Monday, February 13, 2012

The Phrontistery

For all of you word lovers --

I recently came across a really cool compendium of old and/or obscure English words that I wanted to share:
http://phrontistery.info/clw1.html

A sampling from the site:
alabandical adj 1656 -1775
barbarous; stupefied from drink
His behaviour after the party was positively alabandical.

alogotrophy n 1753 -1853
excessive nutrition of part of body resulting in deformity
Was he born with that huge head, or is it the result of alogotrophy?

brochity n 1623 -1678
projecting or crooked quality of teeth
His parents later regretted that they did not correct his brochity in his youth.

Unfortunately neither IPA/pronunciations nor etymology is included for the words, but if you're curious and able to access the Oxford English Dictionary Online, perhaps it also contains some of these wonderful terms.
Enjoy!

- Hannah

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