Behold, the 50 most frequently looked-up words on NYTimes.com in the first half of this year. I knew all but parlous, dauphin, comity, Atreus, peroration, phlogiston, and appurtenances. (It was kind of a bonus that we got both feckless and fecklessness, which I knew.) (via Nancy)
Here's a collection of "cool and obscure" words, most of which I'd never even seen before. A few random favorites:
- absquatulate: to leave hurriedly, suddenly, or secretly
- bever: a between-meal snack
- eristic: enjoying argument for its own sake
- fugleman: one who sets an example
- oikonisus: the urge to start a family
- tacenda: things better left unsaid
Ooooh.. I am going to use "absquatulate" in some conversation tomorrow. I also have a word that describes both me and my oldest at times: eristic.
Posted by: Kelly | October 18, 2009 at 08:57 PM