But rest assured, as much fun as each word or phrase is to say (particularly at the top of one's lungs), not one of them is salacious. In fact, each entry is wholly appropriate for consumption by--or merely in the vicinity of--young children, grandparents, in-laws and fundamentalist, religious-types.
However, I realize that my guarantee might not carry much weight with the skeptics in the reading audience. Therefore, I included an easy-to-understand definition next to each word or phrase. And, as an added bonus, I presented the list in alphabetical order--just the thing to facilitate memorization.
- annals written, historical records
- assoil absolve or acquit
- Bangkok city in Thailand
- bilabial frication using both lips to make a “raspberry” sound
- buttress a projecting structure made of stone
- cocksure quite certain and confident
- cunning linguist very clever expert on language
- mass debate large group discussion
- mass debater someone who participates in #8
- philatelist stamp collector
- proselytize an attempt to convert others
- pussyfooting acting in an indirect manner
- rectify make better or fix
- sects offshoots from the main (religious) group
- shitake type of mushroom
- titular referring to the title of something
- Uranus 7th planet from the sun
(The last-named caused so much in the way of embarrassment at symposiums and presentations, astronomers actually changed its pronunciation.)
18 comments:
Addendum: If I had to pick a personal favorite (I know, you didn't ask), it would be assoil. Any word that has both "ass" and "soil" in it--and isn't dirty--has to be a freak of the English language.
Would it be fair to say a "cunning linguist" has a sharp tongue?
Shawn: Ouch.
When I was young, I thought the words "seamen" and "kumquat" were funny and dirty, but later, when I learned the definitions, the situation was "rectified."
Jeff: The best part of posting this is sitting back and waiting for all the words I did not think of or forgot. Thanks, you did not disappoint.
I will be ladylike and stay out of this one. I am no ignoranus.
MP: Your sense of reserve and modesty never ceases to impress...
Awww... Jeff stole my kumquat suggestion.
My 9-year-old just did a unit on the solar system at school... Uranus will forever be known in our house as Your Butt. Lovely.
Funny stuff, sir :)
Diane: Thanks for the kind words. I had fun writing this post. Couldn't stop tittering as I typed.
Tittering... hee hee.
You take the mornings... I'll take the afternoons... between us, we should get a full day's work done!
Not to be too dirty, but on #4...it was specified which "lips" they were talking about :)
BrookeAmanda: If you can a raspberry sound with lips other than those north of the Macon-Dixon line, you stand to make a lot more money than you do working retail.
Cunny linguist ... Mmm that's what she said. :)
I'll let myself out.
p.s. Just found your blog. Funny!
Chris: The Cunning Linguist entry seemed to resonate the most. There's a joke in there somewhere, but I think it was unintentional. Here's hoping that you let yourself back in here again from time to time.
We adore this blog!
Check out ours when you get a sec at
http://snarknbeans.blogspot.com/
_lori and liza
Adore? That's pretty strong stuff. Most people use "despise", "resent"--and those who are predisposed to gush say, "tolerate--mildly". But thanks all the same. Will come to your place right away.
Dave
Sometimes I get a "tongue-lashing" for being a cunning linguist.
Marissa: That earns a tally in your column. Drop by any time.
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