Airgonation
noun. Air travel by hot-air-balloon. A sort of meditation on future airgonation, supposing that it will not only be perfected, but will depose navigation. Letters, Horace Walpole (1784) One who … Continue Reading ⇒
Fun
Jocoseriosity
noun. Being half in jest, half serious. Our own poet has lately characterized himself as a jocoserious genius; and in fact this jocoseriosity seems of much the same quality with the … Continue Reading ⇒
Ostrobogulatory
adj. Risqué, indecent; also bizarre, unusual. I can no longer endure this ostrobogulatory behaviour. Ostrobogulous Pigs, A. Graves (1952) Ostrobogulatory is derived from ostrobogulous, a word attributed to Victor Benjamin … Continue Reading ⇒
Gumfiate
verb. To puff up, to swell. The inflamed gout of polemical controversy..had gumfiated every mental joint and member of that zealous prop of the Relief Kirk. The Ayrshire legatees, John … Continue Reading ⇒
Circumfloribus
adj. Flowery and long-winded. Much circumfloribus stuff was talked of on the Court side. Autobiography, Mary Granville (1739) The OED lists this word in particular as a “humorous nonce-word.” The … Continue Reading ⇒
Storyful
adj. Rich in story. This is..Some lone land of genii days, Storyful and golden! Poems, The Lovely Land, James Clarence Mangan (1846) I’m flabbergasted that this word hasn’t had more of … Continue Reading ⇒
Pugnastics
noun. Boxing or fighting. (OED says “Pugilistic Performances.” They they go trying to sound all smart-like.) I soon found my sisters, who were taken into a house during my pugnastics. … Continue Reading ⇒
Emicatious
adj. Shiny or Glittery Wood..Smooth, emicatious, free from knot or joint. The Vestriad, Hans Busk (1819) Are you easily distracted by emicatious objects? I sure am. Why, there’s one right over … Continue Reading ⇒
Callipygian
adj. Of, pertaining to, or having shapely buttocks. /ˌkæləˈpɪdʒiən/ Callipygæ and women largely composed behinde. Pseudodoxia epidemica, Sir Thomas Brown (1646) Because a shapely posterior deserves a word just as … Continue Reading ⇒
Frigorific
adj. Producing cold. Data for determining the frigorific effect of the ice on the temperature of the Pole. An account of the artic regions, William Scoresby (1820) It’s summer right … Continue Reading ⇒