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A.Word.A.Day--flatulent

flatulent (FLACH-uh-lent) adjective

1. Of, afflicted with, or caused by flatulence, the presence of excessive gas in the digestive tract.

2. Inducing or generating flatulence.

3. Pompous; bloated.

[French, from Latin flatus, fart.]

"It's well known that a flatulent episode can range from a barely detectable rumble to a propulsive burst sufficient to attain low Earth orbit, depending on general health and recent visits to all-you-can-eat salad bars." Kluger, Jeffrey, What a gas, Discover Magazine, 1 Apr 1995.

"The trial of Andrew Johnson in the U.S. Senate during Washington's lovely spring of 1868 alternated between flatulent speechifying and blistering invective." John Burnett, Bob Edwards, Andrew Johnson Impeachment, Morning Edition (NPR), 21 Dec 1998.

It's a dirty job but someone has to do it. This week's words do that job when they describe the human body, its conditions, and actions. Like it or not, these are proper words which have found a vaunted place in the hallowed pages of the English lexicon. They fill a need: that's why they exist. If you are squeamish you may want to skip this week's words but chances are you have come across what the words describe, and wouldn't you take comfort in the knowledge that there is a word for it and you grok it. -Anu

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