Wednesday, December 01, 2010

Etymology Monday: For Extremely Large Values of Monday

I've talked about English words I love, and English words I miss, and words in other languages that English should take on. Today on EMonday (I'm never allowed to call it that again) let's go one step farther and make up some English words?

I had a head start on this with "gymnosophy" (see the sidebar), but I was reminded of the subject by a conversation with some friends of mine a couple of months ago. One of them expressed dismay that English had no succinct word for "so bad it's good" and invited the rest of us to coin such a word. Another friend contributed "flawesome" and it has somewhat stuck. Sure, it's punny, but it's also pretty evocative. You know flawesome when you see it. MegaShark vs. Giant Octopus was a flawesome movie. 80s cartoons are pretty flawesome if you try to watch them now. The invention of Whisquila was a high point in flawesome science. (As a friend of mine described it: "Whisquila! For when you absolutely, positively have to wake up in jail!")

There are plenty of concepts for which English lacks a pithy word, and I urge you, dear readers, to submit them to me. Perhaps I will compile a Figure Five dictionary. From the First Mate comes bananosity ("the intensity of banana flavor in a food item, with, for example, a typical bread rating at approximately .67 bn and "banana" Laffy Taffy approaching 3 Kbn, and a banana itself given a value of 1 bn.") He also contributes cuddlinary, "of or pertaining to the act of preparing food with a lover, spouse, or other romantic partner as a means of emotional bonding." Now it's your turn! Leave your words and definitions in the comments.

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Posted by Silent Five @ 8:50 PM :: (0) comments

Saturday, November 13, 2010

One Minute Writing Prompt

I was feeling a little low on inspiration today, so I nipped over to the One Minute Writer to check their prompt. It was "In 60 seconds, describe your life in six words." Fair enough. I decided to see how many I could come up with.

  1. "So far, really no boring bits."
  2. "She seems to be catching on..."
  3.  "I could stand some more weird."
  4. "You can do better than that."
  5. "Well, I'm enjoying it. So there."
  6. "What do you mean, 'why?' Because!"
  7. "Vexing interruptions in between good books."
  8. "On the whole, pretty all right."
  9. "Riotous creativity interspersed with crippling neuroses."
Best of all, though, is 10) "It just keeps getting more beautiful."

Now you. No, I mean it. I'm turning on anonymous commenting and everything. Everyone who reads this entry, leave a comment describing your life in six words. C'mon, I dare you. Let me know you're out there.

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Posted by Silent Five @ 8:58 PM :: (8) comments

Word of the Week

gymnosophy [jim-NAH-so-fee]

n. Philosophical, amusing, or nonsensical insights realized when naked, as in the shower or in bed. (recent coinage: att. S. Galasso, 2010)

Victoria and Albert enjoyed a spot of postprandial concupiscence culminating in a night of gymnosophy and coffee and crumpets at dawn.

The Silent Top Five: Bacon-Flavored Desserts

1) Bacon cheesecake.
2) Bacon gumballs.
3) Bacon ice cream.
4) Bacon-orange bars.
5) Bacon apple pie.

Standard Disclaimer

This is all in no way meant to incur copyright-infringement-related wrath. I'm harmless. I promise. Oh, and if you're offended by anything I may post herein, I guarantee I didn't mean to do so (unless, of course, you are a humorless prig. In which case, go right on and be offended, with my blessings.)