Superior Person's Tuesday!

ATARAXIA, n. Absolute calm and tranquility; imperturbability; complete freedom from anxiety or strain. The condition of a lexicographer on reaching the word zythum, which, appropriately enough, means a kind of malt beer. A zythepsary is a brewery.

A quiet place to achieve ataraxia.

Each Tuesday, we’ll offer up a Superior Word for the edification of our Superior Readers, via the volumes of the inimitable Peter Bowler. You can purchase all or any of the four Superior Person’s Books of Words from the Godine website. Ataraxia  appears in the first.

Superior Person's Tuesday!

GRAMERCY, int. The Superior Person's way of saying thank you. A graceful archaism well worth reviving. From grand merci. Can also be used as an exclamation of surprise, meaning, more or less, "mercy me!" Equally delightful in this sense. The ideal use is on occasions which inspire both surprise and gratitude, as for instance when there is a sudden power blackout just as your sister has put on one of her Scott Joplin records.

Each Tuesday, we’ll offer up a Superior Word for the edification of our Superior Readers, via the volumes of the inimitable Peter Bowler. You can purchase all or any of the four Superior Person’s Books of Words from the Godine website. Gramercy appears in the first.

Superior Person's Tuesday!

NIDIFICATE, v. To build a nest. You settle down in the quietness of the theater to enjoy the opening dream sequence of Wild Strawberries. From the seat in front of you comes an insistent crackling and rustling of candy wrappings. "Usher!" you call out in a loud voice, "I think the woman in front of me is nidificating in her seat!"

Each Tuesday, we’ll offer up a Superior Word for the edification of our Superior Readers, via the volumes of the inimitable Peter Bowler. You can purchase all or any of the four Superior Person’s Books of Words from the Godine website. Nidificate appears in the first.

Superior Person's Tuesday!

LAABA, n. A storage platform high enough to be beyond the reach of animals. (An Alaskan word.) Also, the top shelf of the pantry, where kids can't get at the animal-shaped gingersnaps and the packets of colored cake sprinkles.

Each Tuesday, we’ll offer up a Superior Word for the edification of our Superior Readers, via the volumes of the inimitable Peter Bowler. You can purchase all or any of the four Superior Person’s Books of Words from the Godine website. Laaba appears in the second.

Superior Person's Tuesday!

MITHRIDATIZE, v. To gradually make immune to a poison, by the consumption over a long period of increasing doses. From Mithridates, King of Pontus from 120 to 63 B.C., who is said to have so poison-proofed himself. "No, the spices won't worry me at all, Mrs. Krishnaswamy; after ten years of Maria's cooking, I'm completely mithridatized." 

Each Tuesday, we’ll offer up a Superior Word for the edification of our Superior Readers, via the volumes of the inimitable Peter Bowler. You can purchase all or any of the four Superior Person’s Books of Words from the Godine website. Mithridatize appears in the second.

Superior Person's Tuesday!

HALIEUTICS, n. Fishing. "No, I can't claim any great expertise in nonparametric statistics, and I realize their relevance to the selection criteria. On the other hand, I have some twenty years' experience in halieutics, and I'd be looking to build further on that if I were to get the job."

It takes luck and patience to be an expert in halieutics

Each Tuesday, we’ll offer up a Superior Word for the edification of our Superior Readers, via the volumes of the inimitable Peter Bowler. You can purchase all or any of the four Superior Person’s Books of Words from the Godine website. Halieutics appears in the second.

Superior Person's Tuesday!

JUBATE, a. Fringed with long, hanging hairs, such as a mane. "I see that you've become even more jubate with the passing years, Willoughby - have you achieved Rastafarianism yet - or are you aiming for full equinization?"

A supremely jubate horse (who may or may not be able to see)

Each Tuesday, we’ll offer up a Superior Word for the edification of our Superior Readers, via the volumes of the inimitable Peter Bowler. You can purchase all or any of the four Superior Person’s Books of Words from the Godine website. Jubate appears in the second.

Superior Person's Tuesday!

DAPATICAL, a. Sumptuous (as of a feast). "I hope you'll be patient with me tonight, Samantha; I find that since I got underway with my low-cholesterol diet, I can't properly enjoy a meal unless it's dapatical."

A dapatical feast

Each Tuesday, we’ll offer up a Superior Word for the edification of our Superior Readers, via the volumes of the inimitable Peter Bowler. You can purchase all or any of the four Superior Person’s Books of Words from the Godine website. Dapatical appears in the second.

Superior Person's Tuesday!

YUELING, n. Walking around fruit trees praying for a good crop. Try it if you wish, but this author can only say that he has found swearing to be more effective.

He might need to try his hand at yueling.

 


Each Tuesday, we’ll offer up a Superior Word for the edification of our Superior Readers, via the volumes of the inimitable Peter Bowler. You can purchase all or any of the four Superior Person’s Books of Words from the Godine website. Yueling appears in the second.

Superior Person's Tuesday!

Lapping, n. The act of privily dropping an object into your lap while seated at a table performing close-up magic. The author not infrequently performs lapping, quite unintentionally, with scrambled eggs - an entirely different effect.

Keep the napkins handy.

Each Tuesday, we’ll offer up a Superior Word for the edification of our Superior Readers, via the volumes of the inimitable Peter Bowler. You can purchase all or any of the four Superior Person’s Books of Words from the Godine website. Lapping  appears in the third.

Superior Person's Tuesday!

Clinomania, n. Excessive desire to stay in bed. Not a bad mania, as manias go; and a reasonably plausible excuse for taking Monday off.

How could anyone possibly leave a bed this cozy?

Each Tuesday, we’ll offer up a Superior Word for the edification of our Superior Readers, via the volumes of the inimitable Peter Bowler. You can purchase all or any of the four Superior Person’s Books of Words from the Godine website. Clinomania  appears in the second.

Superior Person's Tuesday!

Qhythsontyd, n. Whether it's for fitting something into a seemingly impossible situation on a crowded Scrabble board, or nonplussing the smart alecks in a spelling competition, or meeting the challenge to produce yet another "Q" word without a "u" after the "Q," or discountenancing someone who claims she can pronounce anything...The meaning hardly matters, does it? But just to prove it isn't made up: qhythsontyd is an obsolete form of the rather better-known "whitsuntide," i.e., Whit Sunday, the seventh Sunday after Easter.

Keep "qhythsontyd" in your back pocket during family game night

Each Tuesday, we’ll offer up a Superior Word for the edification of our Superior Readers, via the volumes of the inimitable Peter Bowler. You can purchase all or any of the four Superior Person’s Books of Words from the Godine website. Qhythsontyd  appears in the first.

Superior Person's Tuesday!

NACKET, n. Superior Person's word for a tennis ball-boy.

At least it rhymes with racket.

Each Tuesday, we’ll offer up a Superior Word for the edification of our Superior Readers, via the volumes of the inimitable Peter Bowler. You can purchase all or any of the four Superior Person’s Books of Words from the Godine website. Nacket appears in the third.

Superior Person's Tuesday!

DEMOPHOBIA, n. The morbid dread of crowds. Most of us are demophobes at some time, or in some circumstances.

Authors are morbidly dreading that the Seattle airport will look something like this for AWP.

Each Tuesday, we’ll offer up a Superior Word for the edification of our Superior Readers, via the volumes of the inimitable Peter Bowler. You can purchase all or any of the four Superior Person’s Books of Words from the Godine website. Stegophilist appears in the Second.

Superior Person's Tuesday!

STEGOPHILIST, n. One whose hobby is climbing the outside of tall buildings. "So you're suffering from fear of heights now, dearest? Hmm...have you thought of trying a little stegophily?"

King Kong: the most famous stegophilist

Each Tuesday, we’ll offer up a Superior Word for the edification of our Superior Readers, via the volumes of the inimitable Peter Bowler. You can purchase all or any of the four Superior Person’s Books of Words from the Godine website. Stegophilist appears in the Second.

Superior Person's Tuesday!

PIGSNEY, n. Believe it or not, a term of endearment used when addressing a girl. From the Saxon word for girl. Try it out on your inamorata; she will surely be charmed and delighted. "Come, my little pigsney..."

 

I'm sure she'll love the resemblance.

Each Tuesday, we’ll offer up a Superior Word for the edification of our Superior Readers, via the volumes of the inimitable Peter Bowler. You can purchase all or any of the four Superior Person’s Books of Words from the Godine website. Pigsney appears in the first.

Superior Person's Tuesday!

lentiginose, adj., freckled.

Don't bother scrubbing them with lemon juice, Jan. Invest in some SPF and move on.

"Long accustomed to the healthy, open air life, her beauty is exceeded only by her lentiginosity."

Each Tuesday, we’ll offer up a Superior Word for the edification of our Superior Readers, via the volumes of the inimitable Peter Bowler. You can purchase all or any of the four Superior Person’s Books of Words from the Godine website. Lentiginose appears in the third.

Superior Person's Tuesday!

absquatulate, v., To leave in a hurry, suddenly, and/or in secret. Example: "No problem, Mr. Burbage; just make the check out in cash--I'm doing the accounts tonight and you can rely on me to absquatulate first thing in the morning."

Unfortunately, this term has not been proven to increase your squatting abilities nor can it flatten your abs.

If you are a committed absquatulator, however, our guess is that you are consequently an adept sprinter.

Each Tuesday, we’ll offer up a Superior Word for the edification of our Superior Readers, via the volumes of the inimitable Peter Bowler. You can purchase all or any of the four Superior Person’s Books of Words from the Godine website. Absquatulate appears in the second.

Superior Person's Tuesday

xanthopsia, n. an ophthalmic condition in which everything appears yellow. Condition of a person wearing dark glasses purchased from the "sale" section at the local gas station. A certain unnamed British rock group, for example, may have been wearing said frames as they were writing a certain colorful tune.

"And it was all yellow..."

 Each Tuesday, we’ll offer up a Superior Word for the edification of our Superior Readers, via the volumes of the inimitable Peter Bowler. You can purchase all or any of the four Superior Person’s Books of Words from the Godine website. Xanthopsia appears in the second.

Superior Person's Tuesday!

 jobation, n. A long, tedious scolding; a lengthy reprimand; a tirade. 


 

A proper jobation is usually accompanied by an accusatory pointing finger.

 When you find yourself on the receiving end of yet another insultingly patronizing suggestion from your neighbor about how you could improve the appearance of your yard, you say: "By Gosh, old boy, that's awfully nice of you! Next time you come around I really must remember to get my wife to give you one of her jobations.



 Each Tuesday, we’ll offer up a Superior Word for the edification of our Superior Readers, via the volumes of the inimitable Peter Bowler. You can purchase all or any of the four Superior Person’s Books of Words from the Godine website. Jobation appears in the first.