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McAnally's (The Community Pub) => Author Craft => Topic started by: Dom on June 29, 2006, 12:12:07 AM
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Do any of you have favorite words, or at least words you think are interesting?
I'm partial to these:
dual - it's a fancy way of saying "two"! And it's better than "bi". (...I'm not bisexual, I'm dualsexual!...sorry, random thought.)
hex - it's not as taboo as sex, it's not as bitter as an ex, it's not as southern as tex or mex, and it has nothing to do with Superman. And it's fun to say.
I'm also a fan of "defenestration" (the act of throwing something or someone out a window), but I'd be surprised if I ever manage to use it in conversation.
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Defenestration has always pissed me off - if you parse it, it should really mean, "to remove one's window"!
On that note, I've always been a fan of words whose etymologies are amusing and obvious to those in the know - words like, say, antediluvian. Literally - before the flood. I.e. really freaking ancient.
Also always enjoy new slang, especially when it fits a niche that previously lacked any sufficient word. For instance, from the world of cs-hackery, words like "hack" (in the original, MIT sense, that is), or "munge", or "frob", or for that matter, "foo" and "bar". Especially when such slang also has amusing etymology - for instance, it's common at my school to refer to anything particularly nasty with the nounal form, "nast". You can have, therefore, things "made out of nast", or "looking like nast", or etc. I've even heard phrases like "liquid nast". And of course, there's a shelf in our dorm that always collects dust and never gets cleaned, so it's been named "the nast shelf". :D
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New slang! Forgot about that category. :) Foobar/fubar is a good one too.
I'm fond of "frex" myself. "For example" is just too darn long. "Frex" is to the point...and it has that x at the end, which I like. :D
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über is my current favourite word, I have changed it slightly to überly as it rolls of the tongue better in my opinion. 'That is über good.' or 'That is überly good.'
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I'm also a fan of "defenestration" (the act of throwing something or someone out a window), but I'd be surprised if I ever manage to use it in conversation.
Hastur manages to use it quite often. Usually in reference to computers.
I tend to use "penguin" as a place holder in conversation.
"Can you hand me that um...."
"Penguin?"
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I've always been fond of defenestration.
I used it frequently during college, dealing with uppity freshmen. :)
"ostensibly" is another good one to make people go "huh?"
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Serendipity-like the concept, the word is just fun (for me) to say and yet I never really get to use it.
Names I like: Walla Walla, WA and Armand Assante. :) Shelley
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Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia
means fear of long words.
gotta love that! ;)
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Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia
means fear of long words.
gotta love that! ;)
That person had a good sense of humor ;D.
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A friend of mine just used "gorram" completely naturally, earlier today. It made me happy, a lot.
Incidentally, "frell" is a fun word, too, even though I'd much rather be thought of as a Firefly fanboy than a Farscape one.
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;D Frell is one of my favorite words, even though I didn't really watch Farscape all that much. I love the word forsooth as well, even though I never have a place to use it. But my favorite word of all time, in any language?
Pamplemousse. It's French for grapefruit. ;D
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Frell. Heck yes. :D
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I like the word "hope". I like it as a name,a concept....as the only thing that gets me through some days. :)
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One of the boards on which I have posted for years has a word filter that eliminates sexually charged words and replaces them with "bunnyslipper". I have always found this hilarious--especially the context in which you often find it.
I love the words "mystical" and "serendipitous".
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One of the boards on which I have posted for years has a word filter that eliminates sexually charged words and replaces them with "bunnyslipper". I have always found this hilarious--especially the context in which you often find it.
*grin*
That reminds me of when I was doing sexual harrassment training for TAing. We got an example of an "inappropriate" e-mail one might receive from a student:
I want to [verb] you. I want you to [verb] me in my [noun], while I'm [verb] you.
It went on like that for quite some time.
Oh... topic...
I can't say as I actually have any favorite words to write with. Someone mentioned "pamplemousse," my favorite French word was always "ananas," or pineapple ;)
When I'm reading, I love it when authors make up words. It's always amused me to see a word made up, and wonder if it will make it into common usage.
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for a written word, i like 'abides'. such a good word, so much subtle nuance. For me, randomly, it is associated with the sea as it caresses the beach. rising up, subsiding, abiding... perhaps I should say I like it for its poetic connotations.
but in general, I love latin-derived words. their subtle flavors of meaning.
for a word to say...hmm..well, there are many, but how about delicatessen? (good german word)...it rolls and is nice and crisp.
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über is my current favourite word, I have changed it slightly to überly as it rolls of the tongue better in my opinion. 'That is über good.' or 'That is überly good.'
Of course, technically 'über' is only a prefix, not an actual word. Not saying I've never used it that way, nor that I will not in the future. Just stating the fact. ;)
Hrm, as for the topic, I guess my favorite word should be 'pedantic'. :D
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Of course, technically 'über' is only a prefix, not an actual word. Not saying I've never used it that way, nor that I will not in the future. Just stating the fact. ;)
Sure it's an actual word. In German, at least. It means over. ;)
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to continue in good pendantic fashion:
über is many things, including an accusative preposition. But to see a list of its full meaning:
http://dict.leo.org/ende?lp=ende&lang=de&searchLoc=0&cmpType=relaxed§Hdr=on&spellToler=on&search=%FCber&relink=on
do I win? :-P
Of course, technically 'über' is only a prefix, not an actual word. Not saying I've never used it that way, nor that I will not in the future. Just stating the fact. ;)
Sure it's an actual word. In German, at least. It means over. ;)
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Of course, technically 'über' is only a prefix, not an actual word. Not saying I've never used it that way, nor that I will not in the future. Just stating the fact. ;)
Sure it's an actual word. In German, at least. It means over. ;)
Consider me well and truly chastised. I do know what it means, but my command of German was barely conversational as of 15 years ago, and now is much much less than that. ;)
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As for me… well I do like to have fun with this short sentence…. “Ouate de phoque” .
These words are French, yet in that order they mean nothing!!!.. why?… because the word “ouate” mean “cottonball”, “de” mean “the”, and “phoque” is a “seal”… yet the fun is with the pronunciation….
Let me show you how to pronounce it, you’ll see it’s… very, very simple….
Ouate de phoque
What the fuck
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Yeah, and in math jargon, "onto" is an adjective.
What it meant in German is really of little importance to English-speakers. In English, it came here as a prefix. Every once in a while, though, *fixes become full-fledged syntactic words, as appears to be happening with uber.
Uber is a good lexeme, anyway, though I'm far fonder of it in prefix form than word form.
As for BelleMorte's post - my favorite word in another language has got to be the Latin word "facio" - translates, "I do". The c is hard, by the way.
Then there's "fac", the imperative form, as well as "facit", "he did".
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I like cachinnare. it looks and sounds like a cackle.
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Consider me well and truly chastised. I do know what it means, but my command of German was barely conversational as of 15 years ago, and now is much much less than that. ;)
Heh. Not chastised. I'm just being a smartass. ;) Heck, I've got to have something to show for 12 years (so far) in Germany besides a taste for Jacob's Kroenung coffee and Broetchen with Nutella. And a lead foot.
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Consider me well and truly chastised. ...
Heh. Not chastised. I'm just being a smartass. ;)
Well, color me shocked! ;D
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oh, no way, that is so cool, what part of germany are you in?
Heck, I've got to have something to show for 12 years (so far) in Germany besides a taste for Jacob's Kroenung coffee and Broetchen with Nutella. And a lead foot.
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"Fromage" ("cheese" in French) has always made me giggle, as well as various parts of the male and female anatomy, particularly "gonads". (What? Women are completely allowed to have dirty, toilet-humored minds, too, ya know.) ;)
"Freaking" is a great alternative to the f-bomb. "Rune" is just a cool-sounding word, as is "sussuration," "fireball," "fae," "warden," "paralyze," "jasmine," and "enchantment". "Saccharine" is a nifty, different way of saying "sweet". And I really like "mote," as in a mote of light.
I've probably got a bunch more, but it's too late at night (or should I say too early in the morning) for me to remember them.
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Pamplemousse. It's French for grapefruit. ;D
I totally agree with this one. It's just so much fun to say!
For the same reason, my favourite Japanese word is 'tokidoki'. ('sometimes') Too bad I can't say it out loud without sounding about five years old.
In English, my favourites are probably 'countenance' and 'appropriate' - the verbs in both cases. Why steal something when you can appropriate it?
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For the same reason, my favourite Japanese word is 'tokidoki'. ('sometimes') Too bad I can't say it out loud without sounding about five years old.
In English, my favourites are probably 'countenance' and 'appropriate' - the verbs in both cases. Why steal something when you can appropriate it?
LOL, "tokidoki" is great! I love that one!
"Appropriate" is a great word, too. My art professors like that word a lot; they say all great artists don't steal, they "appropriate." ;D
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oh, no way, that is so cool, what part of germany are you in?
Heck, I've got to have something to show for 12 years (so far) in Germany besides a taste for Jacob's Kroenung coffee and Broetchen with Nutella. And a lead foot.
Sorry it took me so long to reply--we've been in Italy. ;D
I'm currently in Miesau (near Homburg). Also lived for 5 years in Landstuhl (near Kaiserslautern), 3 years in Heidelberg, and 2 years in Seybothenreuth (bitty town near Bayreuth).
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Ever since I was little I've been fasinated with "furious" and "fury". I find it wicked fun to say and write
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favorite words eh... hrm.
There's always Reave/reft. Sunder is good too.
But other than stuff like that, hrm. Malicious(ly). Flare, flare is a good one.
Hrm... this is depressing... apparently a lot of the characters that i write about aren't very nice people ::)
Oh wait, i got one, Seraphim... Seraphim is a nice wholesome word. And i even use it from time to time. *grins*
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I like to use the word "sinewy" when describing somebody that has little or no fat on their bones, and is in great shape but isn't exactly buff.
~She-Wolf
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One of my favourite words is (forgive spelling) discombobulated. Don't know what it means precisely but it's something my Dad says when things go wrong.
Random is another good one. I have a friend who uses it constantly throughout conversation and it always makes me smile.
I also like the word bizarre, I always want to put an exclamation mark after it.
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Not sure this really fits the category, but I recently was reading one of Glen Cook's Garrett Files and loved it when Garrett described Tinnie Tate as a "professional redhead". It just tickled me. Ok, tickle is a good word. So is askew. (That just popped into my head.) Anyway, I'm going on very little sleep so I hope this made sense.
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I notice that I use these words a lot:
Conundrum
Paradox
Contradiction
Insipid
Gnarled
Vanquished
Vapid
Insignificant
Intrinsic
Desperado (don't get a chance to use that one much)
Visceral
Brutal
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My favorites change from time to time...
"Lacerate" used to be my fave.
"Transient" and "Vagabond" are good.
I've always liked "Outlander".
And "asunder" is awesome...as in Torn Asunder.
Man, the more I think about it the more I come up with...I just like words so much. They're so helpful in so many situations!
Oh yeah, some lude ones... "prostetot" when refering to an underage, allegedly promiscuous girl.
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Oooooo yeah!
I and my friends make up words all the time, and many of them just stick in our vocab. Some are pretty black-hearted, but they're funny to say nonetheless.
Extralicious
Womb Turd - means baby, or child...or really, anyone who has ever been born.
Life Gut - being pregnant
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Outtuendo: like Innuendo, but you state it blatantly instead of implying the crudity...
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How about nappatite, or the hunger for a nap.
And I am not sure, but any one have any feelings on phonetical, as in spelling things fonetically? I can never spell it, cause I can't sound it out.
Personally, I am fond of subtle, cause the b isn't silent, just subtle
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I seem to be terribly fond of the word actually. I actually use it in sentences all the time. It is actually something of a problem. ::)
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coruscate
velocity
penumbral
viscous
meson
ultimate
suffice
searing
kelvin
incandesce
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Supernal is lovely, but hard to get into a conversation.
Confluence is a nice word as well.
Disheveled is nice, though saying to someone you look remarkably sheveled today gets bizarre and blank stares. Go figure.
If repete is to do something over, does pete mean to do it the first time?
Words that I don't like very much include plethora. It is so... plebian. I prefer myriad. ;D
Oh, I suppose I like plebian too. :o
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A thought on defenestration... I had one friend who chronically confused it with deforestation. It led to some interesting conversations.
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Lumberjacks are a leading cause of defenestration!
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I need to post the most overused word in my writing on here... sigh. So many types of sighs, used for so many different purposes, and all of them seem to show up in my writing. ;D
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Some of my fav english words are actually pretty simple: prime, pulse, pattern, pearl. These are how I categorize a person's magic level. Same thing with Rhythm, Rapture, Release and Resonance, as long as they keep the capital R.
Fav name: I like the name Mirabelle. It means 'of uncommon beauty'. I used it for my protagonist's mother.
Fav random words: Ambidextrous, paragon, zygote, translucent, catalyst and virility.
My favorite non-English words are my native Malay and a Japanese I've found.
Malay: 'pancaindera'. It means the five senses.
Japanese: 'yukikaze'. It means snowy wind.
I'm also putting words of my made-up language like areaqain (flowering), aqera (something that is real), iqeas (something that is pure), suayunu (faith), aqnit (dragon) and anesia (mature). Yeah, please forgive my bragginess :P & ;D