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

nonplus

nawn-PLUHS

noun, verb

to be baffled or confused; to be rendered speechless or puzzled

1922I. A. R. WylieThe Dark HouseHe wanted to nonplus and disconcert her, if such a thing were possible.1969George MacDonald FraserFlashman'With poor Sir William gone, we are at a nonplus here,' he kept repeating, looking around dolefully for someone to agree with him.1972Dick FrancisSmokescreenEvan only knew how to deal with girls that young if he could bully them in front of a camera: and the idea that animals could be sweet instead of symbolic seemed to nonplus him.

Labels: Dick Francis, George MacDonald Fraser, I. A. R. Wylie

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Entry By: CJ Cooney
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basilisk

BA-suh-lisk

noun, adjective

a mythic dragon or reptile that can kill with a glance; a killing glance

1962Len DeightonThe Ipcress FileAlice entered my office with a rose-decorated cracked cup of Nescafe, a basilisk look and a new green-laced file.1969George MacDonald FraserFlashmanGul leered at me, nodding, while the woman's basilisk eyes stared at me.1980Michael CrichtonJurassic ParkI am sure this lizard was a Basiliscus amoratus, a striped basilisk lizard, found here in Costa Rica and also in Honduras.2001John RingoGust FrontHe fixed them with a blue, basilisk stare until all of them had nodded in compliance.

Labels: George MacDonald Fraser, John Ringo, Len Deighton, Michael Crichton

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Entry By: CJ Cooney
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John Bull

jawn BUHL

noun

the personification of the English nation; an average Englishman

1896John A. HobsonProblems of PovertyWho is the person responsible for this state of things? John Bull is concrete, materialistic in his feeling and his reasoning.1969George MacDonald FraserFlashman...my usual heartiness and general bluffness had earned me the name of being some-thing of a John Bull.1992David Webb PeoplesUnforgivenCROCKER: Pretty damn good shootin'...for a John Bull.

Labels: David Webb Peoples, George MacDonald Fraser, John A. Hobson

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Entry By: CJ Cooney
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