Slubberdegullion…words for superior people

We’re taking a break from Anguished English and language abuse to enjoy some words from The Superior Person’s Book of Words by Peter Bowler.  The word in the title, slubberdegullion, is “A glorious seventeenth-century term of contempt (found in Hudibras), apparently meaning a dirty, wretched slob.  What’s not to like about that?  🙂

Let’s see what else we can find.  All definitions are quotes from the book.

Nidificate v.   To build a nest.  You settle down in the quietness of the theater to enjoy the opening dream sequence of Wild Strawberries.  From the seat in front of you comes an insistent crackling and rustling of candy wrappings.  “Usher!” you call out in a loud voice, “I think the woman in front of me is nidificating in her seat!

Limaceous a.  Sluglike, having to do with slugs.  “Keep our hands to yourself, you limaceous endomorph!”

Zzxjoanw  n.  A Maori drum.  The recommended use is in Scrabble.  The technique is to save up, at all costs, the letters Z,X,J,O, and W (or a blank that can be used in place of any you don’t manage to acquire); to wait for a dangling AN on which you can build; and then to strike.   The satisfaction to be derived from this single act altogether outweighs whatever chagrin you might otherwise experience through losing the game, as you assuredly will–even that experienced through losing six games in succession, if need be, before you can effect your coup.

Uliginous  a.  Growing in muddy, oozy, or swampy places.  “Hmm,” you comment, after looking into your young brother’s bedroom, “I see Clive is going through another of his uliginous phases.”

Temulency  n.  Inebriation, drunkenness.  Another good one for sick-leave application forms.

Rugose  a.  Corrugated with wrinkles  “Ah, Mrs. Sandalbath, there must be many a woman half your age with a complexion not nearly as rugose as yours.”

Cicurate  v.  To tame, or reclaim from a state of wildness.  “Belinda, I’m not having that young man of yours in the house until he’s been thoroughly cicurated.”

Ante-jentacular  a.  Pre-breakfast (see anabiosis).  Goes nicely with post-prandial (after dinner.)

Anabiosis  m.  Revival after apparent death; reanimation after a coma so deep that all the vital signs have become imperceptible.  As you read the morning paper and sip your ante-jentacular (p.v.) coffee, you call out to your firstborn: “Roger, just pop into the bedroom for a moment, will you, and see if anabiosis has set in with your mother yet.”

OK, time to end this lexiphanic post.  I hope it brightened a/o enlightened your Tuesday (or perhaps Wednesday).  Much as it pains me to do so, I’m not going to tell you the meaning of lexiphanic.  You’ll have to look it up yourself.  🙂  That also makes the post heuristic.  Yes, I’m stopping.  I promise.