21 Days to A Bigger Vocabulary
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Here it is! The end of our 21 Days of words you've probably never heard and are less likely to ever use. I'm ending the series with one of my favorites I've been saving for you.
shibboleth
pronunciation: shib-uh-lith
definition: A pattern of behavior, speech or activity that sets apart a group of people. Also, a common belief or saying with little current meaning or truth.
I love this word mostly because of the somewhat comical story behind it. This is a passage taken from the Bible, Judges 12:4-6 (NIV):
Jephthah then called together the men of Gilead and fought against Ephraim. The Gileadites struck them down because the Ephraimites had said, "You Gileadites are renegades from Ephraim and Manasseh." The Gileadites captured the fords of the Jordan leading to Ephraim, and whenever a survivor of Ephraim said, "Let me cross over," the men of Gilead asked him, "Are you an Ephraimite?" If he replied, "No," they said, "All right, say 'Shibboleth.' " He said, "Sibboleth," because he could not pronounce the word correctly, they seized him and killed him at the fords of the Jordan. Forty-two thousand Ephraimites were killed at that time.
Today, a shibboleth is akin to a stereotype. Think about groups of people: Christians, Muslims, Jews, homeschoolers, plumbers, Arkansans, gays, lawyers, etc. What are some shibboleths you hold?
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horripilation
pronunciation: haw-rip-uh-lay-shun
definition: To have one's hair stand on end; to get goosebumps.
This is a fun word that sounds like a Jeff Foxworthy concoction, like pandelerium, We was frozen in horripilation when that ternader overcome us.
I absolutely horripilated when I saw the shoes Daniel Day Lewis wore with his tux to the Oscars.
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discalceate or discalced
pronunciation: dis-kal-see-it, dis-kalst
definition: removal of ones shoes, usually regarding certain religious orders
Here's a suggestion for those of you who have trouble with "drop-in" company: Post a sign on your door reading, "Welcome! All visitors to be discalced upon entry." Just see how many people decide it's probably better to call first.
Here's a riddle: What do you call a chicken who's lost her shoes?
Answer: A discalced fryer! HaHaHa! Get it? Fryer? discalced friar?
I crack myself up.
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lexiphanic
pronunciation: lecks-i-fan-ik
definition: using or interlarding with magniloquent, bombastic, perhaps euphuistic speech or writing.
Still confused? How about this: using pretentious words to impress people. Of course, our aim here at "21 Days to a Bigger vocabulary" is not to be impressive...just annoying.
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mumpsimus and sumpsimus
pronunciation: mump-suh-muhs and sump-suh-muhs
definition: Mumpsimus is a persistence in making the same mistake in speech or adherence to an erroneous practice or belief, out of habit or obstinacy, while sumpsimus is strict adherence to the correct term or practice, rejecting an erroneous but more common form or belief.
Example:**
"Mr. President, with all due respect, the word is pronounced noo-klee-ar, not noo-kyoo-ler."
"You talk your way, I'll talk mine."
"But, Sir, the American people question your abilities and, er, your intelligence."
"Listen, son, I didn't get a degree from Yale and become president of the most powerful country in the world by burying my nose in a dictionary. I'm not going to trade my mumpsimus for your sumpsimus."
** The preceding example is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of the characters herein to real persons, living or otherwise, is, well, intentional.