“(Scurryfunge) a hasty tidying of the house between the time you see a neighbor and the time she knocks on the door”
— John Gould’s Maine Lingo: Boiled Owls, Billdads, and Wazzats, 1975
I must use this.
Tag: words
CLITHRIDIATE
[adjective]
having the shape of a keyhole.
Etymology: uncertain.
So similar to ‘clitoris’ – and possibly similar in origin:
Word Origin and History for clitoris: (from dictionary.com)
“erectile organ of female mammals,” 1610s, coined in Modern Latin from Late Greek kleitoris, a diminutive, but the exact sense intended by the coiners is uncertain. Perhaps from Greek kleiein “to sheathe,” also “to shut,"in reference to its being covered by the labia minora. The related Greek noun form kleis has a second meaning of "a key, a latch or hook (to close a door);” see close (v.), and cf. slot (n.2).
SOLUS
[adjective]
1.alone, sole, only, by oneself with no others around.
2. solitary, uninhabited.
Etymology: from Latin sōlus, thought to be related to sē,“oneself”.
AURICOMOUS
[adjective]
having golden or blonde hair.
Etymology: from Latin ‘auri-‘ (variant of auro– – gold) + ‘-comous’ (from Ancient Greek kome – head of hair).
FORTITUDO
[noun]
1. strength, force.
2. fortitude, resolve.
3. bravery, courage, valour.
Etymology: from Latin fortis, “strong, mighty”.
SELENIC
[adjective]
1. of, relating to, or like the moon.
2. of, relating to, or containing selenium —used especially of compounds in which this element has a higher valence than in selenious compounds.Etymology: ultimately from Ancient Greek Σελήνη (Selḗnē), “the moon; the Moon Goddess”.
STALWART
[adjective]
1. strongly and stoutly built; sturdy and robust.
2. strong and brave; valiant.
3. firm, steadfast, or uncompromising.
[noun]
4. a physically stalwart person.
5. a steadfast or uncompromising partisan.
Etymology: Middle English (Scots), variant of stalward, earlier stalwurthe; Old English stǣlwirthe – serviceable.
SOPOROSE
[adjective]
1. sleepy.
2. Pathology: characterised by abnormal slumber.
Etymology: from Latin sopor, “sleep”.
PAPYROPHILIA
[noun]
an extreme love for paper.
Etymology: from Greek papūros, “reed used in making paper” + philia, “love”.
LACHRYPHAGY [aka LACHRYPHAGIA]
[noun]
tear drinking.
Etymology: from Latin lacrima, “tear” + Greek phageîn, “to eat”.
The Doctor Is Out 