So That's What Vocabulary Is Like
Want to get a feel for what kids experience when they have to learn "vocabulary" in school--when they have to memorize new meanings, when they have write sentences for each new and unfamiliar word?
You can get a sense by tackling this list of 20 unusual English words. Not only do they have pronunciation rules that are even stranger than the ones we typically have to deal with, but their meanings are far from familiar. If you want the experience to be a more "genuine," you can try "writing three sentences for each word."
1. Erinaceous
Like a hedgehog
2. Lamprophony
Loudness and clarity of voice
3. Depone
To testify under oath
4. Finnimbrun
A trinket or knick-knack
5. floccinaucinihilipilification
Estimation that something is valueless. Proper pronunciation based on
Latin roots: flockə-nowsə-nəkələ-pələ-fək-ation.
6. Inaniloquent
Pertaining to idle talk
7. Limerance
An attempt at a scientific study into the nature of romantic love.
8. Mesonoxian
Pertaining to midnight
9. Mungo
A dumpster diver - one who extracts valuable things from trash
10. Nihilarian
A person who deals with things lacking importance (pronounce the
‘h’ like a ‘k’).
11. Nudiustertian
The day before yesterday
12. Phenakism
Deception or trickery
13. Pronk
A weak or foolish person
14. Pulveratricious
Covered with dust
15. Rastaquouere
A social climber
16. Scopperloit
Rude or rough play
17. Selcouth
Unfamiliar, rare, strange, marvelous, wonderful. For example: The List
Universe is such a selcouth website!
18. Tyrotoxism
To be poisoned by cheese
19. Widdiful
Someone who deserves to be hanged
20. Zabernism
The abuse of military power or authority. I wonder how long it will
take for this one to show up in the comments.
If you'd like to play around with more lists on unnecessary, but intriguing information, go to
http://listverse.com/
