# Some words that shouldn't exist: copacetic, and, discombobulated. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 21, 2012, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-words-that-shouldnt-exist-copacetic-and-discombobulated/644718 "2012-12-21T08:07:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![RobDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2012, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-words-that-shouldnt-exist-copacetic-and-discombobulated/644718/41 "2012-12-21T20:02:42Z")
Sorry for the slight derail here, but I have to share this. I have a small book by Douglas Adams called the Meaning of Liff. Its premise is that there are plenty of English place names languishing in obscurity that could be put to good use naming unnamed things. A few examples (the first quite apt): AINDERBY QUERNHOW (n.) One who continually bemoans the ‘loss’ of the word ‘gay’ to the English language, even though they had never used the word in any context at all until they started complaining that they couldn’t use it any more. BANFF (adj.) Pertaining to, or descriptive of, that kind of facial expression which is impossible to achieve except when having a passport photograph taken. SYMOND’S YAT (n.) The little spoonful inside the lid of a recently opened boiled egg. An excellent little book to keep in the loo for those longer visits. ---
**Author:** ![Gedd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gedd/32/4938_2.png) [@Gedd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gedd)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2012, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-words-that-shouldnt-exist-copacetic-and-discombobulated/644718/42 "2012-12-21T20:08:58Z")
If the word “thaw” means “to melt” then what the heck does it mean when you take something out of the freezer and “unthaw” it? ---
**Author:** ![SpeedwayRyan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@SpeedwayRyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpeedwayRyan)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2012, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-words-that-shouldnt-exist-copacetic-and-discombobulated/644718/43 "2012-12-21T20:15:11Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > I totally agree. “Rural” sounds like something a rabid dog would say. Or a car with a starter problem. Sounds more like a nearly dead battery to me – I think the starter is OK. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Sahirrnee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sahirrnee/32/13937_2.png) [@Sahirrnee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sahirrnee)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2012, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-words-that-shouldnt-exist-copacetic-and-discombobulated/644718/44 "2012-12-21T20:55:00Z")
> [@Mr.Accident](#): > > If we’re going to get rid of words, I say we lose the ones that are never used anymore. When was the last time you saw ausform, qi, or qat used? Hey! I use qi and qat all the time. There’s never enough 'u’s in _Words with Friends_. ---
**Author:** ![11811](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9d8465/32.png) [@11811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/11811)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2012, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-words-that-shouldnt-exist-copacetic-and-discombobulated/644718/45 "2012-12-21T21:30:37Z")
> [@Alley\_Dweller](#): > > Having all these duplicative words is doubleplusungood. > > I would ask, why do we have “large”? Is there anyplace that “big” wouldn’t suffice? Tell 'em “Big Marge” sent you. Big and in charge. No, we can’t get rid of “large” just yet. ---
**Author:** ![11811](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9d8465/32.png) [@11811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/11811)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2012, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-words-that-shouldnt-exist-copacetic-and-discombobulated/644718/46 "2012-12-21T21:32:37Z")
> [@Mr.Accident](#): > > If we’re going to get rid of words, I say we lose the ones that are never used anymore. When was the last time you saw ausform, qi, or qat used? Qat featured in Blackhawk Down. ---
**Author:** ![11811](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9d8465/32.png) [@11811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/11811)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2012, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-words-that-shouldnt-exist-copacetic-and-discombobulated/644718/47 "2012-12-21T21:35:02Z")
> [@Ellen\_Cherry](#): > > Words, really, comprise the only army I have on my side. Don’t deprive me of any of my soldiers. I think I just witnessed a signature being born. ---
**Author:** ![ThisSpaceForRent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisspaceforrent/32/345_2.png) [@ThisSpaceForRent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisSpaceForRent)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2012, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-words-that-shouldnt-exist-copacetic-and-discombobulated/644718/48 "2012-12-21T21:45:44Z")
I had a steady job Hauling items for the mob Y’know the pay was pathetic It’s a shame those boys couldn’t be more copacetic… ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2012, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-words-that-shouldnt-exist-copacetic-and-discombobulated/644718/49 "2012-12-21T22:09:37Z")
I like words. The more the better. Bring 'em on, folks! If I had to pick one, though it would either be “cromulent” or “unique”. The latter just means “rare” now, so we might as well revert to one-of-a-kind. I can’t imagine anyone ever saying: “That’s very one-of-a-kind.” ---
**Author:** ![Dublin11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Dublin11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dublin11)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2012, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-words-that-shouldnt-exist-copacetic-and-discombobulated/644718/50 "2012-12-21T22:24:10Z")
> [@Gedd](#): > > If the word “thaw” means “to melt” then what the heck does it mean when you take something out of the freezer and “unthaw” it? If you know people who really **do** say that, I think you need to bash them round the head repeatedly with whatever it is you’ve just taken out of the freezer. A leg of lamb, as a preference. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2012, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-words-that-shouldnt-exist-copacetic-and-discombobulated/644718/51 "2012-12-21T22:33:09Z")
Next thing you know someone’s going to tell me I shouldn’t use “yclept” for “named”. Pity. What I want to know is when did “pleaded” bounce “pled” out of the language? Whose idea was _that_? ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2012, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-words-that-shouldnt-exist-copacetic-and-discombobulated/644718/52 "2012-12-22T00:26:49Z")
> [@Gedd](#): > > If the word “thaw” means “to melt” then what the heck does it mean when you take something out of the freezer and “unthaw” it? It means, after we beat you bloody with the frozen item, you’re going to have scabs, and they’re going to itch, only you’re going to “itch it” instead of scratch it, 'cause you’re a moron. (General you, not you you.) ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2012, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-words-that-shouldnt-exist-copacetic-and-discombobulated/644718/53 "2012-12-22T00:47:50Z")
**Humongous**. I _hate_ that fucking word. It’s ugly and it gives me the creeps. ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2012, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-words-that-shouldnt-exist-copacetic-and-discombobulated/644718/54 "2012-12-22T03:16:04Z")
I don’t like the word “tasty.” It sounds phony. My mother hated the word “fabulous.” ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2012, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-words-that-shouldnt-exist-copacetic-and-discombobulated/644718/55 "2012-12-22T04:07:13Z")
I’m sorry, but I absolutely adore the word discombobulated. Not because it sounds all “big and important” and show-offy, but because it sounds like exactly what it is. I also love the related sniglet " discombebopulate" " discombebopulate- a. (v.) To be in a state of confusion as a result of loud car music, thereby causing one to lower the car stereo volume in order to better read a an address number on a house or building, or to pay a toll. " ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2012, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-words-that-shouldnt-exist-copacetic-and-discombobulated/644718/56 "2012-12-22T04:17:50Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > Next thing you know someone’s going to tell me I shouldn’t use “yclept” for “named”. > > Pity. > > What I want to know is when did “pleaded” bounce “pled” out of the language? Whose idea was _that_? OH! Say it twice, this drives me nuts. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2012, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-words-that-shouldnt-exist-copacetic-and-discombobulated/644718/57 "2012-12-22T05:09:49Z")
I personally don’t like the word copacetic. It sounds too much like septic to mean what it does. It’s just jarring to me. On the other hand, I love the word discombobulated. It sounds perfect for its meaning. ---
**Author:** ![movingfinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@movingfinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/movingfinger)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2012, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-words-that-shouldnt-exist-copacetic-and-discombobulated/644718/58 "2012-12-22T06:28:36Z")
I hear people saying “inflammable” and “flammable” are the same thing, and they are not! Flammable means something can catch fire and burn. Inflammable means…um…yeah, they are the same. Okay; how about “perhaps” and good old “maybe”. Eh? Which one do we dump? ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2012, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-words-that-shouldnt-exist-copacetic-and-discombobulated/644718/59 "2012-12-22T16:10:02Z")
> [@lost4life](#): > > Gullible - I mean, it’s not really a word, and it’s not in the dictionary (look it up!), so quit using it. Nothing personal, but a SDMB search for posts containing “gullible” and “dictionary” returns over 1400 results, and most of them (going by the one sentence excerpts shown) are variations of this joke. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2012, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-words-that-shouldnt-exist-copacetic-and-discombobulated/644718/60 "2012-12-22T22:27:06Z")
\*The place where I come from is a small town They think so small They use small words But not me!!! I’m smarter than that I’ve worked it out I’ve been stretching my mouth to let those big words come right out \* Peter Gabriel “Big Time” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-words-that-shouldnt-exist-copacetic-and-discombobulated/644718.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-words-that-shouldnt-exist-copacetic-and-discombobulated/644718.md?page=4)