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

captious

KAP-shuhs

adjective

a propensity to judge things or persons severely; hard to please

1928Virginia WoolfOrlandoThus did the spirit work upon her, for all her past pride, and as she came sloping down the scale of emotion to this lowly and unaccustomed lodging-place, those twangings and tinglings which had been so captious and so interrogative modulated into the sweetest melodies…1969Hermann HesseMagister Ludi, The Glass Bead GameThis instruction followed immediately after his own lessons in epigraphy and source work, the pupil becoming the teacher and the honored teacher an attentive listener and often a captious critic and questioner.1977Robin CookComaThe anesthesiology resident had had to weather one of the worst bombardments of foul words and captious epithets that had ever been hurled over an anesthesia screen.

Labels: Hermann Hesse, Robin Cook, Virginia Woolf

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Entry By: CJ Cooney
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coiner

koin-ur

noun

a counterfeiter; a maker of counterfeit coins or money; a creator of new words and/or phrases

1766Oliver GoldsmithThe Vicar of WakefieldHe now at once recollected me; for the gloominess of the place and the approaching night had prevented his distinguishing my features before.—'Yes, Sir,' returned Mr Jenkinson, 'I remember you perfectly well; I bought an horse, but forgot to pay for him. Your neighbour Flamborough is the only prosecutor I am any way afraid of at the next assizes: for he intends to swear positively against me as a coiner. I am heartily sorry, Sir, I ever deceived you, or indeed any man; for you see,' continued he, shewing his shackles, 'what my tricks have brought me to.'1861Charles DickensGreat ExpectationsThey shook hands again, and as we walked away Wemmick said to me, 'A Coiner, a very good workman. The Recorder's report is made to-day, and he is sure to be executed on Monday. Still you see, as far as it goes, a pair of pigeons are portable property, all the same.'1931Virginia WoolfThe WavesThat is, I am a natural coiner of words, a blower of bubbles through one thing and another.

Labels: Charles Dickens, Oliver Goldsmith, Virginia Woolf

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Entry By: CJ Cooney
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