The Death of Fissiparous and Other Words: A Dictionary of Words & Phrases on the Verge of Extinction

solecism

SAW-luh-si-zehm

noun

ungrammatical speech; ungrammatical writing; something out of the norm

1926Arthur MachenDreads and DrollsThen you must change one of them or wait till another time to pay, for, in England, to pay in gold is a solecism only pardonable in a stranger.1932Aldous HuxleyBrave New WorldA man so conventional, so scrupulously correct as the Director—and to commit so gross a solecism!1998Anne McCaffreyNimisha's ShipCertainly no hostess would commit the solecism of inviting both Vescuya and Rezalla to the same function.

Labels: Aldous Huxley, Anne McCaffrey, Arthur Machen

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Entry By: CJ Cooney
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gimcrack

JIM-krak

noun, adjective

a flashy object of little or no value; a flashy object with no practical use

1868Edward S. EllisThe Huge HunterNo, I see how it works; them 'ere thingumbobs and gimcracks do it all.'1922James JoyceUlysses...she broke off the hand off that little gimcrack statue with her roughness…1954Aldous HuxleyThe Doors of PerceptionThis suffocating interior of a dime-store ship was my own personal self; these gimcrack mobiles of tin and plastic were my personal contributions to the universe.1962Ian FlemingThe Spy Who Loved Me...I was very happy to be back in it after my brief taste of the rackety round of Chelsea pubs and gimcrack journalism…

Labels: Aldous Huxley, Edward S. Ellis, Ian Fleming, James Joyce

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Entry By: CJ Cooney
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versier

vur-SEE-ur

noun

a person who makes verse or poetry

1954Aldous HuxleyThe Doors of PerceptionA catalogue, a bibliography, a definitive edition of a third-rate versier's ipsissima verba…1990Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth MoonSassinakHuron had proved as inventive a partner as he was a versifier - after hearing a few of his livelier creations in the wardroom one night, she could hardly believe he hadn't written the one about the captain's son and the merchant's daughter.

Labels: Aldous Huxley, Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Moon

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Entry By: CJ Cooney
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ipsissima verba

ip-SI-si-maw VUR-buh

noun

the exact words of a quote

1889Robert Louis StevensonIn the South SeasHere I think Kauwealoha's pantomime had confused me; I have no more of his ipsissima verba; and can but add, in my own less spirited manner, that the ship was reached, Mr. Whalon taken aboard, and Kekela returned to his charge among the cannibals.1936John BuchanThe Island of SheepClanroyden's letter, even if she didn't think it a forgery, couldn't prevail against the ipsissima verba of Haraldsen.1954Aldous HuxleyThe Doors of PerceptionA catalogue, a bibliography, a definitive edition of a third-rate versier's ipsissima verba, a stupendous index to end all indexes—any genuinely Alexandrian project is sure of approval and financial support…

Labels: Aldous Huxley, John Buchan, Robert Louis Stevenson

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Entry By: CJ Cooney
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