# The False Word Origin/Meanings Game! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 15, 2004, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-false-word-origin-meanings-game/279887 "2004-12-15T00:42:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-false-word-origin-meanings-game/279887/21 "2004-12-15T05:58:21Z")
**vacillation** - **vac** is the same suffix used in vacumn meaning an absence of. **ill** means sickness. **ation** is the “act of” **vacilliation** means the the act of removing all illness from an area e.g., Mother Theresa or an air purifier. Next Word: **akimbo** ---
**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:** [December 15, 2004, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-false-word-origin-meanings-game/279887/22 "2004-12-15T07:35:11Z")
**Akimbo** --derived from **kim,** a common name in S.Korea, and **bo,** a young man. A young Korean guy. **endomorphic** ---
**Author:** ![Torgo\_ate\_my\_hamster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/71c47a/32.png) [@Torgo\_ate\_my\_hamster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Torgo_ate_my_hamster)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-false-word-origin-meanings-game/279887/23 "2004-12-15T07:54:04Z")
**endomorphic** **end** - derives from the word “ending” **om** - a sacred syllable in Hindu mantras **orph** - English spelling of the last name of German composer Carl Orff, best known for Carmina Burana **ic** - typical adjectival suffix Endomorphic thus means using the Hindu chanting instead of the actual lyrics when performing “O Fortuna” at the ending of Carmina Burana. **philanthropy** ---
**Author:** ![Bites\_When\_Provoked](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bites_when_provoked/32/18073_2.png) [@Bites\_When\_Provoked](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bites_When_Provoked)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-false-word-origin-meanings-game/279887/24 "2004-12-15T08:16:15Z")
> [@Torgo ate my hamster](#): > > Endomorphic thus means using the Hindu chanting instead of the actual lyrics when performing “O Fortuna” at the ending of Carmina Burana. Hey, you’re good! 😃 I imagine that’d be quite the auditory experience, too 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-false-word-origin-meanings-game/279887/25 "2004-12-15T10:06:48Z")
**philanthropy** - v. The act of micturating in the unemployment office while ranting about sacred geometry. Etymology: _ **Phi** _, _1.61803_… **lant** , provincial english, _urine_ - **HRO** , acr. _Human Resources Office_ - **py** , var. _pee_. _(Philanthropy is believed to have its origins in the misunderstanding of the term “Golden Section.”)_ * * * Next up: **analbuminemia** – extra points awarded for the unexpected. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-false-word-origin-meanings-game/279887/26 "2004-12-15T10:14:29Z")
> [@Larry Mudd](#): > > **philanthropy** - v. The act of micturating in the unemployment office while ranting about sacred geometry. > > Etymology: _ **Phi** _, _1.61803_… **lant** , provincial english, _urine_ - **HRO** , acr. _Human Resources Office_ - **py** , var. _pee_. > _(Philanthropy is believed to have its origins in the misunderstanding of the term “Golden Section.”)_ (Past tense: **philanthropist**.) ---
**Author:** ![Bites\_When\_Provoked](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bites_when_provoked/32/18073_2.png) [@Bites\_When\_Provoked](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bites_When_Provoked)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-false-word-origin-meanings-game/279887/27 "2004-12-15T10:18:39Z")
> [@Larry Mudd](#): > > Next up: **analbuminemia** – extra points awarded for the unexpected. 😃 ‘An’, a prefix meaning ‘against’ ‘Album’, a record (archaic. Today the term ‘CD’ would be more appropriate.) ‘minem’, a whimsical shortening of ‘Eminem’ (sharing its first M with ‘album’) ‘ia’, a suffix meaning ‘belonging to’ or ‘territory’. Hence, analbuminemia - describing a group of people who refuse to listen to, or be in the presence of, Eminem recordings. The word is will likely be replaced with ‘ancdemia’ eventually. Does it help that I have no idea what that word means anyway? ---
**Author:** ![Bites\_When\_Provoked](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bites_when_provoked/32/18073_2.png) [@Bites\_When\_Provoked](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bites_When_Provoked)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-false-word-origin-meanings-game/279887/28 "2004-12-15T10:22:50Z")
“is will”? Hard to believe I proof-read that before posting. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Bites\_When\_Provoked](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bites_when_provoked/32/18073_2.png) [@Bites\_When\_Provoked](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bites_When_Provoked)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-false-word-origin-meanings-game/279887/29 "2004-12-15T10:24:08Z")
> [@Khiadra](#): > > “is will”? Hard to believe I proof-read that before posting. :smack: AND forgot to supply a word. :smack: :smack: Prevaricating. ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-false-word-origin-meanings-game/279887/30 "2004-12-15T16:50:56Z")
varicating is zit squeezing (L: varus pimple) pre-varicating is the feeling of excitment and apprehension before one tries to pop a zit, excitement for the stringy yellow puss of a good zit pop, apprehension in case the zit won’t pop and squeezing it might only make it hurt. Next word: Castration ---
**Author:** ![Draelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Draelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Draelin)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-false-word-origin-meanings-game/279887/31 "2004-12-15T17:19:53Z")
> [@Bippy the Beardless](#): > > Next word: Castration This word can be divided into its two simple parts–_cast_, meaning the company of performers in a production, and _ration_, the act of distributing a fixed amount of food. Thus, _Castration_ means to feed your actors only enough to keep them ambulatory. Speaking of, next word: **ambulatory**. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-false-word-origin-meanings-game/279887/32 "2004-12-15T17:34:30Z")
ambulatory - consists of three parts. **am** , a form of the verb to be; **bul** , a shortening of ‘bull’ in the original form, and ‘ **atory** ’, originally “o’ Tory”, as in the old U.S. political party. Thus, to be ‘ambullotory’, or ambulatory in the modern sense, was to be a liar in the tradition of politicians of old. Next : ‘tatterdemalion’ ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-false-word-origin-meanings-game/279887/33 "2004-12-15T21:18:18Z")
Tatterdemalion has its origin in Old French. Tatté de Ma-Lion translating to the head (modern French Tete) of the Mother of Lion. Refering to the famous story of how Mdm Lemonsoir would often lose her head whilst drinking too much Pastis. Leading to the modern meaning of Tatterdemalion of being drunk to the point of passing out. Next an easy one… substandard ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Babbington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Mr.Babbington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Babbington)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-false-word-origin-meanings-game/279887/34 "2004-12-15T23:45:52Z")
Substandard from sub (shortening of submarine sandwich) + standard (one who stands in the manner of a dullard) Thus, Substandard is used exclusively for Jared Fogel, pitchman for Subway restaurants. next up: Rheoboam ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2004, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-false-word-origin-meanings-game/279887/35 "2004-12-16T00:28:07Z")
Rheoboam: Is onamatopoic, it is the noise issuing from tatterdemalions as they use the porcelain throne. So what is the meaning of organization (ps. don’t put out a word that you can’t think of any possible solution for, or else it will become very difficult to be humorous, and the thread may sink.) ---
**Author:** ![Sunshine\_and\_Smiles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Sunshine\_and\_Smiles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunshine_and_Smiles)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2004, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-false-word-origin-meanings-game/279887/36 "2004-12-16T00:37:49Z")
Organization - From the Anglo “organ”, meaning, well, organ, and the Ebonic “zation” meaning, sensational, fabulous. Organization means, literally, a party of organs. Watch out for the liver, unless you want a dry party. Next word, how about Subterranean (if’n I spelled that right)? ---
**Author:** ![Typically\_Sunday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Typically\_Sunday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typically_Sunday)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2004, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-false-word-origin-meanings-game/279887/37 "2004-12-16T02:19:17Z")
Subterranean: from “subter”, meaning sneaky or decietful, and “ran”, a bastardization of the word “rain”. Subterranean is when it starts to rain even though it wasnt mentioned in the weather report so you don’t have an umbrella and get soaked. Next word is recumbent. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2004, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-false-word-origin-meanings-game/279887/38 "2004-12-16T02:26:02Z")
> [@Typically Sunday](#): > > recumbent. Realistic Guidoian solmisation of ‘recumbent’ into _re_-_ut_-_re_-_ut_ gives a monotonous drone. Next word: extraneous ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2004, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-false-word-origin-meanings-game/279887/39 "2004-12-16T03:55:12Z")
**extraneous** - _extra/neo/us_ - Self-identifier used by unionized body doubles for Keanu Reeves between 1997 and 2002. ---
**Author:** ![Torgo\_ate\_my\_hamster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/71c47a/32.png) [@Torgo\_ate\_my\_hamster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Torgo_ate_my_hamster)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2004, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-false-word-origin-meanings-game/279887/40 "2004-12-16T04:28:43Z")
Larry, how about blessing us with a new word, puh-lease. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-false-word-origin-meanings-game/279887.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-false-word-origin-meanings-game/279887.md?page=3)