# Your Favorite/Most Beautiful Word **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 29, 2000, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-most-beautiful-word/43144 "2000-11-29T04:27:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Skwerl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Skwerl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skwerl)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2000, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-most-beautiful-word/43144/1 "2000-11-29T04:27:02Z")
I’m quite fond of ‘avarice’. Too bad it means something not-so-beautiful (greed). I like ‘elysian’, too. I also like reading pretty words. One could say it is an elysian experience for me. So what are some others? ---
**Author:** ![Orshee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Orshee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orshee)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2000, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-most-beautiful-word/43144/2 "2000-11-29T04:39:29Z")
I like “Bombay.” And “rocket.” And my newest cat’s name, “Pip.” ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2000, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-most-beautiful-word/43144/3 "2000-11-29T04:40:08Z")
Oh nice ones. I like devious. And deviated. Those just seem out of the norm- well that’s more what they mean… Malicious. This one’s always sounded so cool to say… I can’t think of anything else…I’m coming back later. ---
**Author:** ![Skwerl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Skwerl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skwerl)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2000, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-most-beautiful-word/43144/4 "2000-11-29T04:49:13Z")
Good idea…Let’s expand the guidelines to include just plain cool words too. Such as ‘equalize.’ And ‘acerbate.’ And anyone who doesn’t think ‘acephalous’ is cool should be beheaded. ---
**Author:** ![Neochimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/96bed5/32.png) [@Neochimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neochimp)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2000, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-most-beautiful-word/43144/5 "2000-11-29T04:58:11Z")
One of my favorites would have to be inveigh. ---
**Author:** ![Uniball](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Uniball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uniball)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2000, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-most-beautiful-word/43144/6 "2000-11-29T04:59:56Z")
‘Jetliner’. It’s classy and fast. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2000, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-most-beautiful-word/43144/7 "2000-11-29T05:11:08Z")
Some maven pointed out that some words like “gonorrhea”, “syphilis” and “diarrhea” sound beautiful, if you ignore what they REALLY mean. And words like “crepuscular” (pertaining to twilight) sound downright ugly, even though they mean something else entirely. [hijack]Anyone remember the guy in DC who was almost hanged for using the racist-sounding “niggardly” (cheap)? Same principle. [/hijack] Robin ---
**Author:** ![Uniball](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Uniball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uniball)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2000, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-most-beautiful-word/43144/8 "2000-11-29T05:17:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by msrobyn \* > \*\*Some maven pointed out that some words like “gonorrhea”, “syphilis” and “diarrhea” sound beautiful, if you ignore what they REALLY mean. \*\* I like “seborrhea”. Kinda slides on your tongue. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Pinky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/848f3c/32.png) [@Dr.Pinky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Pinky)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2000, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-most-beautiful-word/43144/9 "2000-11-29T05:31:06Z")
David Howard was forced out of DC Mayor Anthony Williams’ the Cabinet after he used the word “niggardly” at a staff meeting. Several people present thought he had used a racist epithet. I feel his pain. I myself have been reported to my supervisor for use of the word “obfuscator”. Other words you should steer clear of are “puissance” and “pulchritude”. I don’t know what they mean, but they sound nasty, and as the Howard incident proves, one can’t be too careful. While you’re at it, be sure to never mention the long dead lamented inhabitants of Phrygia, with their Phrygian pottery and their Phrygian music. My favorites are callipygous, aubergine, credenza, garbanzo. Oubliette (a dungeon with an opening only in the ceiling) is kind of cool, too. ---
**Author:** ![cornflakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@cornflakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2000, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-most-beautiful-word/43144/10 "2000-11-29T05:48:21Z")
_John Cleese_: [Gorn!](http://www.montypython.net/scripts/wood.php3) ---
**Author:** ![Rasa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rasa/32/3578_2.png) [@Rasa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rasa)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2000, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-most-beautiful-word/43144/11 "2000-11-29T05:58:48Z")
I’m rather partial to **effulgent**. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2000, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-most-beautiful-word/43144/12 "2000-11-29T06:12:11Z")
My favorite word is **politicking**. So many people don’t believe it’s a word! Besides, it’s fun to say. That, and **nictitating**. ---
**Author:** ![Serendipity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@Serendipity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serendipity)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2000, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-most-beautiful-word/43144/13 "2000-11-29T06:44:12Z")
I’m fond of **cerulean** and **exsanguinate**. Oh, also **kaleidoscope** , **ethereal** , and **serenity**. ---
**Author:** ![Lux\_Fiat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bc79bd/32.png) [@Lux\_Fiat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lux_Fiat)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2000, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-most-beautiful-word/43144/14 "2000-11-29T08:28:46Z")
“Squamous” is a good one, as are “cyclopean” and “eldritch” (oh goodness, my Lovecraft is showing!). “Logorrhea” is also a fine word, and one I frequently find myself using, when I am inevitably asked, “What the hell is your problem?” The most magnificent word in the English language, however, is “booty.” ---
**Author:** ![AzRaek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/azraek/32/16739_2.png) [@AzRaek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AzRaek)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2000, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-most-beautiful-word/43144/15 "2000-11-29T10:10:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rasa \* > \*\*I’m rather partial to **effulgent**. \*\* Spike fan, are ya? ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2000, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-most-beautiful-word/43144/16 "2000-11-29T12:22:06Z")
My favorite words are **heinous** and **befouled**. God knows why. ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2000, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-most-beautiful-word/43144/17 "2000-11-29T14:31:11Z")
Defenestration A very useful word. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Skwerl \* > \*\*And anyone who doesn’t think ‘acephalous’ is cool should be beheaded. > \*\* “Following his defenestration he was rendered acephalous.” ---
**Author:** ![Sister\_Vigilante](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Sister\_Vigilante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sister_Vigilante)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2000, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-most-beautiful-word/43144/18 "2000-11-29T18:10:17Z")
I’ve always liked that one the best. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2000, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-most-beautiful-word/43144/19 "2000-11-29T20:17:15Z")
Puissance, I think is powerfulness. Er…power. And pulchritude, probably beauty or pretty-ness. (That’s what the roots mean in French and Latin.) Not so bad as you thought! 🙂 Virginal. I like using this word. (Has a fun effect on Gunslinger, anyway.) Adore. Octoplet. Spelled wrong, I’m sure. (“It rolls off your tongue, and into your heart…” Ergo. Its one of those words that makes you feel so damned scholarly. I never use it though…makes me feel too pretentious. Debachaued, and disillusioned. These words are so great. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2000, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-most-beautiful-word/43144/20 "2000-11-29T20:24:44Z")
Callipygian is a great word. I think **DrPinky** has good taste. But I have always liked the word “snivelling”. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-most-beautiful-word/43144.md?page=2)