# Words whose definition is clearly wrong. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 15, 2004, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-whose-definition-is-clearly-wrong/259944 "2004-08-15T14:48:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Mauvaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mauvaise/32/11084_2.png) [@Mauvaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mauvaise)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-whose-definition-is-clearly-wrong/259944/41 "2004-08-20T12:45:28Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Also, “hazel” really ought to be a shade of brown, not green. Continuing with colours: chartreuse shouldn’t be a shade of green/yellow. I always think it should be some sort of red. Maybe a purple-red. ---
**Author:** ![qubed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f07891/32.png) [@qubed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qubed)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-whose-definition-is-clearly-wrong/259944/42 "2004-08-20T13:06:22Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > I’ve always been of the opinion that “opaque” should mean “see-through.” Me too, and I think it hast to do with that it starts with ‘op’ as in open. Plus, it’s pleasant sounding, which suggests a more translucency to it. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-whose-definition-is-clearly-wrong/259944/43 "2004-08-20T15:04:28Z")
**Uvula** isn’t dirty, but should be. **Copacetic** should have something to do with brain surgery. ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-whose-definition-is-clearly-wrong/259944/44 "2004-08-20T15:05:47Z")
> [@Mauvaise](#): > > Continuing with colours: chartreuse shouldn’t be a shade of green/yellow. I always think it should be some sort of red. Maybe a purple-red. Chartreuse and [puce](http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=puce) should trade definitions. “ **Puce** ” sounds like it should be barfy green. ---
**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-whose-definition-is-clearly-wrong/259944/45 "2004-08-20T18:44:17Z")
> [@KarlWinslow](#): > > **irenic**. Makes me think of “ire”, which connotes the opposite of its true definition. Irenic is my vocabulary word o’ the day. I don’t remember ever seeing that word before! And I’m totally with y’all on the chartreuse/puce thing. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-whose-definition-is-clearly-wrong/259944/46 "2004-08-20T21:15:28Z")
My dictionary defines \*\*plethora \*\* as “a bodily condition characterized by an excess of blood and marked by turgescence and a florid complexion.” :eek: ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-whose-definition-is-clearly-wrong/259944/47 "2004-08-20T23:49:29Z")
Bucolic. This shouldn’t mean pastoral. It’s clearly a condition that would send you to the e.r. " Hey, I’m at the e.r. with Ted. We had lunch at that Mexican place and then… His stomach is really bucolic and he can barely keep anything down. They’re afraid it’s an ulcer." [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-whose-definition-is-clearly-wrong/259944.md?page=2)