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I'm CJ Cooney, a writer on communication, ideas, culture and history. This blog is a chronicle of my adventures in lexicography.

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If reading were a sin, the average person today would be a saint.  And this dictionary in progress would be blasphemy. More...

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antimacassar
commination

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REFERENCEER
REF-ren-sear. Noun. 1. Anyone who enjoys reading or browsing dictionaries, thesauri, encyclopedias, and other sundry reference materials. 2. A publisher of reference material. 3. CJ's book blog adventure.

antimacassar
an-ti-ma-KA-sur
noun
a chair arm or back cover used to prevent soiling from hair oil
1899E. NesbitThe Story of the Treasure SeekersBy this Alice had put on the nursery tablecloth, which is green, and tied the old blue and yellow antimacassar over her head, and she said: 'If your intentions are correct, fear nothing and follow me.'1912Lucy Maud MontgomeryThe Chronicles of AvonleaAunt Olivia's parlour was much like herself—painfully neat. Every article of furniture stood in exactly the same place it had always stood. Nothing was ever suffered to be disturbed. The tassels of the crazy cushion lay just so over the arm of the sofa, and the crochet antimacassar was always spread at precisely the same angel over the horsehair rocking chair.1975Anne TylerSearching for CalebHe returned to his view of the seat ahead, a button-on antimacassar with an old lady's netted hat just beyond.

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commination
kaw-muh-NAY-shuhn
noun
a threat of punishment; a denunciation; a service of the Church of England dealing with God's wrath against sinners
1874Thomas HardyFar From the Maddening CrowdThe dog took no notice, for he had arrived at an age at which all superfluous barking was cynically avoided as a waste of breath—in fact, he never barked even at the sheep except to order, when it was done with an absolutely neutral countenance, as a sort of Commination-service, which, though offensive, had to be gone through once now and then to frighten the flock for their own good.1906E. NesbitThe Incomplete AmoristHe's cursed me forever—Put it all down in black and white—a regular commination service.1918G. A. HentyWulf the SaxonEven the bishops and abbots of Norman blood disregarded the commination, and remained staunch to Harold.

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