There’s a word for that?!
As PR and communication professionals — as well as writers and editors — many of us spend our days correcting other people’s writing. This can be a taxing task, so sometimes it’s fun to take a break and play with words.
In this post, let’s explore a few words that will make you say “There’s a word for that?” (Definitions from Wordnik and Oxford Dictionaries.)
- Aposiopesis — to stop abruptly and leave a statement unfinished, giving the impression that the writer or speaker is unwilling or unable to continue; pretending to conceal something but mentioning it anyway.
A well-timed silence or aposiopesis is one way to engage an inattentive audience. - Crepuscular — related to twilight; dim
A crepuscular light seeped through the trees, signaling the end of the day. - Eschatology — the study of end times.
I’m not sure what the career path would be for someone who studies eschatology. - Fisticuffs — an impromptu fist fight, usually between two people.
Remember not to mention sock puppets or the dinner could end in fisticuffs. - Fichu — any covering for the neck and shoulders forming part of a woman’s dress; a triangular piece of fabric.
Be sure and wear a fichu with that dress, otherwise people will talk. - Flibbertigibbet — an offbeat, skittish, or flighty person; someone who likes to chatter or gossip.
It’s never good when the company flibbertigibbet works in Human Resources. - Glabella—the space between the eyebrows and the nose.
Josh woke up on his wedding day to discover a newly-formed pimple on his glabella. - Honorificabilitudinitatibus — the state of being able to achieve honors
The longest word in Shakespeare is “honorificabilitudinitatibus.” - Interrobang — a non-standard punctuation mark that combines the exclamation point and the question mark to express excitement and disbelief.
You haven’t submitted any expense reports since February!? - Nonplussed—bewildered or unsure of how to respond.
My sister’s tirade over her childhood grievances left me completely nonplussed. - Polydactyly — the condition of having more than the normal number of fingers and toes.
Polydactyly is a rare genetic condition. - Syzygy — the straight-line configuration of three celestial bodies (such as the sun, earth, and moon); the fusion of some or all the organs.
The planets must be in syzgy because this afternoon’s meeting has been cancelled. - Tsundoku — a Japanese term for buying books but never reading them; acquiring books but letting them pile up unread.
Tsundoku is much easier to conceal when you have a Kindle.
Do you have any favorite words to add to this list? Please add them in the comments section.
This post was also published on Ragan Communication’s PR Daily.
