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Let MensaGrrl help you master those "smart" vocabulary words! Some of these are "must know" words for anyone with a Mensa-level IQ, while others will really set you apart when you sprinkle them carefully in your speech and writing. Ready? Let's begin!
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Special Post: Potassium Iodide for Radiation Protection
For those who are looking for potassium iodide (for protection from radioactive iodine resulting from a nuclear meltdown, as is now seeming possible in Japan--they've already found radioactive iodine there, and trade wind and weather patterns mean any potential fallout would be heading right for the west coast of the US), it's still available here. But just know that it's selling out just about everywhere, and is getting very difficult to find. There are literally NO stores in my local area that are not now sold out.
Saturday, May 3, 2008
palanquin
palanquin (n)
1. A covered type of litter for a stretched-out passenger, carried on four poles on the shoulders of four or more bearers, as formerly used (also by colonials) in eastern Asia.
1. A covered type of litter for a stretched-out passenger, carried on four poles on the shoulders of four or more bearers, as formerly used (also by colonials) in eastern Asia.
Saturday, January 27, 2007
antidisestablishmentarianism
antidisestablishmentarianism (n)
1. A political philosophy opposed to the separation of church and state, esp. opponents in 19th century England against separating the Anglican church from the state.
2. Referred to as an atypically long word for showing intellectual pretence.
1. A political philosophy opposed to the separation of church and state, esp. opponents in 19th century England against separating the Anglican church from the state.
2. Referred to as an atypically long word for showing intellectual pretence.
pedantic
pedantic (adj)
1. Like a pedant, overly concerned with formal rules and trivial points of learning.
2. Being showy of one’s knowledge, often in a boring manner.
3. Often used to describe a person who emphasizes his/her knowledge through the use of vocabulary; ostentatious in one’s learning.
4. Being finicky or picky with language.
1. Like a pedant, overly concerned with formal rules and trivial points of learning.
2. Being showy of one’s knowledge, often in a boring manner.
3. Often used to describe a person who emphasizes his/her knowledge through the use of vocabulary; ostentatious in one’s learning.
4. Being finicky or picky with language.
eschew
eschew (vt)
1. To avoid; to shun (usually applied to ideas or concepts and not to concrete objects).
1. To avoid; to shun (usually applied to ideas or concepts and not to concrete objects).
sanguine
sanguine (adj)
1. (color) Having the color of blood; red.
2. Characterized by abundance and active circulation of blood.
3. Warm; ardent.
4. Anticipating the best; not despondent; confident; full of hope.
5. (Obsolete): irresponsibly mirthful; indulgent in pleasure to the exclusion of important matters.
sanguine (n)
1. (colour) Blood color; red.
2. Anything of a blood-red color, as cloth.
3. Bloodstone.
4. Red crayon.
sanguine (vt)
1. To stain with blood; to impart the color of blood to; to ensanguine.
1. (color) Having the color of blood; red.
2. Characterized by abundance and active circulation of blood.
3. Warm; ardent.
4. Anticipating the best; not despondent; confident; full of hope.
5. (Obsolete): irresponsibly mirthful; indulgent in pleasure to the exclusion of important matters.
sanguine (n)
1. (colour) Blood color; red.
2. Anything of a blood-red color, as cloth.
3. Bloodstone.
4. Red crayon.
sanguine (vt)
1. To stain with blood; to impart the color of blood to; to ensanguine.
lilliputian
lilliputian (adj)
1. Very small, diminutive.
2. Trivial, petty.
lilliputian (n)
A very small person or being.
1. Very small, diminutive.
2. Trivial, petty.
lilliputian (n)
A very small person or being.
eleemosynary
eleemosynary (adj)
1. Relating to charity, alms, or almsgiving; intended for the distribution of charity.
2. Given in charity or alms; having the nature of alms; as, eleemosynary assistance.
3. Supported by charity; as, eleemosynary poor.
1. Relating to charity, alms, or almsgiving; intended for the distribution of charity.
2. Given in charity or alms; having the nature of alms; as, eleemosynary assistance.
3. Supported by charity; as, eleemosynary poor.
Verfremdungseffekt
Verfremdungseffekt (plural Verfremdungseffekte) (n)
1. Brecht's alienation effect, sometimes translated as the estrangement effect.
2. (theater) Distance between the audience and the performers.
1. Brecht's alienation effect, sometimes translated as the estrangement effect.
2. (theater) Distance between the audience and the performers.
apraxia
apraxia (n)
1. Total or partial loss of the ability to perform coordinated movements or manipulate objects in the absence of motor or sensory impairment; specifically, a disorder of motor planning.
1. Total or partial loss of the ability to perform coordinated movements or manipulate objects in the absence of motor or sensory impairment; specifically, a disorder of motor planning.
bellicose
bellicose (adj)
1. Warlike in nature; aggressive; hostile.
2. Showing or having the impulse to be combative.
1. Warlike in nature; aggressive; hostile.
2. Showing or having the impulse to be combative.
hypertrophy
hypertrophy (n)
1. (medicine) An increase in the size of an organ due to swelling of the individual cells.
2. (bodybuilding) Increase in muscle size through increased numbers of muscle fibers; a result of strict diet, weightlifting, and other exercise.
1. (medicine) An increase in the size of an organ due to swelling of the individual cells.
2. (bodybuilding) Increase in muscle size through increased numbers of muscle fibers; a result of strict diet, weightlifting, and other exercise.
coruscate
coruscate (vi)
1. To give off light; to reflect in flashes; to sparkle.
2. To exhibit brilliant technique or style.
1. To give off light; to reflect in flashes; to sparkle.
2. To exhibit brilliant technique or style.
excrescence
excrescence (n)
1. Something, usually abnormal, which grows out of something else.
2. A disfiguring or unwanted mark or adjunct
1. Something, usually abnormal, which grows out of something else.
2. A disfiguring or unwanted mark or adjunct
defenstrate
defenstrate (vi)
1. (computing) (slang) To stop using the Windows operating system.
defenestrate (vt)
1. To eject or throw (someone or something) from a window.
1. (computing) (slang) To stop using the Windows operating system.
defenestrate (vt)
1. To eject or throw (someone or something) from a window.
anaphora
anaphora (n)
1. The repetition of a phrase at the beginning of phrases, sentences, or verses, used for emphasis.
2. (linguistics) An expression that refers to another expression, especially a preceding one. An example is a pronoun that refers to its antecedent.
1. The repetition of a phrase at the beginning of phrases, sentences, or verses, used for emphasis.
2. (linguistics) An expression that refers to another expression, especially a preceding one. An example is a pronoun that refers to its antecedent.
anthropomorphic
anthropomorphic (adj)
1. (of inanimate objects, animals, or other non-human entities) Given human attributes.
1. (of inanimate objects, animals, or other non-human entities) Given human attributes.
catafalque
catafalque (n)
1. A platform used to display or convey a coffin during a funeral, often ornate.
1. A platform used to display or convey a coffin during a funeral, often ornate.
qualia
qualia (n)
1. Properties not defineable with numbers. A quality.
2. Properties, as redness, which are considered independent from things having the property.
3. Plural form of quale
1. Properties not defineable with numbers. A quality.
2. Properties, as redness, which are considered independent from things having the property.
3. Plural form of quale
heterophenomenology
heterophenomenology (n)
1. Phenomenology of the Other.
2. The method of studying the consciousness of other people.
1. Phenomenology of the Other.
2. The method of studying the consciousness of other people.
satyriasis
satyriasis (n)
1. Uncontrollable sexual desire, found in a man (contrast to nymphomania).
2. The quality of excessive sexual passion in a male.
1. Uncontrollable sexual desire, found in a man (contrast to nymphomania).
2. The quality of excessive sexual passion in a male.
boustrophedon
boustrophedon (adv)
1. Of writing, in a fashion such that the reading direction changes from right-to-left to left-to-right every line.
boustrophedon (adj)
1. Written from right-to-left and left-to-right on alternate lines.
2. (figurative) Changing direction, going back and forth.
1. Of writing, in a fashion such that the reading direction changes from right-to-left to left-to-right every line.
boustrophedon (adj)
1. Written from right-to-left and left-to-right on alternate lines.
2. (figurative) Changing direction, going back and forth.
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