Dictionary words.

Compiling a dictionary of the very many words that are not in the dictionary--mine is a dictionary of sexual slang--I naturally reflected on the words that do ordinarily get published. Most people say the average lexicons include too many useless "dictionary words" and by that they mean that you never hear or even read such words, that the words are only for lexicographers (and take up space in the lexicon that could better be used by words that are censored or squeezed out now although they are found in everyday use). Try your hand, without turning to your dictionaries, defining the following words. Later you can use them in the game (popular on BBCTV and as a parlor game in the US) in which a strange word is given to the opponents with three definitions (one correct and two fanciful). A team scores a point if the other side mistakenly is persuaded that a made-up definition is the correct one, so some ingenuity is demanded in creating the credible but false definitions. That game can be hilarious.

1 Agathism

2 Brassard

3 Chiliad

4 Derose

5 Exaugurate

6 Fritiniancy

7 Gynarchy 

8 Hesternal

9 Investient

10 Jumentous

11 Kelchyn

12 Lecanomancy

13 Malism

14 Nerf bar

15 Omnies

16 Pone 

17 Quitsest

18 Razzor

19 Sarpler

20 Tentiginous

21 Ullage 

22 Virga 

23 Weezle

24 Xoide

25 Ylond

26 Zodiographer

LEONARD R. N. ASHLEY

Brooklyn, New York