My brother and his wife had a friend (who has since died from something unrelated) who was very happy to find out she had cancer. She was having difficulty walking, and the preliminary diagnosis was ALS, but another test revealed that she had lymphoma in her spinal column, which was successfully treated although it did leave her chronically ill for the rest of her life, which I know is not uncommon. Anyway, that cancer could be treated; ALS still can’t.
I get your drift, but I think your conviction about what “pulchritudinous” should mean arises from its slight resemblance to “pugnacious”.
I always thought that the somewhat obscure word “dimity” was a pleasantly poetic term for crepuscular, also mentioned in this thread. But then, I always thought that “crepuscular” referred to a certain type of loose, wrinkled skin or complexion, e.g. the permanently dimpled or mottled texture caused by severe teenage acne or pox that resembles crepe fabric.
To bring it full circle, it turns out that “dimity” is actually a type of fabric; I still think it ought to refer to the twilight surrounding dawn and dusk.
Heteroscedasticity - The number of persons of the opposite gender who can simultaneously fit into the same pair of boxer briefs before the elastic snaps.
Frenema - OK this one’s not a real word. Like frenemy but a bit worse.
Eidetic - Fluffy, as in goosedown pillows
Apophallation - The chorus sung at the end of Greek tragedies to a really good lookin’ but sadly dead hero
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Are we forgetting the dread Gazebo ?
I mean, it is self-evident that a Gazebo ought to be some kind of monster that eats you whole without even applying a dab of mustard! (How uncouth!)
Nah, “pulchritudinous” has always been on my list of words that don’t mean what they sound like, as to me it resembles “putrification”.
Is a “subscribe” a scribe’s underling?
Sublime, taken literally, refers to a layer of strata in the earth’s crust.
Of course, most folks use it metaphorically to connote something of bad quality or poor standing. You know, as in lower than dirt. “Oh, you don’t want to go to that restaurant. Trust me, it’s practically sublime, among the worst in town.”
Why the dictionary insists upon the opposite meaning, I’ve never figured out.
Someone pulchritudinous is likely to also be callipygian.
I think that refers to a highly ornate style of Egyptian hieroglyphics.
[Moderating]
I’m sure that when I saw this thread before, there was some reason it made sense as a CS thread to me. But I’m not sure what that reason was. MPSIMS, maybe?
A mangosteen is clearly a Jewish mango. The weird spelling comes from the immigration clerk who got the fruit’s name wrong at Ellis Island.
“Faucet” is a woman’s name, taken from the French “Faucette”. It’s one of those classic names that’s fallen out of favor, like “Hortense” or “Honoria”. She might have sisters named “Crustacea” or “Urticaria”. Women with these names often have horses, trust funds, and Grandmama’s pearls.
“Chlorine” and “Fluorine” are also women’s names. In the same way that “Faucet” or “Urticaria” evoke images of fine wine, the country club, and the family estate, “Chlorine” and “Fluorine” bring to mind cheap beer, monster truck rallies, and trailer parks. I can see their mother standing in the back of their double-wide yelling, “Chlo-REEEEN!! Flo-REEEEN!! Git back here an’ hang this washin’ on the lahn!” (The woman who inspired the Dolly Parton song “Jolene” was actually named “Chlorine.” Chlorine, Chlorine, Chlorine, Chloreeee-eeeen! I’m beggin’ of ya please don’t take my man!)
I realize that my definitions are very USA-centric, but I don’t know how else to describe them. My first definition alludes to a commonly believed myth about immigration during part of the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Don’t forget their low-class cousin Trampoline.
picaresque should clearly mean something done in the style of Pikemen, or maybe those bullfighting picadors. It should not be an adjective describing stories about rogues.
“Languish” should mean something delightful, relaxing, and luxurious. One should not languish in poverty; one should languish in the Maldives or Palau while being served daiquiris and posting insufferable hot dog legs pictures to Instagram.
Dragging in two terms from Astronomy:
Quadrature: Should refer to the configuration of landing gear or wheels on a vehicle.
Syzygy: Should refer to an art style involving spiky protuberances.
I always thought it should be the sound of a pair of scissors opening and closing in the air.
A Bildungsroman should be a book about a building. I mean, that’s just obvious.
Emphasize: A form of strenuous group fitness activity in which people do a lot of huffing, puffing, and grunting.
Especially if they’re buildings in ancient Rome…