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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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.

boustrophedon

boo-struh-FEE-dawn

noun, adjective

ancient Greek and Hittite method of writing lines in alternating directions, first left-to-right and then right-to-left, as fields are plowed by oxen

1831Victor HugoThe Hunchback of Notre DameWhat truth have you deduced, I will not say from medicine, which is too foolish a thing, but from astrology? Cite to me the virtues of the vertical boustrophedon, the treasures of the number ziruph and those of the number zephirod!'1972Lin CarterUnder the Green Star...the Laonese script is written boustrophedon, like Hittite: back and forth, as an ox plows a field.

Labels: Lin Carter, Victor Hugo

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Entry By: CJ Cooney
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Brobdingnagian

brawb-ding-NA-gee-uhn

adjective

having incredible size; mammoth; immense

1963Kurt VonnegutCat's CradleHe was as nicely scaled as Gulliver among the Brobdingnagians, and as shrewdly watchful, too.1972Lin CarterUnder the Green starHe had no difficulty in recognizing Susy's peculiarly Brobdingnagian school-girl hand.2002David Weber and Steve WhiteThe Shiva OptionThe Brobdingnagian structure burned, crumpled, collapsed in on itself, shed streamers of debris.

Labels: David Weber and Steve White, Kurt Vonnegut, Lin Carter

Permalink: Brobdingnagian
Entry By: CJ Cooney
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