Simon Hertnon

More than just a dictionary, this book puts forth obscure-to-obsolete words, defines them and explains what makes them cool and why they should be more common. Of the hundred words, I only knew two -- "zaftig" and "philtrum" -- before I read the book, which I think is slightly impressive since my vocabulary is huge.

Writers and all those interested in words and language would find this worth their while.

I absolutely love this book! The words have great depth in meaning and are also fun to say (many are quite the tongue twister); so refreshing in a time where language is being over simplified and truncated.

The best part about this book is the etymology section. Understanding the roots of the words helps to work them into the reader's memory, and makes for some fun and unusual surprises!

Fantabulous read! A more in depth review to follow.

"Ambrosial": Divinely fragrant, exceptionally pleasing to taste or smell, celestial or ethereal.

"Antepenultimate": The last but two or before the next to last.

"Bleezed": Scottish word meaning affected in the eyes by alcoholic excitement, in other words, a synonym for drunk.

"Caliginous": Misty, dim, murky, obscure, dark, literally and figuratively.

"Chiaroscuro": Representation in terms of light and shade without regard or use of color; also show more describes the method used to create such art; black and white photography and film fit this word.

"Concupiscible": vehemently desirous; the coveting of carnal things.

"Curglaff": Scottish dialect for the shock felt in bathing, when one first plunges into cold water.

"Lalochezia": Emotional relief gained by using indecent or vulgar language.

"Logodaedalus": One who is cunning in words; inventor of words, ala William Shakespeare.

"Noosphere": the part of the biosphere occupied by thinking humanity; a stage of evolutionary development characterized by the emergence of consciousness, the mind and interpersonal relationships; in other words: 'the sphere of thought'.

"Omnist": a person who believes in a single transcendent purpose or cause uniting all things or people.

"Paraph": a flourish made after a signature, originally a precaution against forgery, ala John Hancock's on the Declaration of Independence.

"Perendinate": to defer until the day after tomorrow; to postpone for a day.

"Plutomania": excessive or frenzied pursuit of wealth.

"Schlimmbesserung": a so-called improvement that makes things worse. show less