# Interesting Words — a Collection. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 8, 2011, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-words-a-collection/602286 "2011-11-08T16:47:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2011, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-words-a-collection/602286/21 "2011-11-10T23:55:41Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > Word with three consecutive pairs of double letters: > > bookkeeper. (Runner-up: beekeeper. Close, but no cciggarr.) Going one [pair] better: subbookkeeper ---
**Author:** ![mcgato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac8455/32.png) [@mcgato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mcgato)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2011, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-words-a-collection/602286/22 "2011-11-11T00:40:22Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > I swear, I’ve seen a word or two that have all the vowels _in order_ (although not consecutive, there are consonants mixed in). Didn’t click your link, but I’ve seen facetiously used to satisfy that. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2011, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-words-a-collection/602286/23 "2011-11-11T02:02:24Z")
[One from the archives](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/archive/index.php/t-25148.html) with some interesting letter combinations. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2011, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-words-a-collection/602286/24 "2011-11-11T02:54:38Z")
> [@Arnold\_Winkelried](#): > > My contribution to this thread: > I found this word in _Of Human Bondage_ by Somerset Maugham and at first thought it was a misprint. > “yclept”, meaning “named”. Merriam-Webster says that yclept is the past participle of the transitive verb “clepe”. > > e.g. The poster yclept cmyk is a fine upstanding fellow. Oh lord…unexpected and painful flashback to the Milton I had to memorize in high school. Literary brain freeze! ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2011, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-words-a-collection/602286/25 "2011-11-11T03:08:08Z")
An odd word, due to its similarity to another better-known word: [formication](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formication) vs. [fornication](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fornication) ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Tyger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Silver\_Tyger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Tyger)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2011, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-words-a-collection/602286/26 "2011-11-11T17:06:00Z")
A just interesting word: pelf. Quoting from [dictionary.com](http://dictionary.com), “money or wealth, especially when regarded with contempt or acquired by reprehensible means. Origin: 1300–50; Middle English \< Old French pelfre booty” I learned it from a pulp novel. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2011, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-words-a-collection/602286/27 "2011-11-11T18:52:04Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > An odd word, due to its similarity to another better-known word: > > [formication](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formication) vs. [fornication](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fornication) Indeed… never confuse these two words. I do wonder if there are those who would enjoy formication during fornication. What am I talking about? This is the internet, there’s probably thousands of websites devoted to it. _“Honey, release the beetles!”_ ---
**Author:** ![DarrenS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@DarrenS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarrenS)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2011, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-words-a-collection/602286/28 "2011-11-13T18:06:22Z")
[Haecceity](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haecceity). I like it because it’s pretty word; those vowels and the interstitial soft ‘c’ are like soft silk on the tongue. Also interesting that there is a word dedicated to the concept of “thisness”. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2011, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-words-a-collection/602286/29 "2011-11-13T21:15:27Z")
> [@Silver\_Tyger](#): > > . . . I learned [the word ‘pelf’] from a pulp novel. The only place I’ve ever seen it is in a [a poem](http://books.google.com/books?id=jiUBAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA365&lpg=PA365&dq=give+pelf+giving+poem&source=bl&ots=ij2T4VLtR7&sig=6xu5UR2UtTn0d1NU_cnJvPeNQpY&hl=en&ei=8jLATuGsO4KCtgfLpvivBg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CCEQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q&f=false) our class had to memorize in 7th grade. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2011, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-words-a-collection/602286/30 "2011-11-14T04:26:27Z")
> [@mcgato](#): > > Didn’t click your link, but I’ve seen facetiously used to satisfy that. Bacterious, abstemious - there are quite a few. ---
**Author:** ![Full\_Metal\_Lotus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df705f/32.png) [@Full\_Metal\_Lotus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Full_Metal_Lotus)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2011, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-words-a-collection/602286/31 "2011-11-14T05:41:29Z")
Eldritch, meaning eerie or unnatural… its one of my favorites. eg: H.P. Lovecraft was known for the eldritch tone in most of his work. ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2011, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-words-a-collection/602286/32 "2011-11-14T08:31:06Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > Not to threadshit or anything, but aren’t there a billion threads on this already in the archives? :dubious: I’ve been here approximately 12 years and have never seen a thread like this. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-words-a-collection/602286/33 "2011-11-15T01:01:50Z")
This week [AWAD](http://wordsmith.org/awad/) is featuring words with peculiarities of this nature. Yesterday’s was **verisimilitude** , remarkable because it alternates consonants and vowels. Anyone in this thread _not_ sub to AWAD? You really ought! ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-words-a-collection/602286/34 "2011-11-15T03:09:50Z")
These are all so good, you guys. I’m thinking I’m going to go ahead and design a few “proofs of concept” pages, then post the designs here, and see what you guys think, as in do you think this would make a unique and aesthetically pleasing coffee table book. Part of my inspiration was this set of [Helveticards.](http://www.google.com/search?q=helveticards&hl=en&client=safari&rls=en&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=LdfBTuPGC6O02AXCvd3IBQ&ved=0CD8QsAQ&biw=1333&bih=832&sei=RtfBTojCHuri2AWfk4GgBQ) (which I have on order a couple decks, myself). But I love great typography, and that deck sort of inspired the idea of fascinating words, great design, and interesting factoids about what makes them special. Still, keep them coming. Words are cool. ---
**Author:** ![Rich\_Mann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ce73a5/32.png) [@Rich\_Mann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rich_Mann)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-words-a-collection/602286/35 "2011-11-15T11:35:32Z")
There is at least one common English word to which you can add an ‘s’ and change it from plural to singular. Hint; it also changes the gender. Princes Can you guess what is the longest word you can make using only the top row on a TYPEWRITER keyboard? I’ve always wondered how the person who coined the word ‘pulchritude’ (and ‘pulchritudinous’) could have thought that the sound of the word in any way agreed with the meaning. ---
**Author:** ![smsaks2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@smsaks2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smsaks2000)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-words-a-collection/602286/36 "2011-11-15T17:50:39Z")
My interesting word: Donkeypunch. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-words-a-collection/602286/37 "2011-11-15T18:09:17Z")
> [@Rich\_Mann](#): > > There is at least one common English word to which you can add an ‘s’ and change it from plural to singular. Hint; it also changes the gender. > > Princes Wouldn’t you need one more ‘s’ to change the gender? 😉 > [@Rich\_Mann](#): > > Can you guess what is the longest word you can make using only the top row on a TYPEWRITER keyboard? poop? (I keeed) > [@Rich\_Mann](#): > > I’ve always wondered how the person who coined the word ‘pulchritude’ (and ‘pulchritudinous’) could have thought that the sound of the word in any way agreed with the meaning. Good one. And I’m going to use it one day, to compliment the bride on her wedding day. “Wow… your dress is the epitome of pulchritudinous!” I’m sure she’ll feel flattered. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-words-a-collection/602286/38 "2011-11-15T18:10:29Z")
> [@smsaks2000](#): > > My interesting word: Donkeypunch. Oh, if we want to go there, there’s far more colorful and interesting words. ---
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-words-a-collection/602286/39 "2011-11-15T18:48:18Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > Wouldn’t you need one more ‘s’ to change the gender? 😉 No, you start with “Princes” and add an s to change it from plural to singular, and incidentally change the gender. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-words-a-collection/602286/40 "2011-11-15T19:00:22Z")
> [@JSexton](#): > > No, you start with “Princes” and add an s to change it from plural to singular, and incidentally change the gender. :smack: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-words-a-collection/602286.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-words-a-collection/602286.md?page=3)