Lexical Vexations
defuse v. to disarm a bomb or, more metaphorically, a tense situation.
diffuse adj. spread or scattered over an area.
Words in the Wild: There wouldn’t have been a diffuse pink mist in the room if the secret agent had managed to defuse the bomb in time.
Still vexed? You can find a complete list of the Word Blog’s lexical vexations here.
Vest-Pocket Vocabulary
Oxyph’ony, n. shrillness of voice.
Word in the Wild: Alex wanted to enter the political life, but was held back by a devastating case of oxyphony.
This word hails from at least 1769, according to the OED, and is a compound of oxy-, meaning keen, sharp or acid, and -phony, meaning sound or tone.
You can find a complete listing of the Word Blog’s Vest-Pocket Vocabulary entries and learn more about where they come from here.
Lexical Vexations
allude v. to reference indirectly.
elude v. to escape or evade.
Words in the Wild: Whatever Prof. Dobson was alluding to in his mention of academic misconduct seemed to elude Sarah’s notice altogether—she continued to copy the contents of her arm onto her test paper, unabashed and unabated.
Still vexed? You can find a complete list of the Word Blog’s lexical vexations here.
Vest-Pocket Vocabulary
Noctil’ucous, a. shining in the night or dark.
Word in the Wild: My favourite part of going to Las Vegas is walking the strip and admiring the noctilucous neon lights.
You can find a complete listing of the Word Blog’s Vest-Pocket Vocabulary entries and learn more about where they come from here.
Vest-Pocket Vocabulary
Med’icaster, n. a quack who brags of cures.
Word in the Wild: The worst part of insomnia is watching all the overnight infomercials just brimming with medicasters.
You can find a complete listing of the Word Blog’s Vest-Pocket Vocabulary entries and learn more about where they come from here.
Lexical Vexations
systematic adj. following a devised plan in a methodological way.
systemic adj. relating to a complex but cohesive system. This was originally a term specific to the body (ex. systemic infection) but is now used to describe other complex systems as well (ex. systemic racism in governments).
Word in the Wild: The only way your company can address this systemic breakdown in communication between departments is by following my innovative and systematic approach to employee seating arrangements.
Still vexed? You can find a complete list of the Word Blog’s lexical vexations here.
Vest-Pocket Vocabulary
Loo’by, n. a lubber; a clumsy fellow.
Word in the Wild: I thought our dog would outgrow that awkward puppy stage, but he’s eight years old now and still a total looby.
You can find a complete listing of the Word Blog’s Vest-Pocket Vocabulary entries and learn more about where they come from here.
Twists & Turns of Phrase
When something is held by the dead hand of something else, it is being prevented from attaining its goals. For instance, social progress might be held back by the dead hand of the status quo.
By extension we also get the adjective dead-handed, which means oppressive and out-dated. For example, a teenager might rail against his parents’ dead-handed authority.
The phrase dead hand, which inevitably puts me in mind of zombies and rigor mortis, actually has medieval origins in French property law. Although church leaders were the ones in practical possession of lands and monies, they didn’t want this wealth reverting automatically to the state upon their death. So instead the institution of the church was defined as an individual under the law. Since it could never die, nothing need be forfeited to the state. Thus such property was said to be in the dead hand (or mortmain) of the church.
The concept of mortmain was taken up in medieval England and was used there in the same way. Since then, the dead hand has also applied to the holdings of charities and other corporations.
From this legal meaning, the phrase dead hand slowly came to mean anything that is an “oppressive or retarding influence.” (OED)
Bonus meaning!
Someone who is an expert at something can also be described as a dead hand: She was a dead hand at throwing darts.
Vest-Pocket Vocabulary
Jet’ter, n. a spruce fellow; one who struts.
Word in the Wild: “I saw your brother at the bar last night and, my goodness, doesn’t he think he’s quite the jetter!”
You can find a complete listing of the Word Blog’s Vest-Pocket Vocabulary entries and learn more about where they come from here.
