21 Days to A Bigger Vocabulary
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farsang
pronunciation: far-sang
definition: An ancient Persian unit of measurement equal to the distance that could be covered by foot in one hour.
Don't you remember that ad? I'd walk a farsang for a camel.
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omphaloskepsis
pronunciation: ohm-fuh-loh-skep-sis
definition: The contemplation of one's navel as part of a mystical exercise; an idiom meaning complacent self-absorption
Who knew there's a word for staring at your bellybutton? As for mystical exercise, it's no mystery that lack of exercise is one reason it's been 7 years since I've seen my bellybutton, much less contemplate it.
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paraleipsis
pronunciation: pare-uh-layp-sis
definition: To say something by saying you're not going to mention it.
An example of paraleipsis might be, say, how a certain presidential candidate who called into question his opponent's ethics regarding the use of negative campaigning during the primaries produced his own negative ad then called a press conference to allow reporters from all the major networks to preview the ad (later aired on national news, of course) and hear how said certain presidential candidate would not be paying to run the ad because he just couldn't stoop to such mud-slinging.
Further, I won't point out the diabolical craftiness of his plan. I'm just here to report, you decide.
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matutinal and matutolypea
pronunciation: muh-too-tin-uhl and muh-too-toe-lie-pee-ah
Definition: Matutinal means of, or occuring in, the morning. Matutolypea is ill-humor upon waking in the morning, more commonly referred to as "getting up on the wrong side of the bed." Both words are derived from the word Matuta, or Mater Matuta, the Greek goddess of dawn. The Greek word lype means grief or sorrow.
Personal application: Ideally, a devotional, math and grammar comprise our matutinal lessons. However, over the past couple of weeks, my boys' late-night adventures in reading have resulted in chronic matutolypea at the sound of their morning alarm.
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somniloquism
pronunciation: som-nil-uh-kwizm
definition: speech uttered in one's sleep.
My husband often entertains me, and sometimes scares the wits out of me, with his impromptu somniloquies. He startled me awake early one morning with a sharp, "Shh!"
I jumped out of bed and cried, "What?"
"Quiet! I'm on the phone!" he mumbled in his sleep.
I climbed back into bed and decided to be nosey, "Who are you talking to?"
"Just. A. Minute!" he whispered, "let me finish this call."
I was tired and afraid to provoke him by further interrupting his important "call," so I went back to sleep.
Perhaps you live with your own gifted somniloquist?