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.
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
Alew is an obsolete term for a cry of despair. Alew is also the cry used to call hounds at a hunt, a variation of halloo. I was unable to find much about the word alew in my hunt, much to my despair (you see what I did there.). The few facts I was able… Continue reading Word Nerd: Alew
Hypnagogic means of, relating to, or occurring in the period of drowsiness immediately preceding sleep. Hypnagogic derives from the Greek root hypn- (sleep) and -agōgos (inducing). Hypnagogic is also borrowed from the French hypnagogique. Hypnagogic or a hypnagogic state is a state of half-sleep, that lull between consciousness and unconsciousness where the mind is half-dreaming… Continue reading Word Nerd: Hypnagogic
Woolgathering means an idle or absentminded indulgence in daydreaming. Woolgathering is a combination of the words wool and gathering and it originated around the 1550's. Actual woolgathering is the act of gathering tufts of loose wool that got caught on bushes and fences and the like as sheep passed by and those who were woolgathering… Continue reading Word Nerd: Woolgathering
