kymatology(P) - study of wave motion The Founder and his brother are kymatologists. They just retired after 30 years on the Rincon dawn patrol. Sort of sad about it...but wanted to avoid no-fool-like-old-fool(noflof) syndrome. Now the fantasy of their magnificence expands with each passing swell. They sleep-in each day, content that noflof has been stanched; and that the dawn patrol sharks have been abandoned to their liquid abattoir. Aloha.
labefactation(P) - a weakening decay; overthrow Argentina went through this process. In the early 1900's it had one of the world's strongest economies. A little research of its history tells the story of how and why. The Founder will leave the sorry details to those who might seek out the reasons through their own volition.
mabsoot(P) - happy Might be swahili/not. Maybe there's a derivation available somewhere but I'm mabsoot to take it at face-value.
nestcock(p.68) - an old term for househusband, a man who stays at home and manages the house while his wife goes to work My first thought on this one: why would a woman want such a nuisance around the house? He better be a good cook and house-cleaner. True, the retirement years have made a nestcock out of the Founder and he's a lousy cook and tolerates quite a lot of dust... but he's got a pension. Plus he can still drive at night.
oikology(p.203) - science of housekeeping Hmmm...who knew THAT was a science? It seems the main issue with housekeeping is that it's so darn repetitive that it drains the brain of joie de vivre. The Founder remembers seeing a poster in the '60's that showed a disgruntled woman with a bandana tied around her hair and holding a broom. At the bottom of the poster in bold letters said: Fuck Housework! Now that's a little indelicate for the sensibilities here at the Society so we would re-phrase that to read: Schtup Oikology!
paneity(P) - state of being bread Thumbs up on an interesting concept that can only be understood by a totally stoned granola head.
quatsch(P) - nonsense This is one of those words that reveals its meaning just by virtue of its sound. Next time you feel the urge to declaim "Nonsense!" try "Quatsch!" and see where it leads.
recumbentibus(p.114) - a knockout punch; a blow that makes you recumbent It can be figurative as well as literal. In the figurative sense, it's what every debater is gunning for: that concluding rejoinder that levels your opponent. A favorite example of this is the one cited in TAWFI: "My vote for the best sockdologer or recumbentibus of all time is Benjamin Disraeli's brilliant rejoinder to a sally by William Gladstone, his longtime rival in the British parliament. As the story goes, during one of the many bitter debates between the two politicians, Gladstone rose and denounced his foe. "Sir," he cried, "I predict that you will die either upon the gallows or of some loathsome disease." Undaunted, Disraeli replied, "That depends, sir, upon whether I embrace your politics or your mistress." ....Bravo! We have a winner!
sacofricosis(p.92) - surreptitiously fiddling with your genitalia through your pants pocket...in other words, pocket pool As mentioned at the top of the show, sesquipedalia verba and ribaldry are synchronicitous. Therefore be not alarmed when such a vulgar term appears on these pages - it's merely academic, not salacious.
trichotillomania(p.34) - a compulsion to pull out one's hair There are so many weird compulsions and the question is WHY?
unasinous(P) - being equally stupid This is a good descriptor for the participants in a childish argument. It also is a good word for other low-rent behavior such as road rage or family feuds.
verbarian(P) - coiner of words Neologisms are coined frequently. The real issue is will they stand the test of time. The vernacular - the language of ordinary people - is always changing due to slang and jargon. For the same reason, words become obsolete(like most of the words being cited here in the Society). An example of a neologism that was just coined by the Founder is "pundidiocy" - a combo word consisting of 'pundit' and 'idiocy'. It means the unending drivel being spewed by pundits on the cable news shows. It remains to be seen if it will gain any lingual traction.
wakerife(P) - wakeful; indisposed to sleep Most of us have had wakerife nights. Whether it be due to aches and pains or worries, it makes for a torturous night. The Founder often wishes for the power to script his own dreams...alas, it just doesn't work that way. Probably humanity would dream itself out of existence if such an ability evolved.
xenarthral(p.112) - resembling a sloth, anteater, or armadillo There is another resemblance yet it would be in poor taste of the Founder to point it out.
yarborough(P) - hand of cards containing no card above nine This would be a stumper in a trivia contest for sure.
zingaro(P) - gypsy
aboulomania(P) - pathological indecisiveness This is a terrible condition. Many people have varying degrees of it. A common occurrence is waiting for the wife to select an outfit for an evening outing. It's best for the husband to keep his trap shut for as long as it takes, else he can forget about any pleasantries later.
bacchi plenus(p.52) - Latin for "Full of Bacchus"; blazing drunk. Bacchus, also known as Dionysus, was the ancient Greek and Roman god of wine and orgiastic drunkenness. The Founder, in his quest for enlightenment, has given this route a good road test. He found the chuckholes damaging to his mechanics and wisely took an exit before the wheels came off.
cacography(P) - bad handwriting or spelling This is one of the things about texting that bodes poorly for the future of the written language. On the other hand, it's an opportunity for an individual to stand out from the crowd merely by learning to spell correctly and hand-write with well-formed letters. It's not really so hard to do. Just look at the handwriting of our grandparents...and many of them only went through eighth grade.
dapatical(P) - lavish; sumptuous; costly Sounds like a modern wedding. Idealism rules out logic at these events. How about a $25k IRA instead? The Founder is not necessarily a fuddy-duddy - mainly he's a guy who used his little VW engine of a career to power his financial vehicle to a comfortable shade-tree retirement. The engine did it's job with the help of regular maintenace and easy driving. Now the vehicle sits on blocks never having to be fired up again. Oh the Sweet Indolence of unearned income...Looking in the rearview mirror, the journey was well worth it!
eudemonics(p.203) - the study or science of happiness As alluded to in the last entry, the Founder is a eudemonician. It's actually his second career - pursuit of happiness. A good tool in that pursuit is simplicity. Why set the bar too high? Owning one's own time is by far and away the greatest luxury of human existence in the Founder's opinion. Of course, that doesn't obviate the necessity of his pursuit of worthwhile endeavors. His demiurge is his petri dish where the germs of his folly grow. Such fun!
Let's revisit 'floccinaucinihilipilification'(p.248) - the categorization of something as trivial or worthless One wouldn't imagine this word coming up very often, but most of us have experienced it. Self-appointed authorities (mavens) use it more frequently than is known. They get away with it because most people have no idea the tactic has even been pegged in one, albeit huge, mouthful. Be on the lookout for it. When you detect it's use, spring this monster on them and watch their maven-ness be shaken AND stirred.
gargalesthesia(p.41) - the feeling caused by tickling It's interesting that a person can't tickle him/herself. An element of surprise must be a requirement for the full sensation. Of course, as one ages, even surprise doesn't help. Besides, who's going to tickle an old dude?
humdudgeon(p.44) - an imaginary pain or illness There's a lot of hocus pocus associated with health and well-being. Take, for instance, the placebo effect. Why does it matter if you think a pill will heal you? The answer to that will give insight into many things about the human psyche. Just ask a eudemonician.
ichnogram(P) - footprint Sherlock Holmes could read a person's life story from a footprint. Arthur Conan Doyle hit upon a masterstroke with his omni-observant (omnobservant?) sleuth.
jagger(P) - toothed chisel Hmmm...perfect meaning for jagger...even eponymous.
katzenjammer(P) - hangover; uproar; clamor Now I understand the "Katzenjammer Kids" from the old-time funnies. I'm thinking it's in excellent juxtaposition to 'jagger'. Read Keith Richards' biography for a fascinating journey from England and all through the band's world tours. Hangover, uproar, and clamor were routine in the world of the Rolling Stones.
lalochezia(p.199) - the use of foul or abusive language to relieve stress The Founder knows that Sesquipedalians are a foul-mouthed ilk...verbal extravagance is in our blood. Isn't it wonderful to know "There's A Word For It"? Accompanying "lalochezia" in the TAWFI entry is the word "anxiolytic" which means serving to reduce anxiety. We, here at the Society, wage an on-going war against anxiety so go ahead and swear like truck driving sailors...just one caveat: keep it interesting.
macilent(P) - lean; excessively thin Lean sounds okay, but excessively thin is going a little too far. As the Founder ages, he's shooting for "spry".
naevous(P) - spotted; freckled Just as in the last entry, freckled sounds okay, but spotted sounds unbecoming(except for leopards). Red-headed and freckled can look quite cute, but if you're the dude or dudette wearing it, you might just wish for a little pigment and uniform coloring. But what the hay...when you're old you'll just be glad you still have your hair and your teeth(if you do).
ombrosalgia(p.41) - aches and pains felt when it rains When you've been living in a drought for four years, ombrosalgia is a small price to pay for hearing the pitter-patter of rain on the roof. Nothing is cozier than being in a comfortable, dry house while the sky darkens and then releases the liquid that sustains life on the planet. I guess that makes me an ombrophile (does the word even exist? If not, it does now).
pernoctation(p.222) - staying up all night to work, study, or party The Founder is well-past all of the above. Sleeping well has become his favorite pastime. Can the drool pan be far off?
querimonious(P) - full of complaints A tedious experience to be around. Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me twice, I'm gone.
reciprocornous(P) - having horns that turn backward and then forward Is anyone guessing that the Founder is thinking about making a cheap joke with this one? Au contraire...I say!...Egad!...the very idea!...(maybe in days when he was less mature).
spoffskins(p.69) - a woman with a dubious sexual history who shacks up with a man and poses as his wife This is a doozy of a floozy. The name alone is a masterpiece. I suppose in this new era of sexual dubiety and significant-other smorgasbordry...why not. Maybe she's bringing a little civilization to a schlub.
temerarious(P) - rashly or presumptuously daring We try not to "go there" too often at the Society...but sometimes it happens.
uzzard(p.108) - a third-generation bastard I guess they used to keep score of such things in small towns. I bet they've lost track of that stat in the big cities in modern times. Genealogy groups might document this lineage, who knows? Most likely it's just an epithet to get under somebody's skin.
verbigerate(p.224) - to continually repeat certain words or phrases, usually unconsciously This is basically a word tic such as teens saying 'like' and 'you know' in every sentence. Another one is 'nome sane'. And don't forget 'dude' for pete's sake!
wellaway(P) - expression of sorrow or lamentation; alas 'Alas' is a Founder favorite, but 'wellaway' has a poetic wanweird(p.26: unhappy fate) also appealing to his sensibilities. "The River of No Return" seems to be playing in the Founder's head as he writes this...wellaway.
ximelolagnia(p.76) - a desire to ogle women who are sitting with their legs crossed TAWFI is rich with juicy words such as this. It would appear to the Founder that sesquipedalians through the ages have had a keen interest in prurience. Way back in '68 on the Founder's wedding day, his '55 Chevy sedan was festooned surreptitiously by his bachelor friends with the following: "Graphic, lurid, and prurient slogans to stimulate otherwise uninterested newlyweds" - now wasn't that a prescient twit?! ha!
yonderly(P) - mentally or emotionally distant; absent-minded I haven't heard this term used before but it makes total sense. When you're feeling distracted or removed, you are "a little over yonder".
zymology(p.205) - science or study of fermentation Birds get drunk on fermented berries. I wonder if they seek those out or if it's just by chance. Of course the downside is that they fly into picture windows and knock themselves out. I've also heard that monkeys will allow fruit to ferment, get a buzz, and then fall out of trees. Oh well, what's the harm? As with most things on Earth, it takes a human to really botch it up. Numb out the frontal lobes where all the decision-making occurs and then socialize...what could go wrong? TGIF (Thank Goodness It's Fly-day...in bird-talk).
agathocacological(p.173) - composed of, or pertaining to, both good and evil In other words: the human condition. Humans are a mixed bag of genetic and learned traits. Free-will allows the human to stray beyond instinctual behavior which predicts the behavior of other earthly life. Therein lies the rub: all the hormones and a clever brain to boot. It's no wonder life can get messy for humans.
backspang(p.192) - a tricky evasion in business; specifically, a retreat from a bargain The best defense against the backspang is the answering machine. Tricky scoundrels trying to separate you from your money aren't as convincing when you're listening to their recorded messages with your finger on the delete button. Same goes for politicians.
callithump(P) - boisterous and noisy parade If your team wins the championship then it's time to go on a rampage and tear up your school, town, frat house, whatever. Burning down buildings and overturning cars is also part of the fun. Don't worry, someone else will have to clean it up before you return to class on Monday...that is unless it's one of the rare bi-monthly holidays wedged between campus demonstrations.
dactylogram(P) - fingerprint The fingerprint might be on its last "legs" as a crime fighting tool. DNA has become the best identifier and coming right along with it are eye scans and facial recognition software. Any millennials out there finding their career opportunities limited by a lousy economy, now have to compete not only with robots, but with major obstacles in the "major crime" career paths. I guess mom and dad could be a little discouraged when their young "adult" declines a starter position because he would prefer a job with a view. Heck, you didn't really want to use his/her bedroom as an art studio anyway.
exclaustration(p.174) - the act of leaving or being expelled from a religious retreat Let's say you and your mate are at a marriage retreat and the lead couple is being just a wee bit too lovey-dovey for your tastes in marital bliss. Do you stay for every cloying moment for the weekend, or do you pack your duffel bags and abscond?
fewterer(p.129) - a keeper of dogs or a manager of a dog kennel The Founder can rightfully be accused of being less than enthusiastic regarding the benefits/annoyances ratio over dog behavior and the human handling thereof. He tries his best to be a live-and-let-liver but the little plastic baggies left behind at the beach or on the sidewalk try his patience. And of course barking gone wild is not a fave as well. Just so that caninophiles don't misunderstand: it's the oblivious or irresponsible fewterers who are the focus of this mini-plaint.
galeanthropy(P) - belief that one is a cat Yes, let's bring cats into the discussion. Enough said. (...other than that cats don't even believe they're cats)
habromania(P) - insanity featuring cheerful delusions This is about the size of it at mams(Founder's 98 year-old mother). I should say, that's what it's like on a good day...perfect health but anencepholotrophia. The Founder and his brother are grinding out the last years of a tough-as-a-boot full-Dane mom. No sign of weakness allowed...she'll go right at you.
ignescent(P) - capable of emitting sparks; of a volatile mood The Founder appreciates ignescent people. Vapid personalities relegate themselves to the sidelines of life. What fun is that? However, too much ignescense is exhausting and needs an off switch for the times one isn't in the mood for it.
jactitate(p.221) - to toss and turn, or to toss back and forth It's hard to beat a good night's sleep. Jactitating in battle with your pillow makes for an agonizing night. Luckily, the Founder leads the life of a simpleton so his pillow-battles are rare.
kenspeckle(P) - easily recognizable or distinguishable I guess 'ken' is to know and 'speckle' is to see. I've never known nor seen this word. Just another forgettable curiosity here at the Society, but that's why we're here. Anything worthless or obsolete we seize upon!..."give us your worthless, your obsolete..." wasn't there a poem along those lines?...hmm
labarum(P) - moral standard; ecclesiastical banner bearing Christ's monogram This entry has an aptitude for symbolism. I can envision a social scientist from that ''Oxford" of Social Science - Chico State - employing this word in one of his future erudite expositions.
matutolypea(p.27) - getting up on the wrongside of the bed Being around a grouchy person in the morning gives the Founder a case of pygalgia(p.45) - pain in the butt. Oftentimes a person who suffers from matutolypea is a primadonna if female; and a twiddlepoop if male.
nullibiquitous(p.250) - being nowhere That's exactly how the Founder feels at parties now that he's given up being a brazen onager. Believe it or not, one of the Founder's first jobs was janitor at the "Brazen Onager" beer joint while attending his beloved Chico Ynstitute of Social Technology(CYST). On our labarum was the "Silver Mug". Lambda Pi fraternity thrived in that era of Pioneer Days and quad mini-towns by recruiting the likes of the Founder for their membership.
obelize(P) - to condemn as spurious, doubtful, or corrupt During the political season, this word should be appearing in EVERY publication...why am I NOT seeing it? Sesquipedalians come in all flavors so I know some of my buds out there don't share my politics. It's okay. As the Sesquipedalian Society Certificate says: "We are logophiles - no other common denominator is needed."
palzogony(P) - love-play; foreplay Hey, this gives a new understanding of "palzy-walzy". Forgive the Founder but these words are out there and a logophile should know them. Prurience is a deep-seated force in the survival of the human species...but that's beside the point: We're just trying to have a little fun around here.
quicquidlibet(P) - whatever one pleases; anything whatsoever This one sounds like a winner. It's the way Western Civilization has turned. Raising children; social mores; education: quicquidlibet oughta do it! What could possibly go wrong?
resistentialism(p.244) - seemingly spiteful behavior manifested by inanimate objects TAWFI has a great discussion of this fabulous word. We all have experienced it, but most of us weren't aware it has been named. One of the best examples of this experience is the cabinet knob that snags your purse strap or belt loop as you casually are walking by. It's uncanny how it happens because you know if you were actually trying to make it happen your chances would be virtually nil. There are many examples we can all think of where an object just seems downright malicious. How about this one: You're dressed and ready for an event and you stop by your kitchen trash can to toss in an innocent bit of garbage. Your aim is true and the thrown item sails into the can - unfortunately it bounces off a milk carton recently discarded, flies back out of the can and splashes a big splotch onto your blouse or shirt...why does this happen with the frequency it does?!...resistentialism!
scaramouch(P) - ruffian; scoundrel The English language is lousy with sundry names for louses...usually men. I wonder why that might be. Could it be that testosterone is a poison that turns a sweet young boy into a carousing scoundrel?...I guess the jury has returned to the courtroom with the verdict: GUILTY AS CHARGED.
tergiversation(P) - equivocation; turning one's back on; apostasy It'd be like being a logophile yet turning one's back on the Sesquipedalian Society. That just doesn't happen...the Society ropes you in for life. There's something about the sibilating aliteration that goes deep into the region of the brain where endorphins are created and sets up housekeeping.
uranomania(p.34) - the delusion that one is of heavenly descent I'll add to CHE's selections of uranomanias: shirleymaclaineism. Why is it that when someone has been someone else in a former life, it's usually a dynamic being rather than just another schlub? Why isn't joeblowism the most common condition of reincarnation? Are all the biggies from the past just waiting for a chance to infuse the soul of the next nascent modern-day celebrity? Has anyone heard who Miley Cyrus was in a former life?
vaaljapie(P) - inferior wine The Founder was a two-buck-chucker in his drinking days. The good stuff was wasted on this guzzler. A natural born philistine from McKinney has no business drinking anything better than slipslop. The good stuff should be imbibed by those with delicate palates and the sophistication to discern the bouquets of fine woods and spices.
wowser(p.134) - a persnickety, puritanical, self-righteous snob Wowsers! a pretty annoying fellow! The guy who coined this word must have gotten a snoot-full from some poker-ass nincompoop.
xenodochial(P) - hospitable; kindly to strangers It's quite amirable...until you get mugged.
zeugma(P) - use of a word to modify two or more words in different ways Example: The Founder has a thick dictionary and head for words.
allodoxaphobia(p.135) - fear of others' opinions There comes a time when one more opinion becomes toxic to the Founder. As his dad used to say: "Don't confuse me with facts". 'Taking one's own counsel' has become his motto. The opinions of others will seep in by osmosis so the Founder is not totally isolated from new thinking but it has to resonate on a virtually undetectable frequency.
baragnosis(P) - loss of ability to distinguish weight It might be a relief to those afflicted with the most common disorder of body-consciousness. Of course the mystery of weight perception in humans - feeling "fat" - is on a sliding scale. Don't let it throw you.
cachinnate(P) - to laugh loudly and inappropriately This applies to those moments when something hits your funnybone in a way that renders you unable to get a grip. It's fun to watch a newscaster fall into a fit of cachinnation whereby s/he is unable to continue reading the teleprompter. It's especially fun to watch water spew out of the nose if it so happens to hit right as they attempt to calm themselves with a quick sip. Just hope that such a fit doesn't strike you during a solemn moment(church;wedding;funeral) - that's a tough recovery.
dapocaginous(P) - mean-spirited; heartless In a Sesquipedalian Society campaign for the exalted seat of power over the mighty throngs of logophiles, the Founder envisions resorting to dapocaginous rhetoric to beat back any challenges to his ferrous grip on the levers of sesquipedalia verba! (Can you tell the Founder has been watching "Game of Thrones"?)
ecdemomania(P) - abnormal compulsion for wandering Warning to those logophiles who are in the market for a mate: Be on guard for ecdemomaniacs. The itch to wander does not bode well to reliability. It's like having a terrier for a pet: it'll find a way out of the yard; and when it does, it's adios. Oh sure, you might get it back a time or two, but there's no cure.
floccillation(p.220) - delirious picking at the bedclothes by a sick person If you've attended an elderly person in their last days you've probably noticed this behavior. The mind seems to revert to a primitive state of transition. No one gets out of here alive.
garconniere(P) - bachelor apartment A pretty fancy title for some of the "garconnieres" I've seen. The Founder spent his career in the gas service business and he was in every dive joint in Isla Vista. Nothing but rubble for the most part. It's a wonder all those scholars have 4.5 GPAs judging by the non-stop partying the condition of the apartments attested to. The youngsters are wonders of nature to put order to the chaos of student life!
habilatory(P) - of, like, or pertaining to clothes or dressing Eventually a person arrives at some version of uniform in his/her daily attire. Men have it especially easy by never graduating from jeans and tee shirts with the occasional long-sleever thrown in for special occasions. On the distaff side, it's a little more complicated. Women are subject to the whims of "fashion" and the struggles of fitting body-type to habilatory trends.
immiseration(P) - progressive impoverishment or degradation Now this is a usable sesquipedalianism. So many esoteric words aren't, but we've all seen this one in real life. People who are trapped in poverty by virtue of poor education, substance addiction, etc, are seen throughout the world. Political careers are built around claiming to have the solution to immiseration of the "less fortunate".
jettatura(P) - the evil eye I guess the evil-eye is at least one degree nastier than your basic stink-eye. Then there's the chicken-eye when the dessert cart rolls by. The Founder is an ogler from way back. It's quite rude, so one has to be a stealth-ogler to retain standing as a gentleman or lady. Of course, leering is always out of bounds for the proper Sesquo and, therefore, should be eschewed.
kakorrhaphiophobia(p.144) - fear of failure Now this one is truly worthy of the term 'sesquipedalia verba'. It should be the sockdologer(p.114) of every spelling bee. Who among us hasn't experienced this... and had no idea what it was called?
lachrymogenic(P) - causing tears or weeping I'm reading that college students are crying over being slighted with micro-aggressions. Dang, why couldn't the Founder have been born in this era. Back in the smoking '60's he had to just suck it up when someone didn't like his haircut or turned him down on the dance floor. No generation has had to show the self-restraint and character that was required of the Boomers...What?!?!?
megamastous(p.78) - having an extremely well-endowed bosom The Founder, of course, would never notice such a physical trait. Having said that, the Founder also understands that such things as human sexuality present some interest to the sublunary set of mere mortal men (and maybe even some women).
nyctalopia(p.44) - night blindness; reduced vision in dim light Old dudes retain some of their appeal if they can still drive at night. If they fall victim to nyctalopia, they better be pretty darn cute if they're still going to cut a swath through the sexagenarian babes.
obganiate(P) - to irritate someone by constantly repeating oneself Coulda used this one in my earlier life if I had known it. The Founder in his youth was a specialist in annoying his brother for his own amusement. If you've read some of the earlier entries, you may have run across the neologism "stike". Obganiation is merely one technique used by the experienced stiker. There are many ways to annoy someone but hardly any as effective as repeating the very words that one's stikee is saying. It's classic kidstuff. Now if someone is unconscious of their constant repetition, that's worthy of a special place in verbal hell. Insurance Agent conventions or Tony Robbins seminars would be fertile venues for finding such obganiators...but who in his right mind would seek such folly?
paedonymic(P) - name taken from one's child This trend has gained a lot of momentum with today's Boomer-grandparent crowd. "Grandma" and "Grandpa" just aren't cutting it anymore. Now we have GiGi, NoNo, NaNa, MuMu, GooGoo, GaGa...all these are taken from the first grandchild's attempt at saying 'grandma' or 'grandpa'. It's proudly sported about by the old fools...no contempt intended: the Founder is "AhAh"...ha ha backwards if you didn't notice.
quidam(p.115) - just an obscure somebody somewhere In this age where everyone seems to be scrambling for his/her 15 minutes, there still are those among us who are content to remain a quidam. The Founder doesn't really believe he's risking too much of his quidam-ness with the "Society" judging by the site count. The Kardashians are the opposite extreme of the term, but their gig pays better. (No worries: the Founder is NOT considering any nude selfies.)
rataplan(p.208) - repetitive beating such as horse hooves or rain on the roof Once upon a time in his boyhood in McKinney, the Founder lived in a ramshackle house with a tin roof. The rataplan during rainstorms is a wonderful memory. The combination of being warm and dry while a storm is pounding provides a sense of well-being to which most people relate.
saltant(P) - leaping; dancing I've never used this word but I've filled in crosswords with it. Maybe it appears in one of the thousands and thousands of books I'll never read.
tepefaction(P) - making or becoming tepid There are those moments in life where one's ardor suffers tepefaction. It's oh so human. The Founder has reached the point of entropy in most facets of his life.
unberufen(P) - exclamation to avert ill luck following boasting This one is a little like the "knock on wood" superstition that is prevalent and commonplace in daily life. You rarely will hear anyone brag about his/her good health without paying homage to the forces of ill-luck by rapping on a nearby wooden object. In the Founder's family, when no wood is nearby, it has become acceptable to tap on a piece of paper since it's made of wood pulp. It's a form of harmless insanity...so what is the Founder to do when he is a believer in ratiocination? Never mind - that battle has already been lost to the imps of OCD.
viricapnity(p.76) - the aura of virile sexuality presumed to emanate from a man who is smoking This exists in the minds(?) of junior high school boys...it seems to be effective with junior high school girls. The Founder blames his very late start in the world of women on not starting to smoke at age 12. Even in this age of anti-smoking zealotry, Hollywood is notorious for having the male heart-throbs smoke like steam locomotives.
witzelsucht(p.224) - a feeble attempt at humor This is a mainstay of the Founder's style. His only rule: "Ninety-nine fouls and you're out". All it takes is one unguarded chuckle and he's restored to full-throttle buffoonery...so be careful out there, we don't want to encourage him.
xanthodont(P) - one with yellow teeth When the Founder went to his 50th High School Reunion he felt as though he was at a beaver convention...and don't go taking it wrong, my fellow logophiles. For those of us who are gomphipothic(p.72) it was a sorry sight to behold.
