Wordnerd 2
Somniferous-adjective-causing sleep or drowsiness: soporific
"As a bored youngster, I would always become somniferous during the Sunday church service."
17th century, Latin, somnifer -- from somnus sleep and ferre do.
Restive-adjective-impatient under restriction, delay, coercion, or opposition
"Always the rebel growing up in my parent's home, I grew restive under their strict rules and limitations."
This is an Anglo-French word rester which means to stop, resist, or remain.
21 December 2022
Non-Plus-adjective-relating to a person, surprised and confused so much so he or she is unsure how to react
"I've always encouraged my adolescent son to be honest, but when he told me of his intention to go see a Cannibal Corpse concert on acid I was non-plussed."
A Latin term, originally non-plus was introduced to the English language as a noun as in "He was in a state of non-plus." Non-plus is Latin for no more, no further.
"Keep calm and carry on." Winston Churchill
Caddy Shack, Ted Night
22 December 2022
Hirsute-adjective-hairy, shaggy, woolly, bushy
"Bigfoot is an example of a hirsutulous being."
Early 17th century Latin; Hirsutus meaning hairy
Ineffable-adjective-too great to be expressed in words
"My personal relationship with Jesus Christ is powerful, and it has an ineffable, supernatural quality."
Ineffable comes from ineffabilis. The prefix in means not while the adjective effablilis means capable of being expressed. From Latin ineffabilis to Middle French ineffable.
Toward? Or towards?
Which is correct usage in the English language? Toward or towards?
The answer is simple. Use toward. The S on towards in superfluous and therefore unnecessary. It's just toward.
"We headed toward the gathering."
24 December 2022
Draconian-adjective-regarding laws--excessively harsh or severe
"China's draconian anti-terror law is really an assualt on an individual's choice for freedom of religion and expression."
Draconian originated from Draco -- the name of a 7th century BC Athenian religious legislator who created a harsh strict code of laws also called Drakon or Drako.
25 December 2022
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Sub-Rosa-adjective-secret and confidential
adverb--secretly, confidentially
"The private investigator I hired to follow my wife around after I suspected she was cheating on me, conducted his sub-rosa examination with disappointing results."
This a Latin term. Sub-Rosa means under the rose. That arose from an ancient practice of hanging flowers over banquet tables during the Middle Ages. In Roman mythology, Harpocates, the god of silence, was given a rose by Cupid in exchange for keeping quiet after discovering Venus, Cupid's mother, in a sexual affair.
26 December 2022
Bonhomie-noun-cheerful, friendly, genial
"Upon visiting Aruba on our family vacation, we found the natives in good bonhomie and happy to help us."
This is a French word. Bonhomme means good natured man. Once you break the word up in French, bon means good and homme means man.
"It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves." William Shakespeare
6 January 2023
Ailurophile-noun-a cat lover
"I'm an ailurophile if it gets cold enough."
Ailur is from the Greek, cat. Ailurus is the ancient Greek word for domestic cat.
12 January 2023
Bumptious-adjective-pushy, conceited, loud and assertive
"After my brother completed physical training for the Marine Corps. at Paris Island, he complained about bumptious drill instructors."
"The pimp was very bumptious with the prostitutes, shoving and ordering them around."
The term bumptious was first recorded in the 1790's, and it was a combination of bump and fractious, unruly. It is American English.
16 January 2023
Ennui-noun-a feeling of dissatisfaction arising from lack of excitement; boredom
"When the prostitute arrived at the motel a feeling of ennui set in because she was very, very large and unattractive . . . and she only had one eyeball."
Ennui is a French word associated with boredom circa 1660
"It's during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light." Aristotle
21 January 2023
Paroxysm-noun-a sudden attack or a violent expression of emotion or activity
"Unfortunately, to this day, I suffer paroxysms from acute asthmatic episodes."
Derivations of this word can be found in Old French, Medieval Latin, and Ancient Greek. This word derives from Ancient Greek paroxynein, meaning to stimulate and paroxysmos; irritation. Paroxysme is Old French circa 15th century, and it means a sudden attack or convulsion. In Medieval Latin it's known as paroxysmus or irritation and fit of a disease.
25 January 2023
Lagniappe-noun-a small gift given to a customer at the time of a purchase. Usually given as a gratuity.
"When I purchased my Mustang, the dealer gave me a hand held G.P.S. navigation unit as a lagniappe."
"It turned out that I spent so much flippin money at the adult book store that the cashier gave me a lagniappe; a pocket rocket for my girlfriend."
This comes from the Spanish word la napa, a bonus.
Catamite-noun-a young pubescent boy kept for homosexual practices usually by an older affluent male.
"Hey, Fred! My catamite's all worn out. Can I borrow yours tonight?"
"In ancient Greece and Rome affluent older males sometimes possessed catamites for pederastic relationships."
From Latin, catamitus--a boy kept as a sexual partner. Also it derives from the ancient Greek, Ganymede--an attractive Trojan boy allegedly abducted to Mount Olympus by the god Zues to become his lover.
Quixotic-adjective-exceedingly idealistic, unrealistic and impractical
"Many young quixotic people dream of changing the world by starting reformations or revolutions."
Quixotic relates exclusively to people as being chivalrous and absurdly romantic. From 1791 Don Quixote a character from Cervantes satirical novel who was a romantic and impractical hero.
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