stiffen your body, stretch your arms, yawn and perhaps even add a groan in there. THAT is PANDICULATION. So here is the weird part, well to me at least, it's a noun! I know, I am shining my geek side out there like a beacon. But really, it is a "thing" right? Have you ever thought of the act of stretching as a thing? Oh, I know. Add "tion" to the end of a lot of words and it changes from an action to a thing: elate ---> elation, and... well now my mind is in the gutter and I can only think of 2 more words. One word has to do with pooping and the other with spending some quality time with yourself. I won't share those.

Back to my point. Did you even know that there was a word for it? At some time, someone thought one word was needed for the entire act of "stretching and stiffening especially of the trunk and extremities" and created the term. Have you ever used the word? I think I am going to start, just because I can't believe it exists. When it makes a comeback in popularity, you'll know who to thank!

When I saw this ad, I knew I had to include it. An actual machine so people can pandiculate. "Better than 2 hours in the gymnasium" where can I get one of those?


http://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/pandiculation?show=0&t=1308747368

pan·dic·u·la·tion

noun \pan-ˌdik-yə-ˈlā-shən\

: a stretching and stiffening especially of the trunk and extremities (as when fatigued and drowsy or after waking from sleep) 

 

=J