I love words that just sound cool, like avuncular and mishmash. I also love words that manage to exist despite being completely unnecessary in 99.99% of human thought or conversation, so that when they're actually used, it makes you sit up and think about something you might have never noticed otherwise.
So today, zeugma was welcomed into my vocabulary with open arms. According to AlphaDictionary, it means "a syntactic construction in which one subject governs at least two predicate phrases even though its sense applies to them in different ways, e.g. He flew off the handle and straight to Rio." Another example they offered was "He drove his car recklessly and his wife crazy".
Coming up with examples isn't too easy, but I imagine it'll be even harder to drop zeugma into casual conversation. But I'll tell you what, I think I've found the name of our next dog, anyhow. And another short "Z" word for Scrabble games. Or perhaps the name of my next steampunk romance heroine...
Hmm, still trying to come up with an example. Ok, here goes:
"She set the supper table and her sights on posting her 400th blog post after they finished eating."
Well, at least part of it's right. Thanks, Dr. Goodword!
Friday, October 23, 2009
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23 comments: join in!:
Zingo...first in line! Thanks for another z word I can use in my scrabble games! :D
We must learn something new everyday! Have a great weekend...
LOL at Zingo!! I agree Lulda; my mother was always in search of something new to learn or master, and she never seemed 'old' at all. Learning's the fun part I think.
According to my son, somebody told him they needed to name their dog something with a hard consonant. We suggested Shadow and they said it was too soft a beginning sound.
Zeugma? I could hardly follow the explanation. I think I'm still trying to figure it out. I'm slow with these things. Sigh.
Interesting, Kay, but now that you mention it I think I read (perhaps the Monks of New Skete?) where dog names were important for training, and should only be one or two syllables long, hard consonants, etc.... So "Boomer" is good, and "Liltillywinky" is bad. In more ways than one.
I'll never have a single use for this word, but it just *sounds* so good! LOL
You do come up with the coolest stuff! I always learn something when I come here. Which reminds me, I went to 123 Print, wanted to try them out, but not put out a lot of money and I was able to design the card like I wanted, get 30 for $1.98 plus shipping -- total less than $6 and I can reorder or change the design whenever! How's that for cool!
Hope you have a great weekend, Susan! And thanks again for all the info!
Sylvia
OMG is this number 400?
What a feat!
Terrific word to find and share!
Oops, got that wrong.
Terrific word to extend your blog to its 400th post and as a gift to your friends.
Thanks Sylvia, and wow! I was greedier LOL, but my cards arrived and I luuuurrrrve them. I'm feeling spoiled rotten and all 'official' LOL.
Ashley, yes it is! I thought you were taking the weekend off?? (I feel honoured!)
Doug, ROFL, you hit close to home; I got to 399 and went completely blank. Thank heavens for Dr. Goodword in the inbox every day--I really did fall in love with the word, and then realised that it was just goofy enough to post about.
Happy 400th! And there's to your next 400 hundred!
She registered her own blood pressure and the sexy blond bombshell hanging off her husband's arm at the same time.
She kissed her boyfriend and her marriage goodbye.
He swallowed his pride and every bite of the cabbage, pineapple and cornflake casserole.
Congrats on the 400th post. WOOT. I never look to see how many I've got. Who cares LOL. I sure as hell dont.
She tiptoed through the tulips and felt raindrops falling on her head, both at the same time.
Now if only I could figure out what the definition of zeugma is suppose to mean. YODA help me. Forget it. REport to the bridge 0200 to swab the deck and cut Tiny's do and Get an umbrella for BJ...my my that could almost be nasty. Does Melli stop by here...yikes
Congrats on the 400th, and you thought you couldn't do it.
Great word find, I see Quilly is rubbing off on ya.
Thanks Quilly! --Nice zeugma, baby!!
Caron, a two-fer! And the first one's a gem.
Thom, :-P
Thanks Bill! I'm a word addict from way back; Quilly's 3WT is heaven! LOL
Congrats on your 400th post! They creep up on you don't they? I can't believe I've written over 600 - I didn't know I had that many words in me - thanks for adding another one that I can use. :)
Thanks Akelamalu! Out of all the blogs I've done, none lasted this long, or half so long really.
So congrats and here's to 400 more. Oh come on, you know you can do it!
Thanks for the new word. Ever since I learned the word "cacophony" as a kid, I was hooked.
Thanks Hope! Cacaphony's a good one---I just found 'uglyography' too, which means bad handwriting, so it certainly applies to me...
LOL
I'll try to remember zeugma when I play scrabble with hubby. Hope I remember the definition, too!
They have a WORD for my handwriting? :0
Wow, you are the queen of wordsmithing today. :)
Good luck Gigi! Who usually wins, or are you a good match?
Hope, I know, isn't it a great word? I almost feel validated in my illegibility LOL
I think it will make an excellent name.
Silly Saturday #4 - Purdie Pyrate's Halloween
Thanks Nessa! It's certainly different. LOL
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