Mountebank
A mountebank is a charlatan or a fake - kind of like we are when we invent spurious meanings for words I guess! Never mind, we'll continue anyway. I loved each of the invented meanings that were...
View ArticleRinkhals
Rinkhals is a South African cobra that spits venom. Not something I ever want to encounter, thanks very much. I really enjoyed the invented meanings, as always, and have chosen the meaning suggested by...
View ArticleFunicular
A funicular is a cable railway on a steep mountainside. Sounds scary! Thanks for your very inventive meanings for this lovely word. I chose the suggestion of Hey Jude as today's winner. It sounds like...
View ArticlePhrenologist
A phrenologist was someone who studied the size and shape of skulls to decide on people's character and mental capacity. I'm pretty sure they have been replaced by other health professionals with...
View ArticleCordite
Cordite is an explosive used to make things go bang! Your invented meanings were pretty explosive and I was impressed with the variety and collective wisdom involved. I liked them all, but my favourite...
View ArticleAuriferous
If something is auriferous, it contains gold. Simple as that. This blog for instance, could be described by some as auriferous. I loved the various meanings suggested by the word imps. They were so...
View ArticleHalberd
According to my well thumbed dictionary, a halberd is a spear with an axe blade. I found the invented meanings far more enlightening and was incredibly impressed with the depth of meaning that each...
View ArticleCyclotron
A cyclotron is used in science experiments to accelerate charged particles by a strong vertical magnetic field. That's my version of what the dictionary said, so if you're a scientist who disagrees,...
View ArticlePeroration
Peroration is a thing you do during public speaking, weirdly enough. You do the peroration at the end of the speech when you conclude and summarise your main points. I always called that the conclusion...
View ArticleGreave
A greave is a piece of shin armour. I guess it's the olden day form of a soccer or hockey shin pad. So next time my son is remembering all his soccer bits and pieces before the game I'll be sure and...
View ArticleParaprosdokian
A paraprosdokian is a sentence which starts with a well known figure of speech but ends with an unexpected and humorous twist. For example, "where there's a will...I want to be in it" is a...
View ArticleSedulous
A sedulous person is very diligent and persevering. In fact, I can be considered as sedulous - even though I haven't realised it until now. It's the first day of the Rugby World Cup here in NZ today -...
View ArticleCollocation
Apparently, a collocation is a group of words that usually occurs together. I have quite a bit to do with words, but that's news to me. So if I've misinterpreted my dictionary explanation, I'm happy to...
View ArticleTumbril
A tumbril is actually a bit gory! It's a cart used to transport prisoners to the guillotine during the French Revolution. I'm always harping on about how I love all the invented meanings and how hard...
View ArticleGazunder
Gazunder is a business term. It occurs when a buyer reduces their offer on a property just before the contract is exchanged, even though they agreed to a higher price earlier. Or something like that...
View ArticleBlandishments
Thanks for your excellent invented meanings for blandishments. I loved them all, as I always do. But it's true. Blandishments - in reality - are compliments which are intended to coax or persuade. Now...
View ArticleFurze
Furze is very simple and not at all French or cuddly, I'm sad to say. It is apparently another name for that scourge of New Zealand farmland - gorse! So there's something new for me. I enjoyed the...
View ArticleBurnous
A burnous is a long circular cloak with a hood. Sounds gorgeous, doesn't it? The burnous I pictured in my mind is red with white velvet on the collar and cuffs... However, I digress. And my dictionary...
View ArticleIsinglass
An isinglass is a gelatine which is found in some freshwater fish. Rather a boring meaning and nowhere near as interesting as my own invented meaning. However, I didn't think I could choose my own...
View ArticleSybarite
Ooh, I just found out that I'm a sybarite without even knowing it! A sybarite, I have discovered, is a lover of luxury. I am certainly one of those. My luxurious moments are few and far between, but...
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