Big Word Love

[Nat]

This is a thread for the love and appreciation of big, unusual and/or often misused/misunderstood words.

[Nat]

Main Entry: or·thog·ra·phy
Pronunciation: \ȯr-ˈthä-grə-fē\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English ortografie, from Anglo-French, from Latin orthographia, from Greek, from orth- + graphein to write — more at carve
Date: 15th century
1 a : the art of writing words with the proper letters according to standard usage b : the representation of the sounds of a language by written or printed symbols
2 : a part of language study that deals with letters and spelling

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This word always makes me think of Kenneth Branaugh in Much Ado About Nothing when he's complaining about his friend Claudio falling in love:

"He was wont to speak plain and to the purpose (like an honest man and a soldier), and now is he turn'd orthography -- his words are a very fantastical banquet, just so many strange dishes" (II.iii.18-21).

[chefhottie25]

macerate:mac er at ed
1.to make soft by soaking or steeping in a liquid
2.to seperate into constituets by soaking
3.to cause to become lean; usually by starvation

[Waldo]

<--- big word nerd.

Accoutrements: Accesories.

[Waldo]

Equanimity - the quality of being calm and even-tempered.

Otherwise known as my personal daily goal.

[gotoseagrl]

unbeknownst - without someone's knowledge

[Diva]

Pianoforte ~ what we now call the Piano was originally called the pianoforte. Its predecessor was the harpsichord, which could only play one volume, no matter how hard one pounded on the keys. It's strings were plucked by quills.

But the pianoforte's (invented in 1709 by Christofori) strings were struck with felt-covered 'hammers' and it could be played softly (Italian: piano) and loudly (Italian: forte) depending on how hard one struck the keys.

Eventually, the 'forte' was dropped to what we know today as the piano.

[apretty]

obscurantist - one who is deliberately vague.

[Nat]

lexicographical - Of or relating to lexicography

lexicography - the applied study of the meaning, evolution, and function of the vocabulary units of a language for the purpose of compilation in book form-in short, the process of dictionary making.

double dactyl - A word with two dactyls, such as counterintelligence or parliamentarian (or lexicographical)

dactyl - it is a stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables—the opposite is the anapaest.

anapaest - two unstressed followed by a stressed syllable - the opposite is the dactyl.

Anyway, this woman's love of words is so hot - especially when she says "lexicographical."

[Waldo]

Sesquipedalian - one who uses big words!

[Nat]

discrete vs discreet

discrete - apart or detached from others; separate; distinct: six discrete parts. (when the word is used in math, this is the word being used)

discreet - judicious in one's conduct or speech, esp. with regard to respecting privacy or maintaining silence about something of a delicate nature; prudent; circumspect.

[Nat]

polysemy - a diversity of meanings for a given word.

"Table," "set," and "play" are polysemous words.

[Nat]

just another Much Ado About Nothing quote - because it mentions the seductive qualities of big words

Claudio:
I never tempted her with word too large,
But, as a brother to his sister, show'd
Bashful sincerity, and comely love.

Hero:
And seem'd I ever otherwise to you?

Claudio:
Out on thy seeming, I will write against it:
You seem to me as Dian in her orb,
As chaste as is the bud ere it be blown;
But you are more intemperate in your blood
Than Venus, or those pamper'd animals
That rage in savage sensuality.