Add some whimsy to your life
Word Nerd is an on-going feature that shares and highlights unique, whimsical and sometimes forgotten or overlooked words. It’s dedicated to the logophile in us all.
Ufology is the study of reports, visual records, purported physical evidence, and other phenomena related to unidentified flying objects. In layman's terms, Ufology is the study of UFOs. Ufology is the combination of UFO (unidentified flying object) and -logy (combining form used in names of sciences or bodies of knowledge). Ufology was first coined in… Continue reading Word Nerd:Ufology
Gemütlich is having a feeling of being comfortable, pleasant and cozy. Gemütlich is a German word that means homey, casual, social. Gemütlich is a combination of the German noun Gemüt (the total composition of the human psyche and spirit) and -lich which is equivalent to the English suffix -ly. Gemütlich entered the English language in… Continue reading Word Nerd:Gemütlich
Tannenbaum is a fir tree or Christmas tree. Tannenbaum is the German word for fir tree. Tannenbaum is a rather obvious choice of word, I know, since O' Tannenbaum is a fairly familiar song even to those who don't celebrate Christmas. The modern lyrics of O' Tannenbaum were written in 1824 by the German composer… Continue reading Word Nerd: Tannenbaum
Absquatulate means to leave suddenly. Absquatulate's use originates around the 1820's and it's origins are based in pseudo-Latin with the initial abs- of other Latin words like abscond, squat (cower), and the final -tulate (congratulate). Absquatulate is essentially a slang term and an incredibly humorous and fun one at that. I mean it's so much… Continue reading Word Nerd: Absquatulate
Pepita is the edible seed of a pumpkin or squash. Pepita derives from the Mexican Spanish pepita de calabaza (little seed of squash) and it also derives from the old French word pippin (seed). Pepita most specifically refers to the roasted, toasted, or dried version of a pumpkin or squash seed that is consumed as… Continue reading Word Nerd: Pepita
Horripilation is the bristling of hair on the skin from cold or fright. Horripilation derives from the Latin words horripilātiōn and horripilātiō (bristling of hair) and horripilāre (to shudder). Horripilation is essentially the perfect sesquipedalian word for goose bumps, or as I occasionally call them, goose pimples. Horripilation also sounds a bit more sinister and… Continue reading Word Nerd: Horripilation
