# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![WomanofScorn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@WomanofScorn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WomanofScorn)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-obscure-word-its-definition-and-use-it-in-a-sentence/455916/41 "2008-07-11T01:16:38Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] Callipygian: having exceptionally shapely buttocks. “Denise looks alright from behind, I guess, but Simone is _callipygian_” [/QUOTE] Just alright? I’m hurt. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-obscure-word-its-definition-and-use-it-in-a-sentence/455916/42 "2008-07-11T11:27:46Z")
Yogh : a letter used in middle english. Alas poor Yogh urt, I knew him well. ---
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-obscure-word-its-definition-and-use-it-in-a-sentence/455916/43 "2008-07-11T15:22:23Z")
Balderdash! That’s what it was. Only played it once, lo, these many years ago, but I still remember it. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-obscure-word-its-definition-and-use-it-in-a-sentence/455916/44 "2008-07-11T15:52:14Z")
Eleemosynary: having a charitable purpose. “This restaurant is not an eleemosynary operation; you need to pay for your meal.” ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-obscure-word-its-definition-and-use-it-in-a-sentence/455916/45 "2008-07-11T17:29:21Z")
[QUOTE=maladroit] defenestration - to throw out the window (derived from fenestration which I understand to mean the placement of windows in a facade) When I found my honey to be unfaithful his worldly goods were defenestrated. [/QUOTE] And if you throw yourself out the window it is autodefenstration. Despondent with his lot in life, Egbert autodefenestrated. ---
**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:** [July 11, 2008, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-obscure-word-its-definition-and-use-it-in-a-sentence/455916/46 "2008-07-11T17:30:05Z")
Feculant: feces like or having properties reminscient of feces. I was forced to choose between the feculant out-house or the bush. I once (verbally) used this word to describe a boss’s behavour in an unofficial workplace review. I sandwiched it between such comments as “joe” demonstrates a nearly unfailing commitment to ensuring staff anisodality (we all hate him), and “joe” seldom fails to register a phlegmiactic (indifferent) response to his motivational efforts. Sad thing is they thought I was being supportive and complimentary… I don’t work there anymore, BTW FML ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-obscure-word-its-definition-and-use-it-in-a-sentence/455916/47 "2008-07-11T17:30:13Z")
loquacious–full of excessive talk Mrs. Gabble never stops talking; she doesn’t even have time to loquacious going. ---
**Author:** ![Cub\_Mistress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Cub\_Mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cub_Mistress)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-obscure-word-its-definition-and-use-it-in-a-sentence/455916/48 "2008-07-11T19:06:39Z")
pigsney- a term of edearment, especially for a girl Hush, my little pigsney, and mama will rock you to sleep. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-obscure-word-its-definition-and-use-it-in-a-sentence/455916/49 "2008-07-11T19:22:36Z")
A word I learned from Maugham’s novel _Of Human Bondage_: yclept - a past participle from an obsolete verb “clepe” meaning “to name”; yclept = named The quote from _Of Human Bondage_ ( [http://www.gutenberg.org/files/351/351.txt](http://www.gutenberg.org/files/351/351.txt) ), added emphasis by yours truly > [@](#): > > I do not ask you to come and see me, since my lodging is not of a magnificence fit for the reception of an eminent member of Monsieur Purgon’s profession, but you will find me eating modestly any evening between seven and eight at a restaurant **yclept** Au Bon Plaisir in Dean Street. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-obscure-word-its-definition-and-use-it-in-a-sentence/455916/50 "2008-07-11T19:29:15Z")
**coprolite** : Fossilized shit. And while any sentence would only be technical (“He found a coprolite at the digging site”), I tend to agree with John Ciardi’s suggestion that the word makes a wonderful insult: “You third rate piece of coprolite.” ---
**Author:** ![paffinity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ec9cab/32.png) [@paffinity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paffinity)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-obscure-word-its-definition-and-use-it-in-a-sentence/455916/51 "2008-07-11T19:38:59Z")
[QUOTE=Really Not All That Bright] **Defenestrate** : to throw out of a window. “We were on the bottom floor of the building, so defenestration was simply not an option for a _faux pas_ of that magnitude” [/QUOTE] ``` This word became one of my favorites after its relation with [one of the coolest events](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defenestration_of_prague#Second_Defenestration_of_Prague) we learned about in my European History class. ``` ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-obscure-word-its-definition-and-use-it-in-a-sentence/455916/52 "2008-07-11T19:41:35Z")
Callimastian - possessed of attractive breasts. “Slip me some sugar, my callimastian little rock pigeon”. Infracaninophile - lover of the underdog. “There were not enough infracaninophiles in the US to make the recent movie a success”. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-obscure-word-its-definition-and-use-it-in-a-sentence/455916/53 "2008-07-11T19:41:56Z")
[QUOTE=Cub Mistress] pigsney- a term of edearment, especially for a girl Hush, my little pigsney, and mama will rock you to sleep. [/QUOTE] A term of address used by Screwtape in his final letter to Wormwood, too, and if not actually _hapax legomenon_ (“a word known to have been used only once”), still pretty damned uncommon. “Proparoxytone” - a word stressed on its antepenultimate syllable. “Talking of self-referentialism, it’s amusing to note that the word _proparoxytone_ actually is one.” ---
**Author:** ![shiftless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-obscure-word-its-definition-and-use-it-in-a-sentence/455916/54 "2008-07-11T19:48:04Z")
**Treppenwitz:** A devastating rejoinder thought of only after leaving the scene of the debate. “As always, I experienced treppenwitz just after the pit thread was closed.” ---
**Author:** ![Mindfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindfield/32/19759_2.png) [@Mindfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mindfield)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-obscure-word-its-definition-and-use-it-in-a-sentence/455916/55 "2008-07-11T19:57:00Z")
[QUOTE=shiftless] **Treppenwitz:** A devastating rejoinder thought of only after leaving the scene of the debate. “As always, I experienced treppenwitz just after the pit thread was closed.” [/QUOTE] So which came first, this or _l’esprit de l’escalier_? ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-obscure-word-its-definition-and-use-it-in-a-sentence/455916/56 "2008-07-11T21:04:32Z")
Philtrum: the vertical groove in the upper lip Philster’s philtrum filled with sweat after a fast walk down Filbert Street in Philadelphia. ---
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-obscure-word-its-definition-and-use-it-in-a-sentence/455916/57 "2008-07-11T22:37:42Z")
Hippopotamonstrosesquipedalian: an adjective used to describe extremely long words. All of the other contestants in the spelling bee were given ten or twelve letter words, but the judges decided to saddle me with some fifty syllable hippopotamonstrosesquipedalinan stumper. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2008, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-obscure-word-its-definition-and-use-it-in-a-sentence/455916/58 "2008-07-12T05:40:49Z")
Crapulent- a hangover. I was crapulent this morning. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2008, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-obscure-word-its-definition-and-use-it-in-a-sentence/455916/59 "2008-07-12T06:04:15Z")
Contarpulation - The act of contarpulating. “Jenny was in quiet contarpulation with her computer.” Contarpulating - To contarpulate. “Ewww. They’re contarpulating in public!” Contarpulate - The process of contarpulation. “We’re going to contarpulate 180 degrees after jumping through this rogue spatial dimension.” ---
**Author:** ![ToeJam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@ToeJam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToeJam)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2008, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-obscure-word-its-definition-and-use-it-in-a-sentence/455916/60 "2008-07-12T06:30:31Z")
[QUOTE=Little Plastic Ninja] Paneity: the state of being bread. Generally used in religious studies related to transubstantiation, but… David crouched outside the oven, waiting for the dough to achieve paneity. [/QUOTE] I first misread this sentence as " David crouched outside the oven, waiting to achieve paneity." which I found quite amusing as a visual image. Vexillologist - one who participates in the study of Flags. I recall a rather vexing question posted in GQ about the alignment of the British Flag, which required the assistance of a few Vexillologists to help solve. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-obscure-word-its-definition-and-use-it-in-a-sentence/455916.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-obscure-word-its-definition-and-use-it-in-a-sentence/455916.md?page=4)