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

codswallop

KAWDZ-wal-luhp

noun

nonsense; something totally stupid

1987Neil GaimanDon't Panic: The Official Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy CompanionThe only voice raised against the series came from Mr Arthur Butterworth, who wrote to the Radio Times, saying, 'In just about 50 years of radio and latterly TV listening and watching, this strikes me as the most fatuous, inane, childish, pointless, codswallopping drivel... It is not even remotely funny.1997J. K. RowlingHarry Potter and the Sorcerer's StoneSome say he died. Codswallop, in my opinion.1997Stephen KingThe Dark Tower: Wizard and GlassPish-tush, spare me the codswallop and pretty words.

Labels: J. K. Rowling, Neil Gaiman, Stephen King

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Entry By: CJ Cooney
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caterwaul

KA-tur-wawl

verb

screeching; a horrible sound; a boisterous argument

1927Sinclair LewisElmer Gantry...I certainly did refuse to listen to the caterwauling of a lot of hired agitators from the so-called unions…1989Stephen KingThe Langoliers...that blind little brat had begun to caterwaul.1997Dean KoontzFear NothingAn inhuman cry issued from him, primitive and psychotic, a caterwaul of the sort that sometimes wakes You in the night and leaves You wondering about the species of origin.

Labels: Dean Koontz, Sinclair Lewis, Stephen King

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Entry By: CJ Cooney
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predestination

pree-des-tuh-NAY-shuhn

noun

the idea that all things are preordained; destiny

1984Stephen KingThinner'You might be surprised.' Billy felt a sense of deep calm and predestination - not deja vu but real predestination.1995J. D. RobbRapture In DeathDeliberately, she swiveled in her chair, watching the air traffic clog the sky outside her window. Predestination. Fate. Genetic imprint. If she were to believe in any of that, what was the point of her job—or her life, for that matter? If there was no choice, no changing, why struggle to save lives or stand for the dead when the struggle failed?1998Ed McBainThe Big Bad City'Are we about to get into a discussion of free will?' | 'I hope not.' | 'Determinism? Predestination?' | 'That's not what ...' | 'Double predestination? Calvinism? Am I back at the seminary?'

Labels: Ed McBain, J. D. Robb, Stephen King

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Entry By: CJ Cooney
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hortatory

HORT-uh-tor-ee

adjective

inciting or strong urging; characterized by exhortation; very strong encouragement

1969Hermann HesseMagister Ludi, The Glass Bead GameHe admired the man's passion and fighting spirit, his wit, his hortatory style, his good looks and fine speech.1996Harry HarrisonThe Stainless Steel Rat Goes To HellAll mouths mute as I raised the bottle and drank in dramatic silence. Then raised a hortatory finger.2001Stephen KingDreamcatcherHe didn't sing this but declaimed it in a loud, hortatory voice he hadn't realized was in his repertoire.

Labels: Harry Harrison, Hermann Hesse, Stephen King

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Entry By: CJ Cooney
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wunderkind

VOON-dur-kint

noun, adjective

a person who achieves success at an early age; a child prodigy

1981Stephen KingCujoAndy Masen was the Maine Attorney General's Wunderkind…1988Iain M. BanksThe Player of GamesOlz Hap the wunderkind had come out of her shell…1991Bret Easton EllisAmerican PsychoIt's got a great keyboard riff and it's the only track on the album produced by wunderkind producer Narada Michael Walden.

Labels: Bret Easton Ellis, Iain M. Banks, Stephen King

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Entry By: CJ Cooney
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