anthropophagite - an eater of human flesh; cannibal.
Your mom's an anthropophagite
anticlastic - In mathematics, of a surface, having principal curvatures of opposite sign at a given point.
antidisestablishmentarianism - opposition to the withdrawal of state support or recognition from an established church, esp. the Anglican Church in 19th-century England.
And now you know what it means
antiestablishmentarianism - a policy or attitude that views a nation's power structure as corrupt, repressive, exploitive, etc
No relation to antidisestablishmentarianism
Antilles - a chain of islands in the West Indies, divided into two parts, the one including Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico (Greater Antilles), the other including a large arch of smaller islands to the SE and S (Lesser Antilles or Caribees).
And the great wedge in the middle.
antinomian - a person who maintains that Christians are freed from the moral law by virtue of grace as set forth in the gospel.
The lawless gospel of the wild, wild west
Monday, January 11, 2010
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Dictionary Highlights: Day 9
angry young man -
The next time someone calls me an angry young man, I will take it as a testament to my expert penmanship.
aniconism -
Somehow, these two definitions seem contradictory
animal faith - nonrational belief in the existence of a fully knowable world outside the mind.
Non-rational?
animality -
And also one of the sweetest finishing moves in Mortal Kombat!
animal magnetism - the power to attract others through one's physical presence, bearing, energy, etc.
And I think it's a spell in Dungeons & Dragons
animé - any of various resins or copals, especially that from Hymenaea courbaril, a tree of tropical Ameria, used in making varnish, scenting pastilles, etc.
And apparently used in making Japanese cartoons, too.
Anschauung - direct or immediate intuition or perception of sense data with little or no rational interpretation.
And now you have a fancy word for non-propositional knowledge.
Antaeus - in Classical Mythology, an African giant who was invincible when in contact with the earth but was lifted into the air by Hercules and crushed.
It was at this point that I realized that Marvel Comics has been ripping off classical mythology for years.
| 1. | one of a group of British writers of the late 1950s and the 1960s whose works reflect strong dissatisfaction with, frustration by, and rebellion against tradition and society. |
| 2. | any author writing in this manner. |
The next time someone calls me an angry young man, I will take it as a testament to my expert penmanship.
aniconism -
| 1. | opposition to the use of idols or images. |
| 2. | the worship of objects symbolic of but not depicting a deity. |
Somehow, these two definitions seem contradictory
animal faith - nonrational belief in the existence of a fully knowable world outside the mind.
Non-rational?
animality -
| 1. | the state of being an animal. |
| 2. | the animal nature or instincts of human beings. |
animal magnetism - the power to attract others through one's physical presence, bearing, energy, etc.
And I think it's a spell in Dungeons & Dragons
animé - any of various resins or copals, especially that from Hymenaea courbaril, a tree of tropical Ameria, used in making varnish, scenting pastilles, etc.
And apparently used in making Japanese cartoons, too.
Anschauung - direct or immediate intuition or perception of sense data with little or no rational interpretation.
And now you have a fancy word for non-propositional knowledge.
Antaeus - in Classical Mythology, an African giant who was invincible when in contact with the earth but was lifted into the air by Hercules and crushed.
It was at this point that I realized that Marvel Comics has been ripping off classical mythology for years.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Dictionary Highlights: Day 8
amy - slang for a vial of amyl nitrate.
"Hey Amy. Will you hand me an amy?"
anaptotic - (of languages) tending to become uninflected, in accordance with a theory that languages evolve from uninflected to inflected and back.
I never knew that the study of the evolution of the inflection of languages was such serious business.
anatta - In Buddhism, the doctrine asserting the nonexistence of a personal and immortal soul. Sanskrit,anatman.
I always wondered how Buddhist outreach works. "Hey you! Yeah, you over there! Do you realize that you don't exist?"
ane - (pronounced like "ain't") Scottish for "one"
anes - Scottish for "once"
This must be hard for a Scottsman to express how he once tried on a pair of Hanes. I guess that's why there are kilts.
angel shark - any shark of the genus Squatina, found in warm and temperate shore waters, having a depressed, flat body and large, winglike pectoral fins.
Two words I never expected to see juxtaposed. Seems like an oxymoron
"Hey Amy. Will you hand me an amy?"
anaptotic - (of languages) tending to become uninflected, in accordance with a theory that languages evolve from uninflected to inflected and back.
I never knew that the study of the evolution of the inflection of languages was such serious business.
anatta - In Buddhism, the doctrine asserting the nonexistence of a personal and immortal soul. Sanskrit,anatman.
I always wondered how Buddhist outreach works. "Hey you! Yeah, you over there! Do you realize that you don't exist?"
ane - (pronounced like "ain't") Scottish for "one"
anes - Scottish for "once"
This must be hard for a Scottsman to express how he once tried on a pair of Hanes. I guess that's why there are kilts.
angel shark - any shark of the genus Squatina, found in warm and temperate shore waters, having a depressed, flat body and large, winglike pectoral fins.
Two words I never expected to see juxtaposed. Seems like an oxymoron
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Dictionary Highlights : Day 7
ambergris - an opaque, ash-colored secretion of the sperm whale intestine, usually found floating on the ocean or cast ashore: used in perfumery.
And now you know where these perfumes come from
ambisinister - clumsy or unskillful with both hands.
The expected antonym of ambidextrous
ambisextrous - held in common by both sexes, especially sexual characteristics.
The expected neologism of ambidextrous
amen corner - a place in some Protestant churches, usually at one side of the pulpit, occupied by worshipers leading the responsive amens of the congregation.
And I thought it was the 12th hole at Augusta National
American Legion - a society, organized in 1919, composed of veterans of the armed forces of the U.S.
Why did I keep thinking that this was the name of some sort of white supremacy group?
American plan - (in hotels) a system of paying a single fixed rate that covers room and all meals.
American twist - In tennis, a service in which the ball is spun so as to bounce high and to the left of the receiver.
A term that should be imported into bartending
Ammonium nitrate - a white, crystalline, water-soluble powder, NH4NO3, usually produced by reacting nitric acid with vaporous ammonia: used chiefly in explosives, fertilizers, freezing mixtures, and in the manufacture of nitrous oxide.
That's why fertilizer bombs work
amphetamine - a racemic drug, C9H13N, that stimulates the central nervous system: used chiefly to lift the mood in depressive states and to control the appetite in cases of obesity. a(lpha) + m(ethyl) + ph(enyl) + et(hyl) + AMINE
amphotericin - an amphoteric antibiotic produced by the bacterium Streptomyces nodosus and used in the treatment of fungal infections.
It's the opposite of penicillin
And now you know where these perfumes come from
ambisinister - clumsy or unskillful with both hands.
The expected antonym of ambidextrous
ambisextrous - held in common by both sexes, especially sexual characteristics.
The expected neologism of ambidextrous
amen corner - a place in some Protestant churches, usually at one side of the pulpit, occupied by worshipers leading the responsive amens of the congregation.
And I thought it was the 12th hole at Augusta National
American Legion - a society, organized in 1919, composed of veterans of the armed forces of the U.S.
Why did I keep thinking that this was the name of some sort of white supremacy group?
American plan - (in hotels) a system of paying a single fixed rate that covers room and all meals.
American twist - In tennis, a service in which the ball is spun so as to bounce high and to the left of the receiver.
A term that should be imported into bartending
Ammonium nitrate - a white, crystalline, water-soluble powder, NH4NO3, usually produced by reacting nitric acid with vaporous ammonia: used chiefly in explosives, fertilizers, freezing mixtures, and in the manufacture of nitrous oxide.
That's why fertilizer bombs work
amphetamine - a racemic drug, C9H13N, that stimulates the central nervous system: used chiefly to lift the mood in depressive states and to control the appetite in cases of obesity. a(lpha) + m(ethyl) + ph(enyl) + et(hyl) + AMINE
amphotericin - an amphoteric antibiotic produced by the bacterium Streptomyces nodosus and used in the treatment of fungal infections.
It's the opposite of penicillin
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Dictionary Highlights: Day 5
Albania - 1. a republic in S Europe, in the Balkan Peninsula, W of Macedonia and NW of Greece. 3,293,252; 10,632 sq. mi. (27,535 sq. km). Capital: Tirana.
2. Obsolete. Scotland.
Good to know if you're ever time-traveling to ancient Scotland. If they tell you you're in Albania, you're in the right place.
Albuquerque (Alfonseo de) - 1453–1515, founder of the Portuguese empire in the East.
alcoholize - 1. to convert into an alcohol.
2. to treat or saturate with an alcohol.
3. to place under the influence of alcoholic beverages; make drunk; besot.
A good question to ask at parties. "Are you alcoholized yet?"
Alcoranist - a person who believes in an absolutely literal interpretation of the Koran.
Why did they need to come up with another word for this. Is Wahhabiist not good enough?
alectryomancy - an ancient form of divination, using a rooster to select grains of food placed on letters of the alphabet.
And it's a lot more fun than Ouija. Perfect activity for a party once everyone has been alcoholized.
aleuromancy - the use of flour as a means of divination.
I would love to see how this works.
Alexandrinus -the Greek uncial codex, dating from the early 5th century a.d., originally containing the complete text of the Greek Old and New Testaments.
Sweet! Another complete text that predates Codex Leningrad.
aliterate - a person who is able to read but rarely chooses to do so: Schools are worried about producing aliterates who prefer television to books.
all-fired - tremendous; extreme; excessive: He had the all-fired gall to quit in the middle of the job.
Then his team members were all fired.
2. Obsolete. Scotland.
Good to know if you're ever time-traveling to ancient Scotland. If they tell you you're in Albania, you're in the right place.
Albuquerque (Alfonseo de) - 1453–1515, founder of the Portuguese empire in the East.
alcoholize - 1. to convert into an alcohol.
2. to treat or saturate with an alcohol.
3. to place under the influence of alcoholic beverages; make drunk; besot.
A good question to ask at parties. "Are you alcoholized yet?"
Alcoranist - a person who believes in an absolutely literal interpretation of the Koran.
Why did they need to come up with another word for this. Is Wahhabiist not good enough?
alectryomancy - an ancient form of divination, using a rooster to select grains of food placed on letters of the alphabet.
And it's a lot more fun than Ouija. Perfect activity for a party once everyone has been alcoholized.
aleuromancy - the use of flour as a means of divination.
I would love to see how this works.
Alexandrinus -the Greek uncial codex, dating from the early 5th century a.d., originally containing the complete text of the Greek Old and New Testaments.
Sweet! Another complete text that predates Codex Leningrad.
aliterate - a person who is able to read but rarely chooses to do so: Schools are worried about producing aliterates who prefer television to books.
all-fired - tremendous; extreme; excessive: He had the all-fired gall to quit in the middle of the job.
Then his team members were all fired.
Dictionary Highlights: Day 4
Aardwolf - a striped, hyenalike mammal, Proteles cristatus, of southern and eastern Africa, that feeds chiefly on insects.
Just like the aardvark, only more wolf-like
Ailurophile - a person who likes cats; cat fancier.
I didn't know they needed to invent a whole new word for "cat lover" which is shorter to say and to type, anyway.
Air Equivalent - a measure of the effectiveness of a material in absorbing nuclear radiation, expressed as the thickness of an air layer (at 0° C and 1 atmosphere) causing the same absorption.
Air Screw - an airplane propeller.
Airy Fairy -
Alabamine - In Chemistry, (formerly) astatine. Symbol: Ab
Because when we think of advanced scientific research, Alabama is the first thing that comes to mind.
Alack - An interjection used as an exclamation of sorrow, regret, or dismay.
For when Alas just won't do.
Just like the aardvark, only more wolf-like
Ailurophile - a person who likes cats; cat fancier.
I didn't know they needed to invent a whole new word for "cat lover" which is shorter to say and to type, anyway.
Air Equivalent - a measure of the effectiveness of a material in absorbing nuclear radiation, expressed as the thickness of an air layer (at 0° C and 1 atmosphere) causing the same absorption.
Air Screw - an airplane propeller.
Airy Fairy -
| 1. | Informal.
|
| 2. | Slang. effeminate; swishy. |
Alabamine - In Chemistry, (formerly) astatine. Symbol: Ab
Because when we think of advanced scientific research, Alabama is the first thing that comes to mind.
Alack - An interjection used as an exclamation of sorrow, regret, or dismay.
For when Alas just won't do.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
New Year's Resolution
It's that time of the year again, for us to resolve to better our lives, breaking old habits and setting new ones.
I was fascinated when I read about an experiment where researchers tested individuals with conditions that prevented them from making new long-term memories. These patients are like the main character in Memento, unable to remember what they were doing even five minutes ago. The test went like this: The researcher introduces himself to the patient, and presents a puzzle (not necessarily a jigsaw puzzle, either) for the patient to solve. The researcher asks "have you done this puzzle before" the patient says "no" and the patient proceeds to work on the puzzle until it has been solved.
The results were fascinating. On the first day, it would take the patient, say, 20 minutes to solve the puzzle. On the second day, the patient would take less time to solve the same puzzle, say, 10 minutes. On the third day, the patient could solve the puzzle in less time still, despite having no conscious memory of ever having worked on the puzzle. This indicates that knowledge forgotten by the conscious mind is never lost. The implication is: if you learn, or even gloss over some kind of knowledge, even if you don't really understand it, even if you don't remember it, it will be beneficial should you desire to learn it later. For example, if you read a Master's Degree level physics text that is over your head, and don't understand it, take Bachelor's level physics courses, get a degree, then take a Master's physics course years later featuring that textbook you didn't understand, you will now learn that textbook much more quickly than if you had never read it in the first place.
This got me thinking. What could I do to provide a foundation for future learning. If I briefly gloss over the whole of human knowledge, then anything I learn in a formal education later in life, I will learn faster and retain more of it. In other words, I'd be supercharging my ability to learn.
Inspired by A.J. Jacobs' audacious project of reading through all of Encyclopedia Britannica in a year, I decided to do something similar, but a bit more modest. I have decided to read through Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language in one year. The text is 2230 pages long, which equals out to a little over 6 pages per day. While that may not seem difficult at first, here's an image of two pages of this dictionary:
.jpg)
Wish me luck. I think I'm gonna need it.
I was fascinated when I read about an experiment where researchers tested individuals with conditions that prevented them from making new long-term memories. These patients are like the main character in Memento, unable to remember what they were doing even five minutes ago. The test went like this: The researcher introduces himself to the patient, and presents a puzzle (not necessarily a jigsaw puzzle, either) for the patient to solve. The researcher asks "have you done this puzzle before" the patient says "no" and the patient proceeds to work on the puzzle until it has been solved.
The results were fascinating. On the first day, it would take the patient, say, 20 minutes to solve the puzzle. On the second day, the patient would take less time to solve the same puzzle, say, 10 minutes. On the third day, the patient could solve the puzzle in less time still, despite having no conscious memory of ever having worked on the puzzle. This indicates that knowledge forgotten by the conscious mind is never lost. The implication is: if you learn, or even gloss over some kind of knowledge, even if you don't really understand it, even if you don't remember it, it will be beneficial should you desire to learn it later. For example, if you read a Master's Degree level physics text that is over your head, and don't understand it, take Bachelor's level physics courses, get a degree, then take a Master's physics course years later featuring that textbook you didn't understand, you will now learn that textbook much more quickly than if you had never read it in the first place.
This got me thinking. What could I do to provide a foundation for future learning. If I briefly gloss over the whole of human knowledge, then anything I learn in a formal education later in life, I will learn faster and retain more of it. In other words, I'd be supercharging my ability to learn.
Inspired by A.J. Jacobs' audacious project of reading through all of Encyclopedia Britannica in a year, I decided to do something similar, but a bit more modest. I have decided to read through Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language in one year. The text is 2230 pages long, which equals out to a little over 6 pages per day. While that may not seem difficult at first, here's an image of two pages of this dictionary:
.jpg)
Wish me luck. I think I'm gonna need it.
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