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

acolyte

A-ko-lait

noun

a follower; a devote; minor assistant to clergy in liturgical services

1884Alfred John ChurchRoman Life in the Days of CiceroIf it was the duty of the father to act as priest in some temple of the State (for the priests were not a class apart from their fellow-citizens), or to conduct the worship in some chapel of the family, the lad would act as camillus or acolyte.1960Frank HerbertThe GodmakersThe Abbod felt the force flowing between these two walls and experienced the anticipatory flash of guilt-fear which he knew was shared by the acolyte class.1986Guy Gavriel KayThe Darkest Road...Jaelle was quick to enlist Leila as an acolyte in the Temple.

Labels: Alfred John Church, Frank Herbert, Guy Gavriel Kay

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Entry By: CJ Cooney
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coterie

KO-tuh-ree

noun

a small social circle; a literary clique

1870Leo TolstoyAnna Karenina'On one side it's a plaything; they play at being a parliament, and I'm neither young enough nor old enough to find amusement in playthings; and on the other side' (he stammered) 'it's a means for the coterie of the district to feather their nests.'1975Robert AdamsThe Coming of the HorseclansAnd that perverted, self-seeking coterie who had influenced and guided him were stunned to discover that no longer had this High Lord need or use for them…1976Frank HerbertThe Children of DuneA tall, slender Priest was addressing his coterie, no doubt supplicants here under his auspices.1996Julian SchnabelBasquiatOn the other side of the room, Rene Ricard is surrounded by a coterie of young, mostly BLACK AND HISPANIC MALES.

Labels: Frank Herbert, Julian Schnabel, Leo Tolstoy, Robert Adams

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Entry By: CJ Cooney
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popinjay

PAW-puhn-jay

noun

a vain or self-important person given to blathering

1958John SteinbeckOnce There Was A WarOr if you meet an ill-mannered, surly popinjay of a British officer, the British are expected to deny that he exists.1965Frank HerbertDune'This Imperial popinjay. Count Fenring, came as official observer…

Labels: Frank Herbert, John Steinbeck

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Entry By: CJ Cooney
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nostrum

NOS-truhm

noun

a panacea; a cure-all remedy; a secret recipe for medicine; snake-oil

1912G. K. ChestertonManaliveI must say that for a clergyman to countenance, even in jest, such discredited nostrums of dissipated demagogues as Socialism or Radicalism partakes of the character of the betrayal of a sacred trust.1982Frank HerbertThe White Plague...he dosed himself not only with specifics to which his medical standing gave him access but also with nostrums…2000Robert Ludlum and Galye LyndsThe Hades FactorIn Iraq, life for most people was basic, and this doctor, whose work had been published widely, who once had traveled the globe to address pediatric conferences, was reduced to nostrums and yogurt.

Labels: Frank Herbert, G. K. Chesterton, Galye Lynds, Robert Ludlum

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Entry By: CJ Cooney
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