My Favorite Word
July 18, 2005 4:17 AM Subscribe
My favorite word. Add your own.
Spoon. As in, "I love spooning with you."
posted by ParisParamus at 4:24 AM on July 18, 2005
posted by ParisParamus at 4:24 AM on July 18, 2005
We'll post the best of your entries on this site over the next few months, and the best of the best will be included ... in My Favorite Word, a book to be published next year.
"Royalties"
posted by the quidnunc kid at 4:44 AM on July 18, 2005
"Royalties"
posted by the quidnunc kid at 4:44 AM on July 18, 2005
besotted
\Be*sot"ted\, a. Made sottish, senseless, or infatuated; characterized by drunken stupidity, or by infatuation; stupefied.
posted by psmealey at 4:47 AM on July 18, 2005
\Be*sot"ted\, a. Made sottish, senseless, or infatuated; characterized by drunken stupidity, or by infatuation; stupefied.
posted by psmealey at 4:47 AM on July 18, 2005
Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia - a fear of long words
posted by urbanwhaleshark at 4:53 AM on July 18, 2005
posted by urbanwhaleshark at 4:53 AM on July 18, 2005
cacophony
or
diaphanous
or
louche
or all three in one night.
posted by NinjaPirate at 4:57 AM on July 18, 2005
or
diaphanous
or
louche
or all three in one night.
posted by NinjaPirate at 4:57 AM on July 18, 2005
gobshite.
Friendlier words include apocalypse and besmirch.
posted by corvine at 4:58 AM on July 18, 2005
Friendlier words include apocalypse and besmirch.
posted by corvine at 4:58 AM on July 18, 2005
Latin, Gravitas
posted by elpapacito at 5:02 AM on July 18, 2005
posted by elpapacito at 5:02 AM on July 18, 2005
the quidnunc kid writes "We'll post the best of your entries on this site over the next few months, and the best of the best will be included ... in My Favorite Word, a book to be published next year."
I didn't see that. I guess I'll have to start reading the links I post.
posted by OmieWise at 5:15 AM on July 18, 2005
I didn't see that. I guess I'll have to start reading the links I post.
posted by OmieWise at 5:15 AM on July 18, 2005
Aluminium (purely for that wacky American pronunciation).
Frostbite
Quixotic
Aneurysm
Schism
Gouge
Grapple
Antidisestablishmentarianism
posted by metaxa at 5:30 AM on July 18, 2005
Frostbite
Quixotic
Aneurysm
Schism
Gouge
Grapple
Antidisestablishmentarianism
posted by metaxa at 5:30 AM on July 18, 2005
Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis?
posted by alumshubby at 5:35 AM on July 18, 2005
posted by alumshubby at 5:35 AM on July 18, 2005
facetiously: all the vowels in alphabetical order and it's just a superb word
posted by herting at 6:04 AM on July 18, 2005
posted by herting at 6:04 AM on July 18, 2005
How marvellous, thans OmieWise. I noticed that oniony was missing from their pages, and have remedied that by submitting it.
posted by misteraitch at 6:16 AM on July 18, 2005
posted by misteraitch at 6:16 AM on July 18, 2005
I submitted hoi polloi a few weeks ago when I first saw this site.
hoi polloi, n. The common people, the masses.
posted by sdrawkcab at 6:21 AM on July 18, 2005
hoi polloi, n. The common people, the masses.
posted by sdrawkcab at 6:21 AM on July 18, 2005
Molybdenum
Balaclava
Jalalabad
Insouciant
Simulacrum
Cangrejo
Great thread!
posted by Scoo at 6:21 AM on July 18, 2005
Balaclava
Jalalabad
Insouciant
Simulacrum
Cangrejo
Great thread!
posted by Scoo at 6:21 AM on July 18, 2005
Spatula. Saddled with a prosaic meaning yet bursting with potential.
posted by found missing at 6:29 AM on July 18, 2005
posted by found missing at 6:29 AM on July 18, 2005
e.g., "Hey is that santorum on the sheets, or is it just spatula?"
posted by found missing at 6:34 AM on July 18, 2005
posted by found missing at 6:34 AM on July 18, 2005
asterisk
defenestrate
mercurial
down low fucking
posted by The Jesse Helms at 6:46 AM on July 18, 2005
defenestrate
mercurial
down low fucking
posted by The Jesse Helms at 6:46 AM on July 18, 2005
On further recollection I also like
behoove
demure
nice
Pyrrhic
posted by The Jesse Helms at 6:55 AM on July 18, 2005
behoove
demure
nice
Pyrrhic
posted by The Jesse Helms at 6:55 AM on July 18, 2005
hoi polloi, n. The common people, the masses.
ahoy polloi, n. Condescening greeting made to Bushwood caddy at yacht club.
posted by three blind mice at 7:27 AM on July 18, 2005
ahoy polloi, n. Condescening greeting made to Bushwood caddy at yacht club.
posted by three blind mice at 7:27 AM on July 18, 2005
Ointment
posted by Anders Levant at 7:32 AM on July 18, 2005
posted by Anders Levant at 7:32 AM on July 18, 2005
Serendipity.
posted by theinsectsarewaiting at 7:52 AM on July 18, 2005
posted by theinsectsarewaiting at 7:52 AM on July 18, 2005
Aquamarine.
Sesquipedalian. With thanks to languagehat for that one.
posted by Tarrama at 7:54 AM on July 18, 2005
Sesquipedalian. With thanks to languagehat for that one.
posted by Tarrama at 7:54 AM on July 18, 2005
Funny, my favorite word is the first example on the page: zephyr.
posted by daninnj at 8:07 AM on July 18, 2005
posted by daninnj at 8:07 AM on July 18, 2005
Bill Hicks once said 'Release' was his favourite.
I like 'plethora' and 'bravado'.
posted by Acey at 8:11 AM on July 18, 2005
I like 'plethora' and 'bravado'.
posted by Acey at 8:11 AM on July 18, 2005
Oh, and noir. Just keep saying it to yourself. Noir. Noir. Noir.
posted by Acey at 8:12 AM on July 18, 2005
posted by Acey at 8:12 AM on July 18, 2005
Nuts, my favorite is "velleity" and it's already there.
posted by nicwolff at 8:24 AM on July 18, 2005 [1 favorite]
posted by nicwolff at 8:24 AM on July 18, 2005 [1 favorite]
I like intransigent because you feel like the quality it describes when you try to wrap your tongue around it.
Favourite word, though? Transcendent is pretty sweet. So's debauched. Transcendent debauchery? Debauched transcendence?
On a similar note, there's a classic Letterman bit: Top Ten Words That Sound Great Spoken By James Earl Jones. (Scroll down to 01/05/94.)
posted by gompa at 8:27 AM on July 18, 2005
Favourite word, though? Transcendent is pretty sweet. So's debauched. Transcendent debauchery? Debauched transcendence?
On a similar note, there's a classic Letterman bit: Top Ten Words That Sound Great Spoken By James Earl Jones. (Scroll down to 01/05/94.)
posted by gompa at 8:27 AM on July 18, 2005
frisky
posted by killy willy at 8:34 AM on July 18, 2005
posted by killy willy at 8:34 AM on July 18, 2005
When in Paris, I used to see 'cafe liegeois' on menus and think it had a wonderful exotic sound to it. I now live in the Netherlands, about half an hour by train from Liege, and have seen what a dump it is. Consequently 'liegeois' has lost much of the magic it used to have.
My current favourite word is 'mellifluous '- especially if spoken by someone with a lilting Irish accent.
posted by PurpleJack at 8:35 AM on July 18, 2005
My current favourite word is 'mellifluous '- especially if spoken by someone with a lilting Irish accent.
posted by PurpleJack at 8:35 AM on July 18, 2005
not going to add it, but my favorite word is vespertinal which is (imo) a more interesting vespertine - see also vesper.
a vesper... sometimes an evening prayer. in general refers to things of the evening, night. i am certainly a night person and have always been fascinated by the night and that which occurs during.
posted by weretable and the undead chairs at 8:57 AM on July 18, 2005
a vesper... sometimes an evening prayer. in general refers to things of the evening, night. i am certainly a night person and have always been fascinated by the night and that which occurs during.
posted by weretable and the undead chairs at 8:57 AM on July 18, 2005
The first word that came to mind was vestibule although I have many favorite words. Without a doubt, sure is my least favorite word - too sloppy sounding in a sentence although I am fine with it as a one word response.
posted by geekyguy at 9:02 AM on July 18, 2005
posted by geekyguy at 9:02 AM on July 18, 2005
I suggested 'zymurgy'. After all, it's a word used to refer to beer-making generally, so it describes something eminently important.
posted by clevershark at 9:11 AM on July 18, 2005
posted by clevershark at 9:11 AM on July 18, 2005
Ostensibly. And I've always liked autumnal.
And abstemiously also has all the vowels in alphabetical order.
posted by gaspode at 9:12 AM on July 18, 2005
And abstemiously also has all the vowels in alphabetical order.
posted by gaspode at 9:12 AM on July 18, 2005
There's always riposte, and comeuppance.
posted by clevershark at 9:25 AM on July 18, 2005
posted by clevershark at 9:25 AM on July 18, 2005
O
posted by Idiot Mittens at 9:30 AM on July 18, 2005
posted by Idiot Mittens at 9:30 AM on July 18, 2005
sostenuto
(Italian for "sustain / sustaining." it's the pedal on a piano that lifts the dampers so the notes ring out as long as they can)
it just feels good in your mouth!
but sagacious and facetious are right up there.
posted by Al_Truist at 9:36 AM on July 18, 2005
(Italian for "sustain / sustaining." it's the pedal on a piano that lifts the dampers so the notes ring out as long as they can)
it just feels good in your mouth!
but sagacious and facetious are right up there.
posted by Al_Truist at 9:36 AM on July 18, 2005
Cytoplasm
(and with that)
Endoplasmic
(and)
Reticulum
Just saying it out loud makes you smarter.
posted by tkchrist at 9:37 AM on July 18, 2005
Innuendo
posted by leftcoastbob at 9:54 AM on July 18, 2005
posted by leftcoastbob at 9:54 AM on July 18, 2005
It's the only English language word with seven consonants and only one vowel. Playing Scrabble, if you catch a triple word score, it's worth 36 points. With the bonus for using all seven tiles it's 86 points.
It also stands well on its meaning and sound: Strength
posted by X4ster at 9:56 AM on July 18, 2005 [1 favorite]
It also stands well on its meaning and sound: Strength
posted by X4ster at 9:56 AM on July 18, 2005 [1 favorite]
floccinaucinihilipilification
It's a goofy word, but has a lovely syncopation.
posted by nep at 10:07 AM on July 18, 2005
It's a goofy word, but has a lovely syncopation.
posted by nep at 10:07 AM on July 18, 2005
My newest word, from the book I finished night before last, is wayzgoose.
One of Sumerset Maugham's books introduced me to the word phthisis. Say that 3 times quickly...
Isn't "you're right" also one of our favorite phrases?
posted by X4ster at 10:09 AM on July 18, 2005 [1 favorite]
One of Sumerset Maugham's books introduced me to the word phthisis. Say that 3 times quickly...
Isn't "you're right" also one of our favorite phrases?
posted by X4ster at 10:09 AM on July 18, 2005 [1 favorite]
leftcoastbob,
Isn't there an old joke line that goes along with that? Something akin to; "He was so dumb that he thought innuendo was the Italian word for sodomy".
posted by X4ster at 10:13 AM on July 18, 2005
Isn't there an old joke line that goes along with that? Something akin to; "He was so dumb that he thought innuendo was the Italian word for sodomy".
posted by X4ster at 10:13 AM on July 18, 2005
idiocracy - a society of idiots.
rebo - retarded bozo.
specimess - what you return to the nurse at the sperm bank.
From my own Fictionary.
posted by fenriq at 10:33 AM on July 18, 2005
rebo - retarded bozo.
specimess - what you return to the nurse at the sperm bank.
From my own Fictionary.
posted by fenriq at 10:33 AM on July 18, 2005
Sinistral is pretty good, too.
And stot (stotting, stotted), for good measure.
But I stand by foxy for first choice.
posted by Wolfdog at 11:02 AM on July 18, 2005
And stot (stotting, stotted), for good measure.
But I stand by foxy for first choice.
posted by Wolfdog at 11:02 AM on July 18, 2005
I agree with theinsectsarewaiting. "Serendipity"
Also, I love the word "onomatopoetic," one of the two acceptable adjective forms of onomatopoeia
posted by piratebowling at 11:14 AM on July 18, 2005
Also, I love the word "onomatopoetic," one of the two acceptable adjective forms of onomatopoeia
posted by piratebowling at 11:14 AM on July 18, 2005
I've always enjoyed "mediocrity".
Not so much actual mediocrity, though. But the word's got a great rhythm and sound.
posted by Rev. Syung Myung Me at 12:27 PM on July 18, 2005
Not so much actual mediocrity, though. But the word's got a great rhythm and sound.
posted by Rev. Syung Myung Me at 12:27 PM on July 18, 2005
Somebody just called somebody this this morning: hell-spawn. Well I like that. But my favorite insult is still "Typical."
posted by Lady Penelope at 12:31 PM on July 18, 2005
posted by Lady Penelope at 12:31 PM on July 18, 2005
Big ups to painquale for boustrophedonic - one of my favorites, too. I think my current favorite though has to be usufruct, because it sounds filthy, but really isn't at all.
posted by kcds at 1:16 PM on July 18, 2005
posted by kcds at 1:16 PM on July 18, 2005
Waffle
posted by eggonstilts at 2:40 PM on July 18, 2005
posted by eggonstilts at 2:40 PM on July 18, 2005
X4ster:
Pretty much the same, but I heard that Innuendo was the Italian version of Preparation H.
posted by leftcoastbob at 3:19 PM on July 18, 2005
Pretty much the same, but I heard that Innuendo was the Italian version of Preparation H.
posted by leftcoastbob at 3:19 PM on July 18, 2005
Love. It's really all you need.
posted by DeepFriedTwinkies at 3:53 PM on July 18, 2005
posted by DeepFriedTwinkies at 3:53 PM on July 18, 2005
floccinaucinihilipilification: You beat me to it, nep.
My second vote goes to haecceity.
posted by Goblindegook at 3:58 PM on July 18, 2005
My second vote goes to haecceity.
posted by Goblindegook at 3:58 PM on July 18, 2005
(Cleave is another favourite of mine, mostly because it's its own antonym.)
posted by Goblindegook at 4:04 PM on July 18, 2005
posted by Goblindegook at 4:04 PM on July 18, 2005
difficult to pick just one.
mellifluous
loquacious
unctuous
sycophant
irenic
swank
posted by brandz at 4:36 PM on July 18, 2005
mellifluous
loquacious
unctuous
sycophant
irenic
swank
posted by brandz at 4:36 PM on July 18, 2005
So many words, so little time.
xebec
fritillary
stravaiging (how I describe my time spent on the Internet)
and one from the site: hemidemisemiquaver.
Usufruct, sesquipedalian, and molybdenum (from this post) are also long-time favorites.
One of Somerset Maugham's books introduced me to the word phthisis.
I just saw that this morning for the first time, in a young adult novel, and thought the author had made it up.
posted by LeLiLo at 6:26 PM on July 18, 2005
xebec
fritillary
stravaiging (how I describe my time spent on the Internet)
and one from the site: hemidemisemiquaver.
Usufruct, sesquipedalian, and molybdenum (from this post) are also long-time favorites.
One of Somerset Maugham's books introduced me to the word phthisis.
I just saw that this morning for the first time, in a young adult novel, and thought the author had made it up.
posted by LeLiLo at 6:26 PM on July 18, 2005
I just used the word "succinct" and trailed off, thinking that I really like that word.
posted by leftcoastbob at 6:34 PM on July 18, 2005
posted by leftcoastbob at 6:34 PM on July 18, 2005
Phlegm. Because that 'g' is just perfect there - even though it's silent, it remidns you of the part of your throat where phelgm comes from.
posted by bunglin jones at 6:47 PM on July 18, 2005
posted by bunglin jones at 6:47 PM on July 18, 2005
I've always been partial to burl and, well, calypso.
posted by Staggering Jack at 11:00 PM on July 18, 2005
posted by Staggering Jack at 11:00 PM on July 18, 2005
X4ster: strengths has one extra consonant.
Are proper names allowed? I'm totally in love with "Habablab".
posted by flabdablet at 11:37 PM on July 18, 2005
Are proper names allowed? I'm totally in love with "Habablab".
posted by flabdablet at 11:37 PM on July 18, 2005
Ah yes, so many wonderful words. Has anyone else in the group read "The Madman and the Professor"? It's a great book about words and the initial work developing the Oxford English Dictionary.
Here's a great quote from "The Madman and the Professor":
“No language depending on arbitrary use and custom can ever be permanently the same, but will always be in a mutable and fluctuating state; and what is deemed polite and elegant in one age, may be accounted uncouth and barbarous in another” Benjamin Martin, contributing editor to the Oxford English Dictionary.
And a few words and definitions;
Network- any thing reticulated, or decussated, at equal distances, with interstices between the intersections.
…treated by alienists
…in the sense of chatechizing someone, making his or her arguments stand up to severe scrutiny…
… to whinge…
…diktats
…ashtrakhan-collared coats
atrabilious- gloomy, ill natured, peevish,
posted by X4ster at 12:33 AM on July 19, 2005
Here's a great quote from "The Madman and the Professor":
“No language depending on arbitrary use and custom can ever be permanently the same, but will always be in a mutable and fluctuating state; and what is deemed polite and elegant in one age, may be accounted uncouth and barbarous in another” Benjamin Martin, contributing editor to the Oxford English Dictionary.
And a few words and definitions;
Network- any thing reticulated, or decussated, at equal distances, with interstices between the intersections.
…treated by alienists
…in the sense of chatechizing someone, making his or her arguments stand up to severe scrutiny…
… to whinge…
…diktats
…ashtrakhan-collared coats
atrabilious- gloomy, ill natured, peevish,
posted by X4ster at 12:33 AM on July 19, 2005
brandz - "difficult to pick just one" It's impossible for me. I really like your choices; mellifluous, loquacious, unctuous & sycophant.
Among my other favorite submissions;
leftcoastbob - succinct
NinjaPirate - cacophony
herting - facetiously
jbrjake – ubiquitous, poignant, verisimilitude
The Jesse Helms –behoove
gompa - intransigent
I haven't seen grandiloquent listed yet.
posted by X4ster at 1:24 AM on July 19, 2005
Among my other favorite submissions;
leftcoastbob - succinct
NinjaPirate - cacophony
herting - facetiously
jbrjake – ubiquitous, poignant, verisimilitude
The Jesse Helms –behoove
gompa - intransigent
I haven't seen grandiloquent listed yet.
posted by X4ster at 1:24 AM on July 19, 2005
This has bugging me, because a couple of years ago I heard a word that sounded beautiful and had a beautiful meaning -- the reflection of the moon on water. But I forgot it almost immediately and google searches haven't helped me find it...so yeah that. Does anyone know?
Oh, and I used to like "evanescence" until that lame band appeared on the scene.
OK, how about: distortion and e-bow.
posted by Devils Slide at 2:15 AM on July 19, 2005
Oh, and I used to like "evanescence" until that lame band appeared on the scene.
OK, how about: distortion and e-bow.
posted by Devils Slide at 2:15 AM on July 19, 2005
A lot of these words sound like things Captain Haddock called people who annoyed him.
posted by Devils Slide at 2:31 AM on July 19, 2005
posted by Devils Slide at 2:31 AM on July 19, 2005
"...you have selected, regicide. If you know the name of the king or queen being murdered, press..."
posted by 517 at 3:31 PM on July 20, 2005
posted by 517 at 3:31 PM on July 20, 2005
Yay!
posted by If I Had An Anus at 9:12 AM on July 21, 2005
posted by If I Had An Anus at 9:12 AM on July 21, 2005
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posted by cyphill at 4:21 AM on July 18, 2005