Big Word Wednesday

We’ve seen several blogs that do a “Wordless Wednesday” post that uses pictures only.  Almost to a post, they are all excellent.  This did, however, spur a memory in me of “The Scotch Club”.   The Scotch Club was a group of like-minded young gentlemen who would congregate each and every Wednesday in their favorite watering hole to discuss life, liberty and the pursuit of free drinks.  To make the pursuit easier and more fun, “Big Word Wednesday” was created. 

The rules were simple: Bring the club the biggest word of the week, and drink for free.  The winner was determined by who had the biggest word that no other Scotch Club Member could define.  Dictionary’s were not allowed (inside, at least) and cheat-sheets ensured that everyone was a winner, as the offender, if caught, would be picking up the tab for the entire club that evening.  This only occurred once, and was used as a “teachable moment” to the rest of the club. 

So, in the grand tradition and legacy of The Scotch Club, we give you “Big Word Wednesday”.  Each and every Wednesday we will post a Big word that’s sure to wow them at your next play-date.  If you have a word you would like to see included in the list, drop us a line.

Week 16 (July 30, 2008)

Eukaryote-organisms with complex cell structures enclosed within membranes.                              “Karen’s study of the eukaryote’s took time away from her blogging.”

Cromulent-fine; acceptable; normal.                                                                                                    “Sorry, Janet, I just don’t think live animals are cromulent in a Power Point presentation.”

Week 15 (July 23, 2008)

Efficacious-producing or capable of producing a desired effect.                                                          “I don’t think the Bell Bottoms are as efficacious as Mary Lou thought they would be.”

Trichotillomania-the compulsion to pull ones hair out.                                                                      “I used to suffer from Male Pattern Baldness, then I turned to trichotillomania.”

Week 14 (July 16, 2008)

Sycophant-a self-seeking, servile flatterer; fawning parasite; yes-man; flunky.                                “I know that I’m never wrong because my Army of sycophants tell me so.”

Omphaloskepsis-contemplation of one’s navel as part of a mystical exercise.                                  “Her omphaloskepsis is so bad that she once broke her arm patting herself on the back.”

Week 13 (July 9, 2008)

Triskaidekaphobia-an abnormal fear of the number 13.                                                                   “I’m sorry, but I don’t see any way for you to have triskaidekaphobiaand be a Dan Marino fan too.”

Farcical-pertaining to or of the nature of farce; ludicrous, absurd.                                              “Don’t be farcical; nobody wears white after Labor Day.”

Week 12 (July 2, 2008)

Onus-a difficult or disagreeable obligation, task, burden.                                                                    “I hate to put the onus on you, Dear; but I did clip Grandma’s toenails last time.”

Haughty-disdainfully proud, snobbish, scornfully arrogant, supercilious.                                           “Maybe THE Ohio State University can start acting haughty when they actually win a National Championship”

Week 11 (June 25, 2008)

Obfuscation-to confuse, bewilder or stupefy.                                                                         “Everytime you open your mouth, the words come out in a cloud of obfuscation.

Eschew-to abstain or keep away from; shun; avoid.                                                                        “It wasn’t so much the male pattern baldness, but the crooked teeth that made Mary eschew Marty’s advances.”

Week 10 (June 11, 2008)

Extemporaneous-done, spoken, performed, etc. without special advanced preparation; impromptu. 

“Wow, Mary Kay, you sure can knock back some shooters. Let’s be extemporaneous and get married.”

Recalcitrant-resisting authority or control; not obedient or compliant.

“I don’t know, Mrs. Letourneau; wouldn’t it be recalcitrant to take a 13 year old to Vegas?”

Week 9 (June 4, 2008)

Apologia-an apology, as in defense or justification of a belief, idea, etc.

“Using ‘I ran out of gas’ as an apologia for missing our wedding isn’t good enough, Jim.”

Imbroglio-a misunderstanding, disagreement, etc., of a complicated or bitter nature.

“Finding you in my lingerie isn’t the imbroglio, Jim; it’s that I haven’t even had a chance to wear it yet!”

Week 8 (May 28, 2008)

Putrescence-becoming putrid, the quality of rotting and becoming putrid.

“Your wardrobe certainly reeks of putrescence, don’t you take advantage of the employee discount?”

Kvetch-(Yiddish) to complain chronically, A chronic whining complainer.

“There’s really no need to kvetch, my dear, the store closes in 10 hours and you’ll be done!”

Week 7 (May 21, 2008)

Pernicious-causing insidious harm or ruin; injurious, hurtful.

“The constant din of the neighbor’s barking dog proved pernicious to Melanie’s sanity.”

Bated-to moderate or restrain; to lessen or diminish.

“Having by-passed the V-chip, it was with bated breath that Billy switched the DVR to Cinemax.”

Week 6 (May 14, 2008)

Salubrious-favorable to or promoting health; healthful.

“Billy’s Mom had a hard time making him understand that eating twinkies while playing XboX 360 didn’t count as a salubrious activity.”

Magniloquent-speaking or expressed in a lofty or grandiose style; pompous; bombastic.

“Kanye’s magniloquent vocabulary and constant whining were a real turn off to the Grammy voters.”

Week 5 (May 7, 2008)

Elucidative-that makes clear, a clarifying example.

“Myron, If you think the bear trap is already tripped, you could be elucidative and stick you foot in it”

Benightedness-intellectually or morally ignorant, unenlightened.

“Frankly, Janice, your shoe and purse selections showcase your benightedness.”

Week 4 (April 30, 2008)

Languorous-lack of physical or mental energy; listlessness. A dreamy, lazy mood or quality.

“Sam certainly had a languorous attitude towards college; which explains why the words he uses most now are: ‘Would you like fries with that?’”

Week 3 (April 23, 2008)

Lugubrious-mournful, dismal, or gloomy, often ridiculously or feigned, whining.

“Timmy, you can be as lugubrious as you want, you’re still not getting a cookie.”

Pulchritude-great physical beauty, comeliness.

“Wow, Jim, the pulchritude emanating from your date is incredible!”

WEEK 2 (April 16, 2008)

Perspicacious-having keen mental perception and understanding, discerning. Having keen vision.

“Wow, Jim, you certainly possess a perspicacious demeanor.”

Sagacious-having or showing acute mental discernment and keen practical sense; shrewd.

“Bill’s personal injury lawyer addressed the jury in a sagacious manner.”

WEEK 1 (April 9, 2008): 

Sesquipedalian-Given to using long words.

“God, Frank, do you always have to be such a sesquipedalian?”