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

a dictionary of words and phrases on the verge of extinction — updated daily — for the word obsessed!

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the death of fissiparous and other words

A dictionary in progress by CJ Cooney.

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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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prima facie
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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.

prima facie

PRAI-muh FAY-shee

adjective

valid; self-evident; a legally valid fact

1850Various Notes & Queries (7 September 1850)...I have prima facie proof that Sir Miles left no son. 1968John Le CarreA Small Town In Germany'A prima facie case,' Bradfield remarked, examining his notes once more. 'Grounds for reinvestigation, I grant you. At best, a public prosecutor might be persuaded to make an initial examination.'1971Hunter S. ThompsonFear and Loathing In Las VegasThe idea that two heroin pushers in a white Cadillac convertible would be dragging up and down the Strip, abusing total strangers at stoplights, was prima facie absurd.1996Bill BrysonNotes from a Small Island...there is a prima facie case to presume that they perform unnatural acts…

Labels: Bill Bryson, Hunter S. Thompson, John Le Carre, Various

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Entry By: CJ Cooney
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galère

ga-LUR

noun

an unsavory group of individuals; a group of similar individuals

1931Hugh WalpoleAbove the Dark TumultBut, mystery of mysteries, what had Osmund to do in this galère? Osmund, the aristocrat, to be mixed in this degraded crowd, and involved in a burglary as common and vulgar as any in the cheapest novelette!1968John Le CarreA Small Town In GermanyIn six months he's changed the whole galère.1986Martin AmisThe Moronic Inferno & Other Visits to AmericaIn such a galère, literary comrades are doing pretty well if they are merely 'ghastly'…

Labels: Hugh Walpole, John Le Carre, Martin Amis

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Entry By: CJ Cooney
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