http://blog.orphi.me.uk/archives/268

How many of these words can *you* figure out, without looking them up?

Am I just supremely illiterate, or are these words actually rare?

-- 
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*

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On Tue, 22 Apr 2008 10:20:14 +0100, Invisible <voi### [at] devnull> wrote:

>http://blog.orphi.me.uk/archives/268
>
>How many of these words can *you* figure out, without looking them up?

I did not know that "Barista" had entered the English language. Other
than that I know all of them.

>Am I just supremely illiterate, or are these words actually rare?

I would not say "supremely illiterate" but you don't have a broad
enough education.
-- 

Regards
     Stephen

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Stephen wrote:

> I did not know that "Barista" had entered the English language. Other
> than that I know all of them.

Well, American English. ;-)

[Also, I of course know the normal meaning of "lush". I was just unaware 
that it has a second, unrelated meaning as well...]

> I would not say "supremely illiterate" but you don't have a broad
> enough education.

Heh. I did wonder if I'd just spelt that wrong - how ironic would that be?

Seriously though, I can't even *pronounce* some of those words! :-.

Speaking of which - do silly sapphic sisters sing sexy sea shantis by 
the sore?

-- 
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*

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Invisible <voi### [at] devnull> wrote:
> http://blog.orphi.me.uk/archives/268

> How many of these words can *you* figure out, without looking them up?

  Hey, you have learned to use your blog... :P

  "Barista" is rather easy to guess, especially if you know Spanish
(like I do).
  I find it a bit strange that you don't know what altruism is.
  A misantropic hates people.
  The oedipus complex is basic psychology.
  It's defenestration, not defenstration.
  Double entendre is quite common speech, IMO.
  If you don't know what MILF is, you haven't been reading the proper
webcomics... ;)
  What's unclear about "codependent"?
  If you know Spanish, "burro" should be easy.
  I know "heinous" and "lascivious".
  It's really strange you don't know what "platonic" or "effeminate"
mean, IMO.

  A misogynist hates women. I suppose misogynists can be divided (at
least) into two categories: Men who think women are inferior and only
little superior to slaves, and men who simply find the average mentality
and personality of women irritating.

> Am I just supremely illiterate, or are these words actually rare?

  Should I be surprised that you don't know such common words? ;)

-- 
                                                          - Warp

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Warp wrote:

>   Hey, you have learned to use your blog... :P

Back at ya. :-P

>   "Barista" is rather easy to guess, especially if you know Spanish
> (like I do).

Any hints on how to pronounce it?

>   I find it a bit strange that you don't know what altruism is.

It's not a word I've ever heard anybody use IRL.

>   The oedipus complex is basic psychology.

Or "really seriously messed-up weirdness", depending on your point of 
view...

>   It's defenestration, not defenstration.

Hmm, I wonder. Did I read it wrong, or did I just not hit the key hard 
enough?

>   Double entendre is quite common speech, IMO.

Again, how do you even pronounce such a word?

>   If you don't know what MILF is, you haven't been reading the proper
> webcomics... ;)

Er... no, you know what? I DON'T EVEN WANNA KNOW!

>   What's unclear about "codependent"?

The fact that it's considered bad.

>   It's really strange you don't know what "platonic" or "effeminate"
> mean, IMO.

I guessed that "platonic" would be something to do with regular solids.

Supreme geekiness, but completely wrong all the same...

>   Should I be surprised that you don't know such common words? ;)

Uh... probably not.

Fact: My mum thinks I have an amazingly diverse and at times 
incomprehensible vocabulary.

[That should give you some idea of the level of interlect I experience 
IRL...]

-- 
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*

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"Invisible" <voi### [at] devnull> a écrit dans le message de news: 
480db77c$1@news.povray.org...
>>   I find it a bit strange that you don't know what altruism is.
>
> It's not a word I've ever heard anybody use IRL.

A few on the list belong to formal language, i.e. language that is not 
typically used in spontaneous speech and conversations. You have to read a 
little bit to find them (but then they can be pretty common: altruism is 
really a mainstream concept).

>>   The oedipus complex is basic psychology.

>Or "really seriously messed-up weirdness", depending on your point of 
>view...

This from a guy who *** lives *** with his dear mom :P

G.


-- 
**********************
http://www.oyonale.com
**********************
- Graphic experiments
- POV-Ray, Cinema 4D and Poser computer art
- Posters

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Gilles Tran wrote:

> A few on the list belong to formal language, i.e. language that is not 
> typically used in spontaneous speech and conversations. You have to read a 
> little bit to find them (but then they can be pretty common: altruism is 
> really a mainstream concept).

The amusing part is, this is from a web comic that *consists of* 
spontaneous speech and social interaction. :-D I really like QC...

>>>   The oedipus complex is basic psychology.
> 
>> Or "really seriously messed-up weirdness", depending on your point of 
>> view...
> 
> This from a guy who *** lives *** with his dear mom :P

Trust me, as soon as I can get my hands on some more money, I am 
*leaving*! :-S

-- 
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*

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Invisible wrote:
> Warp wrote:
>>   Double entendre is quite common speech, IMO.
> 
> Again, how do you even pronounce such a word?

'double' as in english, 'entendre' depends on whether you want it to 
sound like the French word it is or just good enough that everybody else 
speaking english near you knows what you mean ;-)  'on-TON-druh' might 
be a rough approximation (apologies to the French).

>>   If you don't know what MILF is, you haven't been reading the proper
>> webcomics... ;)
> 
> Er... no, you know what? I DON'T EVEN WANNA KNOW!

Or seen the American Pie movies, among others.
"Call me Stifler's Mom!" ;-)

>>   It's really strange you don't know what "platonic" or "effeminate"
>> mean, IMO.
> 
> I guessed that "platonic" would be something to do with regular solids.

Can be, but definitely not the most common context! If you look at the 
brief etymologies on Wikipedia you'll be unsurprised to learn that both 
meanings are named for Plato.

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Invisible <voi### [at] devnull> wrote:
> >   "Barista" is rather easy to guess, especially if you know Spanish
> > (like I do).

> Any hints on how to pronounce it?

  I suppose you pronounce it approximately in the same way as a Spanish
would.

> >   The oedipus complex is basic psychology.

> Or "really seriously messed-up weirdness", depending on your point of 
> view...

  If I'm not mistaken, it's considered a rather normal (and temporary)
phase in the development of a child. With children it has little to do
with sexuality and more to do with personal attachment and identification.
It's very rare after certain age.

> >   Double entendre is quite common speech, IMO.

> Again, how do you even pronounce such a word?

  You'll have to ask a French-speaking people for that.

  Examples of other commonly-used words loaned into English from French,
and which can be quite difficult to pronounce for someone who has never
heard them: genre, lingerie, entrepreneur, facade.

> >   It's really strange you don't know what "platonic" or "effeminate"
> > mean, IMO.

> I guessed that "platonic" would be something to do with regular solids.

  Ever heard of platonic love?

-- 
                                                          - Warp

Post a reply to this message

>>>   Double entendre is quite common speech, IMO.
>>
>> Again, how do you even pronounce such a word?
> 
> 'double' as in english, 'entendre' depends on whether you want it to 
> sound like the French word it is or just good enough that everybody else 
> speaking english near you knows what you mean ;-)  'on-TON-druh' might 
> be a rough approximation (apologies to the French).

Mmm, OK.

>>>   If you don't know what MILF is, you haven't been reading the proper
>>> webcomics... ;)
>>
>> Er... no, you know what? I DON'T EVEN WANNA KNOW!
> 
> Or seen the American Pie movies, among others.
> "Call me Stifler's Mom!" ;-)

I've only seen about 20 seconds of American Pie.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"
"I just stuck a trumpet in your ass. Aren't instruments fun?"

At that point, I decided to stop watching...

>> I guessed that "platonic" would be something to do with regular solids.
> 
> Can be, but definitely not the most common context! If you look at the 
> brief etymologies on Wikipedia you'll be unsurprised to learn that both 
> meanings are named for Plato.

Yeah, I know that *now*. ;-) I know what all the words mean now I've 
looked them up... I'm just saying I had to look 'em up to figure it out.

-- 
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*

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Warp wrote:

>>>   Double entendre is quite common speech, IMO.
> 
>> Again, how do you even pronounce such a word?
> 
>   You'll have to ask a French-speaking people for that.
> 
>   Examples of other commonly-used words loaned into English from French,
> and which can be quite difficult to pronounce for someone who has never
> heard them: genre, lingerie, entrepreneur, facade.

Hell, I *still* don't know how to pronounce genre! ;-)

[And lingerie is just hard to physically utter. Still, not something I'm 
ever likely to need to do...]

>> I guessed that "platonic" would be something to do with regular solids.
> 
>   Ever heard of platonic love?

Yes. I never knew what it meant though.

Actually there are lots of words I've heard and wondered what they 
meant. [Obviously I can't think of a single example *right now*...]

-- 
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*

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On 22 Apr 2008 06:41:30 -0400, Warp <war### [at] tagpovrayorg> wrote:

>Invisible <voi### [at] devnull> wrote:
>> >   "Barista" is rather easy to guess, especially if you know Spanish
>> > (like I do).
>
>> Any hints on how to pronounce it?
>
>  I suppose you pronounce it approximately in the same way as a Spanish
>would.

Or Italian, but that is really not helpful, as I'm sure you know ;)


Try Bar-eas-ta (eas as in Easter)
-- 

Regards
     Stephen

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On Tue, 22 Apr 2008 12:25:27 +0200, "Gilles Tran"
<gitran_nospam_@wanadoo.fr> wrote:

>
>This from a guy who *** lives *** with his dear mom :P

Below the belt!
-- 

Regards
     Stephen

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Invisible wrote:
> http://blog.orphi.me.uk/archives/268
> 
> How many of these words can *you* figure out, without looking them up?

Barista:  Don't know this one.  Possibly either a Spanish term for a 
lawyer, or a resident of a Hispanic ghetto.

harlot:  A prostitute.

altruistic:  Holding a moral code that make others primary over the self.

misanthopic:  Hating humans.

lush:  (1) adj.  harboring great quantities of life, esp. plant life. 
(2) n.  a person given to excessive alcohol consumption.

sass:  (1) vt.  to regard with less than due reverence.  (2) n.  The 
state or quality of spirited disregard for authority.

Oedipus complex:  n.  A romantic attraction towards ones own parent of 
the opposite sex.

defenstration:  one of many incorrect spellings of defenestration.

defenestration:  the act of defenestrating.

defenestration:  seriously, the act of ejecting another person or thing 
from a building through a window of said edifice.

double entendre:  A joke based on a double meaning of a word or phrase. 
  Example:  "How do you hang the wallpaper designed by David Bowie?  It 
doesn't matter, it goes both ways."

MILF:  Acronym of Mother I'd Like to Fuck

codependent:  n.  Persons, usually family members, who are affected by 
another person's addiction to gambling, alcohol and/or other drugs, 
etc., whose behavior is theorized to detract from the addict's efforts 
to escape their addiction.

burro:  From the Spanish word for donkey.  There may be a slang meaning 
of which I am unaware.

heinous:  Despicable, horrid, worthy of contempt.

lascivious:  adj. tending towards an overly sexual manner.

florid:  (1) adj.  of clothing, having a prominent floral pattern. (2) 
of verbal communication, being exceptionally or excessively garnished.

morose:  depressed

hickey:  n.  A minor injury caused by applying oral suction to a small 
area of skin, usually on the neck.

platonic:  adj. having no sexual or romantic basis or aspect, such as "a 
platonic relationship"

effeminate:  adj.  of males, having or exhibiting qualities and/or 
behaviors that are typical of the female sex.

canteloupe:  The window's locked.

canteloupe:  Seriously, a fruit with a rough tannish rind and a 
orange-colored flesh.

ungulate:  n.  The group of animals, generally mammalian, which walk on 
the tips of the digits of the feet.

carafe:  n.  A wide-mouthed container, used for storing and serving 
liquid drinks.

misogynist:  A person who dislikes women.

reprehensible:  despicable, worthy of condemnation.

catharsis:  From a Greek word meaning "cleansing," the act of releasing 
emotional and psychological stresses.

epiphany:  A sudden realization of a previously unmarked truth.

emancipation:  The act of being freed, typically from slavery.

sapphic:  adj.  (From the name Sappho, a Greek poetess who addressed 
romantic poems to other women)  of or relating to creative works which 
express romantic or sexual desire of women for other women.

Looks like I only missed one completely, and may not be sure of another.

Regards,
John

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On Tue, 22 Apr 2008 07:56:36 -0400, John VanSickle
<evi### [at] hotmailcom> wrote:

>florid:  (1) adj.  of clothing, having a prominent floral pattern. (2) 
>of verbal communication, being exceptionally or excessively garnished.

You can also have a florid complexion as in ruddy.
-- 

Regards
     Stephen

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Invisible <voi### [at] devnull> wrote:
> Hell, I *still* don't know how to pronounce genre! ;-)

  Watch this, and you'll know: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STxppluW_G0

-- 
                                                          - Warp

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Warp <war### [at] tagpovrayorg> wrote:
>   Examples of other commonly-used words loaned into English from French,
> and which can be quite difficult to pronounce for someone who has never
> heard them: genre, lingerie, entrepreneur, facade.

  OTOH, sometimes even "native" words are hard to pronounce, even to
natives. One example which comes to mind is worcestershire sauce.

-- 
                                                          - Warp

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On 22 Apr 2008 08:50:19 -0400, Warp <war### [at] tagpovrayorg> wrote:

>
>  OTOH, sometimes even "native" words are hard to pronounce, even to
>natives. One example which comes to mind is worcestershire sauce.

Don't remind me :)
-- 

Regards
     Stephen

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Stephen wrote:
> On 22 Apr 2008 08:50:19 -0400, Warp <war### [at] tagpovrayorg> wrote:
> 
>>  OTOH, sometimes even "native" words are hard to pronounce, even to
>> natives. One example which comes to mind is worcestershire sauce.
> 
> Don't remind me :)
...let's all discuss this over a drink in a pub near Leicester Square :-)

John

-- 
I will be brief but not nearly so brief as Salvador Dali, who gave the
world's shortest speech. He said, "I will be so brief I am already
finished," then he sat down.

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On Tue, 22 Apr 2008 14:14:08 +0100, Doctor John <doc### [at] gmailcom>
wrote:

>Stephen wrote:
>> On 22 Apr 2008 08:50:19 -0400, Warp <war### [at] tagpovrayorg> wrote:
>> 
>>>  OTOH, sometimes even "native" words are hard to pronounce, even to
>>> natives. One example which comes to mind is worcestershire sauce.
>> 
>> Don't remind me :)
>...let's all discuss this over a drink in a pub near Leicester Square :-)
>
Sounds good to me :)
-- 

Regards
     Stephen

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>  OTOH, sometimes even "native" words are hard to pronounce, even to
> natives. One example which comes to mind is worcestershire sauce.

I don't think many English natives would find that hard to pronounce, there 
are several (3?) counties in England that finish in -cestershire, and plenty 
more towns and cities that end in -cester.

Post a reply to this message

Invisible wrote:
> http://blog.orphi.me.uk/archives/268
> 
> How many of these words can *you* figure out, without looking them up?
> 
> Am I just supremely illiterate, or are these words actually rare?
> 

Knew all but Defenstration / Defenestration, and I swing a hammer for a 
living. You're not knowing these words supports my low opinion of geek 
television and literature [1], which I have found to be typically inane. 
What I can't figure out is why? Why are such an intelligent group of 
people drawn so strongly to children's books and poorly written pulp 
magazine serials?

  -Shay


[1] I read /Mote in God's Eye/, /Ringworld/, /The Hobbit/, and a few 
others when I was on a cardio (10.5 elliptical trainer hours a week) 
kick a few years ago.

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On Tue, 22 Apr 2008 08:41:54 -0500, Shay <sha### [at] nonenone> wrote:

>What I can't figure out is why? Why are such an intelligent group of 
>people drawn so strongly to children's books and poorly written pulp 
>magazine serials?

My guess is arrested development. ;)
-- 

Regards
     Stephen

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Shay wrote:
> 
> Knew all but Defenstration / Defenestration, and I swing a hammer for a
> living. You're not knowing these words supports my low opinion of geek
> television and literature [1], which I have found to be typically inane.
> What I can't figure out is why? 
I'm sure that you'll get a few flames over that comment but no need to
don fireproof underwear yet :-)

I would hardly call Iain M. Banks' compositions inane. atm I'm also
re-reading Haldeman's The Forever War. Definitely not inane tho' the
ending is a fraction weak.

John

-- 
I will be brief but not nearly so brief as Salvador Dali, who gave the
world's shortest speech. He said, "I will be so brief I am already
finished," then he sat down.

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Invisible wrote:
> http://blog.orphi.me.uk/archives/268
> 
> How many of these words can *you* figure out, without looking them up?
> 
> Am I just supremely illiterate, or are these words actually rare?
> 

The only one I didn't know the meaning of right off was catharsis.

Post a reply to this message

scott <sco### [at] laptopcom> wrote:
> >  OTOH, sometimes even "native" words are hard to pronounce, even to
> > natives. One example which comes to mind is worcestershire sauce.

> I don't think many English natives would find that hard to pronounce, there 
> are several (3?) counties in England that finish in -cestershire, and plenty 
> more towns and cities that end in -cester.

  Ok, I was thinking about Americans, actually. British people probably
have little problem with that name.

-- 
                                                          - Warp

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Invisible wrote:
>>   "Barista" is rather easy to guess, especially if you know Spanish
>> (like I do).
> 
> Any hints on how to pronounce it?
> 

In U.S. english: "Bahreestuh"

> 
>>   Double entendre is quite common speech, IMO.
> 
> Again, how do you even pronounce such a word?
> 

In U.S. english: "Double" ahntahndrah

>>   If you don't know what MILF is, you haven't been reading the proper
>> webcomics... ;)
> 
> Er... no, you know what? I DON'T EVEN WANNA KNOW!
> 

MILF is apparently an acronym for something ... I learned this a while 
back trying to understand it.

>>   What's unclear about "codependent"?
> 
> The fact that it's considered bad.
> 

Now I'm confused?

>>   It's really strange you don't know what "platonic" or "effeminate"
>> mean, IMO.
> 
> I guessed that "platonic" would be something to do with regular solids.

Yes, there are platonic solids, and platonic relationships. Platonic 
means no sexual overtones, e.g. "Just friends"

Post a reply to this message

Gilles Tran wrote:

>>>   The oedipus complex is basic psychology.
> 
>> Or "really seriously messed-up weirdness", depending on your point of 
>> view...
> 
> This from a guy who *** lives *** with his dear mom :P
> 
> G.
> 

(Sorry Andrew)

Now *that* was funny.

Post a reply to this message

John VanSickle wrote:
> Oedipus complex:  n.  A romantic attraction towards ones own parent of 
> the opposite sex.
> 

Usually refers only to a male's attraction to his mother. A female's 
attraction to her father is an Electra complex.

> canteloupe:  Seriously, a fruit with a rough tannish rind and a orange-colored
flesh. 

Often used in the USA to refer to a musk melon.

> Looks like I only missed one completely, and may not be sure of another.
> 
> Regards,
> John 

Which one did you miss?

Post a reply to this message

Invisible wrote:

> "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"
> "I just stuck a trumpet in your ass. Aren't instruments fun?"
> 
> At that point, I decided to stop watching...
> 

"One time at band camp ..."

Post a reply to this message

Invisible wrote:

> Hell, I *still* don't know how to pronounce genre! ;-)

johnruh or zhanruh ... take your pick.

> 
> [And lingerie is just hard to physically utter. Still, not something I'm 
> ever likely to need to do...]
> 
>>> I guessed that "platonic" would be something to do with regular solids.
>>
>>   Ever heard of platonic love?
> 
> Yes. I never knew what it meant though.
> 
> Actually there are lots of words I've heard and wondered what they 
> meant. [Obviously I can't think of a single example *right now*...]
>

Post a reply to this message

Warp wrote:

>   OTOH, sometimes even "native" words are hard to pronounce, even to
> natives. One example which comes to mind is worcestershire sauce.

That one always trips me up :/

Post a reply to this message

On Tue, 22 Apr 2008 10:31:12 -0400, Sabrina Kilian <"ykgp at
vtSPAM.edu"> wrote:

>John VanSickle wrote:
>> Oedipus complex:  n.  A romantic attraction towards ones own parent of 
>> the opposite sex.
>> 
>
>Usually refers only to a male's attraction to his mother. A female's 
>attraction to her father is an Electra complex.

Since we are showing off with our Greek. I point Andrew to the "Medea
complex" if he wants to worry :)
-- 

Regards
     Stephen

Post a reply to this message

>I'm also
> re-reading Haldeman's The Forever War. Definitely not inane tho' the
> ending is a fraction weak.
>
> John

The epitome late '60s early '70s mainstream Sci-fi.

--
H²

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"Invisible" <voi### [at] devnull> wrote in message
news:480dae0b@news.povray.org...
> http://blog.orphi.me.uk/archives/268
>
> How many of these words can *you* figure out, without looking them up?
>
> Am I just supremely illiterate, or are these words actually rare?

I got about 90% of them. Guess I don't read enough..

How much fiction (excluding web comics) do you read?

Post a reply to this message

"John VanSickle" <evi### [at] hotmailcom> wrote in message
news:480dd27b@news.povray.org...
> Invisible wrote:
> > http://blog.orphi.me.uk/archives/268
> >
> > How many of these words can *you* figure out, without looking them up?
>
> Barista:  Don't know this one.  Possibly either a Spanish term for a
> lawyer, or a resident of a Hispanic ghetto.

Think starbucks.

From dictionary.com - a person who works at the counter of a coffee shop; a
coffee bar server

Post a reply to this message

Bill Pragnell escribió:
> 'on-TON-druh' might 
> be a rough approximation (apologies to the French).

"Critics of ad hoc pronunciation schemes point out that such schemas are 
inherently self-referential, since they rely on the ability of the 
reader to already know how a large number of words are commonly 
pronounced. In addition, such schemas often assume a certain language, 
dialect or accent on the part of the reader, and due to its popularity 
in the US, this is very often a US accent."

Post a reply to this message

"Gail Shaw" <initialsurname@sentech sa dot com> wrote in message
news:480e018e@news.povray.org...
>
> "Invisible" <voi### [at] devnull> wrote in message
> news:480dae0b@news.povray.org...
> > http://blog.orphi.me.uk/archives/268
> >
> > How many of these words can *you* figure out, without looking them up?
> >
> > Am I just supremely illiterate, or are these words actually rare?
>
> I got about 90% of them. Guess I don't read enough..
>
> How much fiction (excluding web comics) do you read?
>

p.s. if you want to improve your vocabulary -
http://dictionary.reference.com/wordoftheday/list/

Post a reply to this message

And lo on Tue, 22 Apr 2008 14:33:55 +0100, scott <sco### [at] laptopcom> did  
spake, saying:

>>  OTOH, sometimes even "native" words are hard to pronounce, even to
>> natives. One example which comes to mind is worcestershire sauce.

Mmm windy-river fort sauce.

> I don't think many English natives would find that hard to pronounce,  
> there are several (3?) counties in England that finish in -cestershire,  
> and plenty more towns and cities that end in -cester.

Damn Romans got everywhere. :-)

-- 
Phil Cook

--
I once tried to be apathetic, but I just couldn't be bothered
http://flipc.blogspot.com

Post a reply to this message

Nicolas Alvarez wrote:
> Bill Pragnell escribió:
>> 'on-TON-druh' might be a rough approximation (apologies to the French).
> 
> "Critics of ad hoc pronunciation schemes point out that such schemas are 
> inherently self-referential, since they rely on the ability of the 
> reader to already know how a large number of words are commonly 
> pronounced. In addition, such schemas often assume a certain language, 
> dialect or accent on the part of the reader, and due to its popularity 
> in the US, this is very often a US accent."

What? do you propose we use IPA?

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Nicolas Alvarez wrote:
> Bill Pragnell escribió:
>> 'on-TON-druh' might be a rough approximation (apologies to the French).
> 
> "Critics of ad hoc pronunciation schemes point out that such schemas are 
> inherently self-referential, since they rely on the ability of the 
> reader to already know how a large number of words are commonly 
> pronounced. In addition, such schemas often assume a certain language, 
> dialect or accent on the part of the reader, and due to its popularity 
> in the US, this is very often a US accent."

Fair enough. This example works fine for both british and US accents, 
though.

:P

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And lo on Tue, 22 Apr 2008 12:56:36 +0100, John VanSickle  
<evi### [at] hotmailcom> did spake, saying:

> Invisible wrote:
>> http://blog.orphi.me.uk/archives/268
>>  How many of these words can *you* figure out, without looking them up?
>
> lush:  (1) adj.  harboring great quantities of life, esp. plant life.  
> (2) n.  a person given to excessive alcohol consumption.

Also a possible abbreviation of luscious.

> Oedipus complex:  n.  A romantic attraction towards ones own parent of  
> the opposite sex.

Less noted is the Jocasta complex which is the romantic attraction of the  
mother to the son.

> defenestration:  seriously, the act of ejecting another person or thing  
> from a building through a window of said edifice.

Ah so that's where deportation came from ;-)

> MILF:  Acronym of Mother I'd Like to Fuck

Yet another Simpsons reference - this time from the game and the  
NeverQuest level

Homer: Wow Marge you are one hot MILF
Marge: The word is elf. Elf!

-- 
Phil Cook

--
I once tried to be apathetic, but I just couldn't be bothered
http://flipc.blogspot.com

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On Tue, 22 Apr 2008 16:24:55 +0100, "Phil Cook"
<phi### [at] nospamrocainfreeservecouk> wrote:

>
>Damn Romans got everywhere. :-)

Not quite everywhere ;)
-- 

Regards
     Stephen

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And lo on Tue, 22 Apr 2008 14:41:54 +0100, Shay <sha### [at] nonenone> did  
spake, saying:

> Invisible wrote:
>> http://blog.orphi.me.uk/archives/268
>>  How many of these words can *you* figure out, without looking them up?
>>  Am I just supremely illiterate, or are these words actually rare?
>>
> You're not knowing these words supports my low opinion of geek  
> television and literature [1], which I have found to be typically inane.  
> What I can't figure out is why? Why are such an intelligent group of  
> people drawn so strongly to children's books and poorly written pulp  
> magazine serials?

Answer 1: Because geeks work their brains so hard they sometimes need to  
give them the equivalent of a nice sit down and a cuppa.
Answer 2: Because socially and emotionally that's what what geeks relate  
to most.

Pick one or submit your own :-)

-- 
Phil Cook

--
I once tried to be apathetic, but I just couldn't be bothered
http://flipc.blogspot.com

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Mike Raiford escribió:
> What? do you propose we use IPA?

*I* would understand that easier!

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And lo on Tue, 22 Apr 2008 16:48:31 +0100, Stephen <mcavoysAT@aolDOTcom>  
did spake, saying:

> On Tue, 22 Apr 2008 16:24:55 +0100, "Phil Cook"
> <phi### [at] nospamrocainfreeservecouk> wrote:
>
>>
>> Damn Romans got everywhere. :-)
>
> Not quite everywhere ;)

Everywhere worth going to

'I say Cladius let's conquer Scotty land so as to partake of the wonderful  
natural ice-cold springs and wander in our togas amongst the many thistle  
farms enjoying the bracing ice winds and snow and the joyous keening sound  
of the bagpipes.'
'Or we could just build a bloody great wall along the border to discourage  
any other idiots like you from trying to visit and keep the natives penned  
up in that hellhole*'

:-P

*I forget, was Glasgow around back then?

-- 
Phil Cook

--
I once tried to be apathetic, but I just couldn't be bothered
http://flipc.blogspot.com

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John VanSickle escribió:
> burro:  From the Spanish word for donkey.  There may be a slang meaning 
> of which I am unaware.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burrito

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On Tue, 22 Apr 2008 17:25:11 +0200, "Gail Shaw"
<initialsurname@sentech sa dot com> wrote:

>
>p.s. if you want to improve your vocabulary -
>http://dictionary.reference.com/wordoftheday/list/
>

or
http://www.readersdigest.co.uk/wordpower/
:)
-- 

Regards
     Stephen

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Nicolas Alvarez <nic### [at] gmailisthebestcom> wrote:
> Bill Pragnell escribió:
> > 'on-TON-druh' might 
> > be a rough approximation (apologies to the French).

> "Critics of ad hoc pronunciation schemes point out that such schemas are 
> inherently self-referential, since they rely on the ability of the 
> reader to already know how a large number of words are commonly 
> pronounced. In addition, such schemas often assume a certain language, 
> dialect or accent on the part of the reader, and due to its popularity 
> in the US, this is very often a US accent."

  Personally I also oppose that type of "pronounciation syntax" which
looks more like the writer is having rough sex than anything else.

-- 
                                                          - Warp

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And lo on Tue, 22 Apr 2008 16:59:56 +0100, Nicolas Alvarez  
<nic### [at] gmailisthebestcom> did spake, saying:

> Mike Raiford escribió:
>> What? do you propose we use IPA?
>
> *I* would understand that easier!

Okee dokee

dublɑ̃ˈtɑ̃drə/ or /ˈdʌbəl ɑnˈtɑndrə

with UTF-8 that should display correctly.

-- 
Phil Cook

--
I once tried to be apathetic, but I just couldn't be bothered
http://flipc.blogspot.com

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