I like this word! When very old Kodak film is developed, the pictures are all purplish--a phenomenon I saw demonstrated this week. Our 20 year old selves all all empurpled.
I agree, with you, U (amazing, I know). These idiosyncratic lists are fun. I also like to frustrate myself by looking at the inscrutable lists where it is hard to see what the lister was getting at.
Okay, I am getting separation anxiety now. I will miss you two voices in my head next week. (Dear S calls all of you my imaginary friends). U, give your regards to Granny Smith. R, do you to care to give us any hint of your vacation plans?
This is a great list, and enlightening. I am going to add umpty-umpth to my words, because I particulary like it as an ordinal.
I like infinity minus one a lot too, U. It reminds me of the old joke about the natural history museum docent. Asked how old a particular fossil was, he said "Two million and twenty one years." As explanation for such a precise number, he explained that when he started working there 21 years ago, it was two million years old.
That is interesting. As I recall, one of Freud's translators more or less coined this word as a translation of a German word that means someting like "to occupy" If a person cathects something, he or she invests emotional energy in it and makes it his own. Bruno Bettelheim wrote a book about what he regarded as the mis-translation of Freud's writing.
As for having cofusingly contranymic meanings, that is just balderdash. It may be a near-contranym, but in practice it would take a real dunderhead to fail to understand the two meanings.
"We sailed for America, and there made certain preparations. This took but little time. Two members of my family elected to go with me. Also a carbuncle. The dictionary says a carbuncle is a kind of jewel. Humor is out of place in a dictionary."
Mark Twain, Following the Equator, Chapter 1, page 1
Aw gee. . .I am glad you did that. I love Edward Lear. I was trying to recall if it was the honey or the money that was wrapped up in the five pound note. It sounds like it was both!
I second that--nice list; I like the Lyle Lovett quote. In fact, I think I will stop listening to this disturbing news about the nation's infrastructure and listen to some Lyle Lovett.
Why, to make mercurial ointment, of course: "In the old formula for making mercurialointment, the quicksilver is merely directed to be rubbed with the axunge and suet until it be killed, which is nearly impossible. . ."
from The Edinborugh Medical and Surgical Journal, 1805
slumry commented on the word pediculous
Or silly feet--ped=feet+ridiculous
Aug 13, 2007
slumry commented on the word privy
I have always heard both pronounced the same way, with a short i, rhyming with chivvy.
Aug 12, 2007
slumry commented on the word carbon copy
Apparently you can still buy carbon paper; if I rummaged enough, I probably would find some at home.
Aug 12, 2007
slumry commented on the word time is money
I am also a long time fan of Lakoff.
Aug 12, 2007
slumry commented on the word idiopathic juxtafoveal telangiectasia
You sound as if you have more intimate knowledge of this than you would like.
Aug 12, 2007
slumry commented on the user john
Welcome, Infostyx! I also became an instant addict--I am enjoying your list. Oroboros is right--that delete function seems to be broken.
Aug 12, 2007
slumry commented on the word grandmother
Teach your grandmother to suck eggs.
Aug 12, 2007
slumry commented on the word carbon copy
What? Never made a carbon copy? What?
Aug 12, 2007
slumry commented on the word time is money
Looks like you have been reading George Lakoff, O.
Aug 11, 2007
slumry commented on the word dyslogistic
In contrast to eulogistic.
Aug 11, 2007
slumry commented on the word phylactery
I think I first read about phylacteries in Chaim Potok's novels. So many books, so little time!
Aug 10, 2007
slumry commented on the word antioxidant
He said he did not need to eat blueberries because he wears his seatbelt. That is what he said. *groan here*
Aug 10, 2007
slumry commented on the word solipsism
Oh, Reesetee, you mean I really do have voices in my head, too? In that case, I also wonder why I can't get them all to agree with each other.
I think I will opt to simply enjoy the illusion.
Aug 9, 2007
slumry commented on the word solipsism
It was a memorable conversation, U.
And R--I feel sure you will fill your suitcase with plenty of Canadianisms!
Aug 9, 2007
slumry commented on the word solipsism
*Green with envy*
Aug 9, 2007
slumry commented on the word empurple
It happens. Old abandoned cameras, that sort of thing. :)
Aug 9, 2007
slumry commented on the word conbobberation
I like it!
Aug 9, 2007
slumry commented on the word empurple
I like this word! When very old Kodak film is developed, the pictures are all purplish--a phenomenon I saw demonstrated this week. Our 20 year old selves all all empurpled.
Aug 9, 2007
slumry commented on the word favorited
I agree, with you, U (amazing, I know). These idiosyncratic lists are fun. I also like to frustrate myself by looking at the inscrutable lists where it is hard to see what the lister was getting at.
Aug 9, 2007
slumry commented on the word solipsism
Okay, I am getting separation anxiety now. I will miss you two voices in my head next week. (Dear S calls all of you my imaginary friends). U, give your regards to Granny Smith. R, do you to care to give us any hint of your vacation plans?
Aug 9, 2007
slumry commented on the word cathexis
Any particular writing's of Wilber's that you can cite on that subject?
Aug 9, 2007
slumry commented on the word solipsism
Are you sure? It may be very lonely!
Aug 9, 2007
slumry commented on the word solipsism
Well, he should care--if you are a part of him, he would be diminished by your absence. Says Judge Slumry. So there.
Aug 9, 2007
slumry commented on the word save
And just wait until I start in on the word fancy!
Aug 9, 2007
slumry commented on the word save
Oooh, I hadn't thought of that!
Aug 9, 2007
slumry commented on the word save
Invective and spleen and treason too? Wow! Am I a Wordie heretic? Will I be burned on a pyre?
I will join with my conbrethren and found the Savesave sect.
Aug 9, 2007
slumry commented on the list a-bazillion-imaginary-numbers
This is a great list, and enlightening. I am going to add umpty-umpth to my words, because I particulary like it as an ordinal.
I like infinity minus one a lot too, U. It reminds me of the old joke about the natural history museum docent. Asked how old a particular fossil was, he said "Two million and twenty one years." As explanation for such a precise number, he explained that when he started working there 21 years ago, it was two million years old.
Aug 9, 2007
slumry commented on the word stuff and nonsense
It always amuses me--it was a favorite of my mother's, usually used semi-humorously.
Aug 9, 2007
slumry commented on the word cathexis
That is interesting. As I recall, one of Freud's translators more or less coined this word as a translation of a German word that means someting like "to occupy" If a person cathects something, he or she invests emotional energy in it and makes it his own. Bruno Bettelheim wrote a book about what he regarded as the mis-translation of Freud's writing.
Aug 9, 2007
slumry commented on the word save
Stuff and nonsense! Eyewash! Save is a perfectly fine preposition, having evolved in parallel with the other sense of save. It does mean except.
As for having cofusingly contranymic meanings, that is just balderdash. It may be a near-contranym, but in practice it would take a real dunderhead to fail to understand the two meanings.
Aug 9, 2007
slumry commented on the word rugose
Rosa rugosa has wringkly leaves
Aug 8, 2007
slumry commented on the word eyewash
Used as an expression of disbelief; poppycock
Aug 8, 2007
slumry commented on the word carbuncle
"We sailed for America, and there made certain preparations. This took but little time. Two members of my family elected to go with me. Also a carbuncle. The dictionary says a carbuncle is a kind of jewel. Humor is out of place in a dictionary."
Mark Twain, Following the Equator, Chapter 1, page 1
Aug 8, 2007
slumry commented on the list poetrie-the-emperor-of-ice-cream
Thank you for this Poetrie, Reesettee!
Aug 7, 2007
slumry commented on the word celestial
As a noun, celestial refers to a heavenly being, a god or angel.
Aug 7, 2007
slumry commented on the word metempsychosis
the doctrine of transmigration of souls into another body
Aug 7, 2007
slumry commented on the word hand-handled
That's what the sign on the peaches at the grocery store said.
Aug 6, 2007
slumry commented on the word furibund
deranged
Aug 6, 2007
slumry commented on the word badminton
Bad mitten! Bad mitten! Go to your room, mitten!
Aug 3, 2007
slumry commented on the word edulcorate
There are some words I just can't pass up; this is one.
Aug 3, 2007
slumry commented on the word postprandial
This word makes me blush--then I remember: food--it is food they are talking about.
Aug 3, 2007
slumry commented on the list poetrie-the-owl-and-the-pussycat
Aw gee. . .I am glad you did that. I love Edward Lear. I was trying to recall if it was the honey or the money that was wrapped up in the five pound note. It sounds like it was both!
Aug 3, 2007
slumry commented on the word mercurochrome
Oh, I must add mercurochrome to my evocative smells list! And speaking of stains, this made me think of gentian violet.
Aug 3, 2007
slumry commented on the list stuffie-see-the-light
a bit of a stretch, maybe, but what about under a bushel?
Aug 3, 2007
slumry commented on the list the-jumblies
Thanks--that was fun to do--and I had to do it, because you had planted an earworm! :)
Aug 3, 2007
slumry commented on the list out-to-sea
sieve? And I just learned that a pink is a small sailing vessel
Aug 3, 2007
slumry commented on the list the-jumblies
Poetrie: The Jumblies
Inspired by Reesetee's Out to Sea list
Aug 3, 2007
slumry commented on the list out-to-sea
I second that--nice list; I like the Lyle Lovett quote. In fact, I think I will stop listening to this disturbing news about the nation's infrastructure and listen to some Lyle Lovett.
Aug 2, 2007
slumry commented on the word axunge
Why, to make mercurial ointment, of course: "In the old formula for making mercurial ointment, the quicksilver is merely directed to be rubbed with the axunge and suet until it be killed, which is nearly impossible. . ."
from The Edinborugh Medical and Surgical Journal, 1805
Aug 2, 2007
slumry commented on the word whimmy
full of whims; whimsical
Aug 2, 2007