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General discussion (archive)The Overly Fancy Word Thread(108 posts)(108 posts)
(108 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted March 09, 2014
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TStael: And how would you describe it in other words, plus what shall the appropriate situations?
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babark: Callipygian pulchritude is that magical beauty inherent in well shaped buttocks. I make sure to compliment any who achieve such lofty standards.
And how beauteous are yours, lest you be a hypocrite, pray?
Posted March 09, 2014
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cmdr_flashheart: I wasn't picking on OP for starting the thread, but giving reasons for why words which seem unnecessarily complicated to us might have good reasons for existing the way that they do; the OP said, "there are words out there that are really complicated for no obvious reason", hence my post.

The more we read, the more we might understand why certain words exist. That's all, really :]
I do understand, as such - but I do also think that enjoyable words exist to allow to write in-between the lines, as in French of Rousseau, but also simply to inquire.

What is a word you like? Pick your language even, and just post it! :-)

"Die Finsternis" or darkness in German - I have always wondered about this word. Someone can tell?
Posted March 09, 2014
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cmdr_flashheart: I wasn't picking on OP for starting the thread, but giving reasons for why words which seem unnecessarily complicated to us might have good reasons for existing the way that they do; the OP said, "there are words out there that are really complicated for no obvious reason", hence my post.

The more we read, the more we might understand why certain words exist. That's all, really :]
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TStael: I do understand, as such - but I do also think that enjoyable words exist to allow to write in-between the lines, as in French of Rousseau, but also simply to inquire.

What is a word you like? Pick your language even, and just post it! :-)

...
Maybe what happened is that we both interpreted the OP in different ways, and responded as such. I gave my reasons for my response already, and I think you're still not understanding. It's okay, enjoy the thread, and don't worry about it :]
Posted March 09, 2014
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theslitherydeee: defenestrate=to throw someone or something out a window
That's a thing? You didn't just make it up? I think I'll have to remember it. In fact, I wonder how I made do without it, considering that I feel like throwing someone or something out of a window on a daily basis. :D
Posted March 09, 2014
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theslitherydeee: defenestrate=to throw someone or something out a window
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CharlesGrey: That's a thing? You didn't just make it up? I think I'll have to remember it. In fact, I wonder how I made do without it, considering that I feel like throwing someone or something out of a window on a daily basis. :D
Words like these are great for conversations, you can say whatever you want to someone and as long as you do it with a smile on your face they'll thank you for it.
Posted March 09, 2014
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amok: Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicavolcanoconiosis
Fixed a little typo there
Posted March 10, 2014
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amok: Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicavolcanoconiosis
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ggf162: Fixed a little typo there
Gosh...I never even heard of that word and you fixed a typo...holey-moley !!

Here's mine: Gedankenexperiment = Coined by Albert Einstein. Gedanken means "thoughts" in German and Einstein applied it to his theory of relativity....*smile*
Posted March 10, 2014
Pusillanimous - being a pussy, basically
Elucidate - Explain, expound etc.
Posted March 10, 2014
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Fever_Discordia: Pusillanimous - being a pussy, basically
Elucidate - Explain, expound etc.
Being a pussy used to be mean being gentle; I think I remember this from some tv show, can't remember which.
Posted March 10, 2014
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bevinator: I've always been a fan of serendipity, the art of finding awesome stuff you weren't looking for.

It's also one of the few English words that has no suitable translation in most other languages.
yeah, named after the island of Serendip, which was what Sri Lanka was called before it was called Ceylon!

Its interesting that we have that oddly specific word in English but we have to borrow 'Schadenfreude' - meaning 'To take pleasure in the misfortune of others' from German, not sure what that says about us.. or the Germans for that matter!
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Fever_Discordia: Pusillanimous - being a pussy, basically
Elucidate - Explain, expound etc.
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cmdr_flashheart: Being a pussy used to be mean being gentle; I think I remember this from some tv show, can't remember which.
LOL... cats!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Games-Pussy-Other-Owners-Should/dp/088032015X
Post edited March 10, 2014 by Fever_Discordia
Posted March 11, 2014
I just used 'Ubiquitous' in another thread - I guess that's pretty fancy, it means universal and ever-present
'Archetype' off the top of my head too, it's meaning is very similar to stereotype but with a more kind of positive, legendary spin.
Posted March 11, 2014
I love the word 'dilettante'. Sounds so sophisticated, but it means mostly the opposite (someone who takes an interest in something but lacks knowledge about it, kind of like amateur).
Posted March 11, 2014
Currently reading Stephen R. Donaldson's Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, Donaldson's a veritable gold mine of obscure terms. One I had to look up was surquedry, which means overweening pride, arrogance or insolence. Love the word though.
Posted March 11, 2014
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Coelocanth: Currently reading Stephen R. Donaldson's Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, Donaldson's a veritable gold mine of obscure terms. One I had to look up was surquedry, which means overweening pride, arrogance or insolence. Love the word though.
reminds me of 'Quixotic' which means overly idealistic and fanciful, I think it comes from Don Quixote
Posted March 11, 2014
I like the word 'welkin' - an ancient word for the sky
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This is my favourite topic
Community
General discussion (archive)The Overly Fancy Word Thread(108 posts)(108 posts)
(108 posts)