Category Archives: Wurdz

lexiphanes

Posted on October 24, 2007 by Beth

This is definitely NOT me today… lexiphanes (lex-SIF-uh-neez) noun    One who uses words pretentiously. I think I’m lucky this morning if I can string together a coherent sentence… wurd courtesy of A.W.A.D.

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Best English Teacher T-shirt Ever!

Posted on July 26, 2007 by Beth

I so need to wear this for a school non-uniform day just once… Thank you One Horse Shy!

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tatterdemalion

Posted on May 31, 2007 by Beth

tatterdemalion (tat-uhr-di-MAYL-yuhn, -MALEE-uhn) adjective: Ragged, tattered. noun: A person in ragged clothes. [From Middle English tater, from Old Norse toturr (rag). The origin of demalion is uncertain.] Example: The tatterdemalion costumes in the play foreshadowed the quality of the playacting… … Continue reading →

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pleonastic

Posted on May 26, 2007 by Beth

Wikipedia: Pleonasm is the use of more words (or even word-parts) than necessary to express an idea clearly. The word comes originally from Greek πλεονασμός (“excess”). Merriam Webster: ple·o·nasm Pronunciation: ‘plE-&-“na-z&m Function: noun Etymology: Late Latin pleonasmus, from Greek pleonasmos, … Continue reading →

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What's in a name?

Posted on May 19, 2007 by Beth

‘That which we call a rose / By any other name would smell as sweet…’ Romeo and Juliet Hmmm… My name is Elizabeth, which various sources name as meaning ‘God’s promise’, ‘Consecrated to God’, or ‘my God is abundance’. Certainly … Continue reading →

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A.Word.A.Day…

Posted on April 13, 2007 by Beth

…keeps the doctor (probably the psychiatrist…) away… I used to subscribe to this when I was teaching in Canada, but cancelled it when I came to the UK. This week’s theme: words that seem risque. Today’s word: turdiform (TUR-di-form) adjective … Continue reading →

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churlish

Posted on April 12, 2007 by Beth

churlish • \CHUR-lish\ • adjective 1: of, resembling, or characteristic of a churl : vulgar 2: marked by a lack of civility or graciousness : surly 3: difficult to work with or deal with : intractable from Merriam-Webster Online toast … Continue reading →

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pluvial

Posted on April 10, 2007 by Beth

pluvial • \PLOO-vee-ul\ • adjective 1 a : of or relating to rain b : characterized by abundant rain 2 of a geologic change : resulting from the action of rain from Merriam-Webster Online pluvial morning arises from the mist … Continue reading →

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clerihew

Posted on January 22, 2007 by Beth

From Merriam-Webster Online: clerihew • \KLAIR-ih-hyoo\ • noun : a light verse quatrain rhyming aabb and usually dealing with a person named in the initial rhyme Hmmm… The thing about people named Bob Is often they can be a snob … Continue reading →

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divarication

Posted on June 15, 2006 by Beth

divarication \dye-vair-uh-KAY-shun\ noun 1 : the action, process, or fact of spreading apart *2 : a divergence of opinion There was a divarication over whether or not my classroom actually needed any expensive equipment… 

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