This week’s theme
Eponyms

This week’s words
Gavroche
Bechdel test
chimerize
grangousier
lexiphanic


This week’s comments
AWADmail 1120

Next week’s theme
Verbing the noun

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A.Word.A.Day

PRONUNCIATION:

(lek-si-FAN-ik)

MEANING:

adjective: Using pretentious words and language.

ETYMOLOGY:

After Lexiphanes, a bombastic speaker, in the satire of the same name by Lucian (2nd century CE). From Greek lexis (speech, diction, word) + phainein (to show). Earliest documented use: 1767.

NOTES:

Lexiphanes, the title character of the satire, likes to use pretentious words and convoluted sentences in the belief that it shows his intellect. His friend Lycinus is concerned and has a doctor treat him. The doctor prescribes an emetic to purge Lexiphanes of his vocal clogging.

With Lexiphanes’s system cleaned, the doctor leaves him in his friend’s care. Lycinus prescribes reading great poets, orators, and philosophers, saying “We do not like even poetry to read like the dictionary.”

Lexiphanes is also a genus of leaf beetles. It’s not known what these beetles talk about when they use their fancy long words.

USAGE:

“Someone who reads dictionaries for fun. ... Been totally lexiphanic and proud of the fact.”
Debra Adelaide; The Household Guide to Dying; HarperCollins; 2009.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: