# Post an obscure word, its definition, and use it in a sentence. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 10, 2008, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-obscure-word-its-definition-and-use-it-in-a-sentence/455916 "2008-07-10T00:41:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DudleyGarrett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DudleyGarrett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DudleyGarrett)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-obscure-word-its-definition-and-use-it-in-a-sentence/455916/1 "2008-07-10T00:41:13Z")
I’m always game for improving my vocabulary. I’ll start. Ustulate, pronounced us-choo-lit, defined as “blackened as if burned.” I prefer my toast ustulate. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-obscure-word-its-definition-and-use-it-in-a-sentence/455916/2 "2008-07-10T00:49:34Z")
Gleek: The usually inadvertent squirting of saliva while yawning. “Dude, you gleeked on the frickin’ pizza!” ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-obscure-word-its-definition-and-use-it-in-a-sentence/455916/3 "2008-07-10T00:59:26Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] Gleek: The usually inadvertent squirting of saliva while yawning. “Dude, you gleeked on the frickin’ pizza!” [/QUOTE] Hmmm, [Merriam-Webster Online](http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gleek) has “gleek” as meaning “gibe or joke.” Nocent. “Poor attendance will have a nocent effect on your final grade.” ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-obscure-word-its-definition-and-use-it-in-a-sentence/455916/4 "2008-07-10T00:59:40Z")
**Pleonasm**. The opposite of an oxymoron. The classic example of a pleonasm is “At this moment in time” which could be rephrased as “now.” ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-obscure-word-its-definition-and-use-it-in-a-sentence/455916/5 "2008-07-10T01:00:37Z")
My dad used the word gleek as a verb to mean “looking at, peering out” or something to that effect. Ulster English is a particularly wayward brand however. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-obscure-word-its-definition-and-use-it-in-a-sentence/455916/6 "2008-07-10T01:01:58Z")
“ **Mangetout** gleeked on your pleonasm.” ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-obscure-word-its-definition-and-use-it-in-a-sentence/455916/7 "2008-07-10T01:03:53Z")
[QUOTE=Knorf] “ **Mangetout** gleeked on your pleonasm.” [/QUOTE] Ick… ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-obscure-word-its-definition-and-use-it-in-a-sentence/455916/8 "2008-07-10T01:04:42Z")
[QUOTE=Knorf] Hmmm, [Merriam-Webster Online](http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gleek) has “gleek” as meaning “gibe or joke.” [/QUOTE] According to the Wikipedia page on the subject, it appears in Shakespeare’s work with such a meaning. The salivary meaning doesn’t appear to have entered the dictionary yet, so I’ll withdraw it and try for something else instead, later. ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-obscure-word-its-definition-and-use-it-in-a-sentence/455916/9 "2008-07-10T01:08:18Z")
**Lexiphanic** : Using, or interlarded with, pretentious words. “This thread is a bit lexiphanic.” ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-obscure-word-its-definition-and-use-it-in-a-sentence/455916/10 "2008-07-10T01:16:40Z")
Physaliferous Having bubbles or vacuoles. A good pathology term. Physaliferous cells are a classic feature of chordomas. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-obscure-word-its-definition-and-use-it-in-a-sentence/455916/11 "2008-07-10T01:17:07Z")
Callipygian: having exceptionally shapely buttocks. “Denise looks alright from behind, I guess, but Simone is _callipygian_” ---
**Author:** ![Maeglin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@Maeglin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maeglin)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-obscure-word-its-definition-and-use-it-in-a-sentence/455916/12 "2008-07-10T14:10:48Z")
Bescumber: to cover with filth, offal, or ordure. Either you let me use your restroom or I will bescumber your floor. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-obscure-word-its-definition-and-use-it-in-a-sentence/455916/13 "2008-07-10T14:18:53Z")
**tintinnabulation** Ring. The sound of a bell ringing. The tinkling of bells. I wish you would change the ringtone on your phone. The endless tintinnabulation is driving me crazy. ---
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-obscure-word-its-definition-and-use-it-in-a-sentence/455916/14 "2008-07-10T14:25:44Z")
_nantle_ To grope or fondle. _ruddle_ To paint thickly. First, he nantled me in the broom closet, and then he ruddled my face in front of God and everyone! (I remember these words specifically because of a board game I’ve only played once. I can’t remember the name, but basically, you made up “definitions” for obscure words and tried to bluff the other players into thinking yours was the correct one. For nantle, I wrote the definition, “a unit of measurement used primarily in sail making.” Can’t remember what I came up with for ruddle.) ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-obscure-word-its-definition-and-use-it-in-a-sentence/455916/15 "2008-07-10T14:27:46Z")
Crenel - An open space or notch between two merlons in a battlement or crenelated wall. “Nice crenel, dude. You expecting Visagoths to drop by for tea and sacking?” ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-obscure-word-its-definition-and-use-it-in-a-sentence/455916/16 "2008-07-10T14:28:32Z")
\*\*procellous \*\* Stormy, as the sea. Lake Erie has been quite procellous lately. ETA: **phouka** , your game is Balderdash? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-obscure-word-its-definition-and-use-it-in-a-sentence/455916/17 "2008-07-10T14:35:58Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] Callipygian: having exceptionally shapely buttocks. “Denise looks alright from behind, I guess, but Simone is _callipygian_” [/QUOTE] Interesting word - what’s the derivation? The obvious connection is to Calypso, the sea nymph Odysseus hooked up with - but that sounds a bit too pat to be right. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-obscure-word-its-definition-and-use-it-in-a-sentence/455916/18 "2008-07-10T14:38:35Z")
Aglet: the little bit of plastic found on the end of a shoelace. “Let me tell you about the time I got an aglet stuck up my nose!” ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-obscure-word-its-definition-and-use-it-in-a-sentence/455916/19 "2008-07-10T15:02:20Z")
scapegrace –noun A reckless, unprincipled person; one who is wild and reckless; a rascal; a scoundrel. “The prince of the primaries often reveals himself to be a scapegrace once installed in the White House.” ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-obscure-word-its-definition-and-use-it-in-a-sentence/455916/20 "2008-07-10T15:14:31Z")
anticipointment: The state of mind resulting from excitedly anticipating a strongly promoted product, event, film, etc, and then being disappointed when it fails to meet the expectations generated by this promotion. [http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/anticipointment](http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/anticipointment) Many people who saw “The Happening” experienced strong anticipointment. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-obscure-word-its-definition-and-use-it-in-a-sentence/455916.md?page=2)