Please do not show me that at this point in time.
troglodyte
-Dictionary.com:
noun
- a prehistoric cave dweller.
- a person of degraded, primitive, or brutal character.
- a person living in seclusion.
- a person unacquainted with affairs of the world.
- an animal living underground.
Related Forms
troglodytic, troglodytical, adjective
troglodytism, noun
-Merriam-Webster Online:
1: a member of any of various peoples (as in antiquity) who lived or were reputed to live chiefly in caves
2: a person characterized by reclusive habits or outmoded reactionary attitudes
-American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language:
-
a. A member of a fabulous or prehistoric race of people that lived in caves, dens, or holes.
b. A person considered to be reclusive, reactionary, out of date, or brutish. -
a. An anthropoid ape, such as a gorilla or chimpanzee.
b. An animal that lives underground, as an ant or a worm.
[pn: Fabulous? Wow.]
-Wiktionary:
Noun
- A member of a supposed prehistoric race that lived in caves or holes, a caveman.
- (by extension) Anything that lives underground.
The cave was populated by albino scorpions, blind salamanders, and other troglodytes. - A reclusive, reactionary, or out-of-date person, especially if brutish.
- (computing) A person who chooses not to keep up-to-date with the latest software and hardware.
-The Online Plain Text Dictionary:
[ul]
[li]An anthropoid ape, as the chimpanzee.
[/li][li]One of any savage race that dwells in caves, instead of constructing dwellings; a cave dweller. Most of the primitive races of man were troglodytes.
[/li][li]The wren.
[/li][/ul]
-Webster’s 1828:
The Troglodytes were a people of Ethiopia, represented by the ancients as living in caves, about whom we have many fables.
-Wordnet 3.0:
- hermit, recluse, solitary, solitudinarian, troglodyte – (one who lives in solitude)
- caveman, cave man, cave dweller, troglodyte – (someone who lives in a cave)
[pn: Solitudinarian? Whoa.]
-Free Online Dictionary of Computing (FOLDOC):
<jargon> (Commodore) 1. A hacker who never leaves his cubicle. The term “Gnoll” (from Dungeons & Dragons) is also reported.
2. A curmudgeon attached to an obsolescent computing environment. The combination “ITS troglodyte” was flung around some during the Usenet and e-mail wringle-wrangle attending the 2.x.x revision of the Jargon File; at least one of the people it was intended to describe adopted it with pride.
-Online Etymology Dictionary:
“cave-dweller,” 1555, from L. troglodytae (plural), from Gk. troglodytes “cave-dweller,” lit. “one who creeps into holes,” from trogle “hole” (from trogein “to gnaw;” see trout) + dyein “go in, dive in.” Slang shortening trog “obnoxious person, boor” is recorded from 1956.
-No Wordcount Ranking
-So…Quartroglo-History? Do I dare? Hoo Boy:
[pn: Huh?]
-Woof. So That Happened. Now A Little Moment from A Lesser Jurassic Park:
-xtien
that bill dungsroman quote is a fine piece of literature
I just remember troglodytes from Warhammer Fantasy, where they are bigger, uglier and stupider lizard-men who live in caves.
Like skanks, troglodytes give off an aura that can cause nauseousness if fail your fortitude save.
defenestrate
-The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition:
tr.v. defenestrated, defenestrating, defenestrates
To throw out of a window.
[Back-formation from defenestration.]
-Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary:
Main Entry: defenestration
Pronunciation: (ˌ)dē-ˌfe-nə-ˈstrā-shən
Function: noun
Etymology: de- + Latin fenestra window
Date: 1620
1: a throwing of a thing or person out of a window
2: a usually swift dismissal or expulsion (as from a political party or office)
–defenestrate transitive verb
-Wikipedia.org:
Defenestration is the act of throwing something or someone out the window. The term “defenestration” was coined around the time of an incident in Prague Castle in the year 1618. The word comes from the Latin de- (from) and fenestra (window or opening).
The act carries the connotation of forcibly or peremptorily removing an adversary, and is sometimes used in that sense; it also suggests breaking the windows in the process (de- also means removal). Although defenestrations can be fatal due to the height of the window through which a person is thrown or throws oneself, or due to lacerations from broken glass, the act of defenestration need not carry the intent or result of death.
Origin of the Term:
The term originates from two incidents in history, both occurring in Prague. In 1419 seven town officials were thrown from the Town Hall, precipitating the Hussite War. In 1618 two Imperial governors and their secretary were thrown from Prague Castle, sparking the Thirty Years War. These incidents, particularly that of 1618, were referred to as the Defenestration of Prague and gave rise to the term and the concept.
[b]defenestrate/b]
To remove Windows from a computer. It comes from “defenestration,” which means to toss out a window.
-The Online Etymology Dictionary:
defenestration
1620, “the action of throwing out of a window,” from L. fenestra “window.” A word invented for one incident: the “Defenestration of Prague,” May 21, 1618, when two Catholic deputies to the Bohemian national assembly and a secretary were tossed out the window (into a moat) of the castle of Hradshin by Protestant radicals. It marked the start of the Thirty Years War. Some linguists link fenestra with Gk. verb phainein “to show;” others see in it an Etruscan borrowing, based on the suffix -(s)tra, as in L. loan-words aplustre “the carved stern of a ship with its ornaments,” genista “the plant broom,” lanista “trainer of gladiators.” Related: Defenestrate (1915); defenestrated (1620).
-Wordcount Ranking (defenestration): 78311
-And Later, from the Same Thread:
-A Smattering of Q23 History:
-And Now, Upon A Special Pedestal, The Reason I’ve Been Waiting FOR YEARS To See This Word to Crop Up:
[pn: Seriously, one of my favorite words, from one of my favorite posts.]
-Finally, Because I Just Find Him Irresistible, One More Bill Usage (An Exchange):
-Oops, Double-Dog Finally As A Tribute*:
-And Lastly, But Hardly Leastly, My Favorite Use of This Day’s Word from The Outside:
-xtien
[*Thanks to Rimbo for the heads up!]
Sure, from the well known phrase “Don’t defenestrate the baby with the detritus”.
The term originates from two incidents in history, both occurring in Prague. In 1419 seven town officials were thrown from the Town Hall, precipitating the Hussite War.
Dang it, I’m the one who pointed that out in the linked thread, but because I didn’t use the word defenestrate in a sentence, I don’t get quoted.
(wanders away sulking)
you rock, christien
Pretty ballsy of Xtien, calling out Tom’s re-use of what is clearly a favorite turn of phrase.
I feel like this combination of theMerriam-Webster ask the editor section (octopus is a good place to start, at least according to the crowd wisdom of reddit), and thispronunciation dictionary probably belong here, even if they don’t actually add more words to the qt3 repertoire. Then again, I think we could all use a little more ratiocination in our lives.
Edit: Also, this pronunciation tool is pretty sweet for accents, although a little creepy thanks to the animated heads.
chthonic
-dictionary.com:
adjective, Classical Mythology
of or pertaining to the deities, spirits, and other beings dwelling under the earth.
Also chthonian
-Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary:
Pronunciation: \ˈthä-nik
Date: 1882
: of or relating to the underworld : INFERNAL <chthonic deities>
-Wiktionary.org:
Etymology
From Ancient Greek χθών (khthōn, “ground”).
Adjective
- Dwelling within or under the earth.
The young pantheon had remanded their elders to the role of smouldering, chthonic gods; to inhabiting dark, deep places, hidden from mortal eyes and influence.
-MSN Encarta:
chthon·ic [ thónnik ] or chtho·ni·an [ thṓnee ən ]
of underworld: relating to the underworld as described in Greek mythology
-YourDictionary.com (Webster’s New World College Dictionary):
- chthonian
- dark, primitive, and mysterious
-Wikipedia.org:
Chthonic (from Greek χθόνιος — chthonios, “in, under, or beneath the earth”, from χθών— chthōn “earth”[1]; pertaining to the Earth; earthy; subterranean) designates, or pertains to, deities or spirits of the underworld, especially in relation to Greek religion.
Greek khthonis one of several words for “earth”; it typically refers to the interior of the soil, rather than the living surface of the land (as Gaia or Ge does) or the land as territory (as khora (χώρα) does). It evokes at once abundance and the grave.
The pronunciation is somewhat awkward for English speakers. Most dictionaries, such as the OED, state that the first two letters should be pronounced as [k], /ˈkθɒnɪk/; others, such as the AHD, record these letters as silent, /ˈθɒnɪk/. Note that the modern pronunciation of the Greek word “χθόνιος” is [xθoɲos], although the Classical Greek pronunciation would have been something similar to [kʰtʰonios].
-The Online Plain Text Dictionary:
Pertaining to the earth; earthly; as, chthonic religions
dwelling or reigning in the underworld as deities or as spirits; infernal; ghostly
Concerning, belonging to, or inhabiting the underworld.
[pn: I liked reading this whole entry (linked above). FWIW.]
Of the underworld; term used to describe the phenomena relating to the underworld and the earth; including deities such as Geb, Aker, and Osiris.
-Online Etymology Dictionary:
1882, with suffix -ic, from Gk. khthonios “of the earth, in the earth,” from khthon “the earth, solid surface of the earth” (mostly poetic) from PIE root *dhghem- (cf. first element in chameleon, also L. humus “earth, soil,” humilis “low;” Lith. žeme, O.C.S. zemlja “earth;” Skt. ksam- “earth” (opposed to “sky”); O.Ir. du, gen. don “place,” earlier “earth”). Chthonian is from 1850.
-No Wordcount Ranking:
-An Appetizer History:
[pn: I couldn’t be further from understanding this quote. Which I love.]
-Oh…Did I Mention There Was A Main Course?
-A Dessert Course? Why Not? From the Same Chef? Mais Oui!
[pn: Yeah, that was long. But folks…these are the little moments I live for. And for that, I thank you.]
-xtien
BTW, these are quite helpful for today’s word. Thanks LK.
-xtien
Now I want a gin & chthonic.
No kidding. That’s definitely one of those words that gets read more than said.
Ha ha ha, I knew some good would come out of the lava thread! Take that, haters like Kelly Wand! Thanks Xtien.
nonplussed
-dictionary.com:
nonplus
verb -plussed or -plused, -plussing or -plusing, noun
-verb (used with object)
- to render utterly perplexed; puzzle completely.
-noun
2. a state of utter perplexity.
[pn: I love the word perplexity.]
-Oxford Dictionaries:
-adjective
- so surprised and confused that one is unsure how to react.
- North American informal not disconcerted; unperturbed.
Usage
In standard use nonplussed means‘ surprised and confused’, as in she was nonplussed at his eagerness to help out . In North American English a new use has developed in recent years, meaning ‘unperturbed’ — more or less the opposite of its traditional meaning — as in he was clearly trying to appear nonplussed . This new use probably arose on the assumption that non- was the normal negative prefix and must therefore have a negative meaning. It is not considered part of standard English
[pn: I’m uncomfortable with that “Usage” bit from Oxford Dictionaries. It reminds me of that word guy on NPR who tried to do the same thing with the word literally a couple of years ago. I mean, the word means what it means, doesn’t it? This objection comes from someone who has been guilty of misusing this word, but who then loved finding out what it actually means when corrected {and gently mocked} by a friend. I don’t want an out. This “Usage” bit gives me an out. I don’t want an out!]
-V2 Vocabulary Building Dictionary:
Definition: confused or bewildered, and therefore unsure how to respond.
Synonyms: confused, bewildered, dumbfounded, confounded, baffled
Antonyms: certain, sure
Tips: Nonplussed comes from the Latin non plus, or “no further” because someone nonplussed is at a loss for how to proceed. The verb form, nonplus, means “to baffle or confuse”.
-Wiktionary.org:
-Adjective
nonplussed (comparative more nonplussed, superlative most nonplussed)
- Bewildered, unsure how to respond.
- (US, informal) Unfazed, unaffected, or unimpressed.
-Usage Notes:
In recent North American English nonplussed has come to mean “unimpressed”.[1] In 1999, this was considered a neologism, ostensibly from “not plussed”, although “plussed” by itself is not a recognized English word. The “unimpressed” meaning is not considered standard usage by at least one authoritative source.
[pn: Dear Wiktionary, thanks for addressing my concerns. I’m so annoyed at that other “Usage Note”.]
-The Collaborative International Dictionary of English:
To puzzle; to confound; to perplex; to cause to stop by embarrassment.
-Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward:
addled, at a loss, at a nonplus, at a stand, at a standstill,
at an impasse, baffled, bamboozled, beat, bewildered, buffaloed,
confounded, dazed, floored, fuddled, in a dilemma, in suspense,
licked, muddled, mystified, on tenterhooks, perplexed, puzzled,
stuck, stumped, thrown
-WordNet 3.0 Vocabulary Helper:
verb:
- perplex, vex, stick, get, puzzle, mystify, baffle, beat, pose, bewilder, flummox, stupefy, nonplus, gravel, amaze, dumbfound – (be a mystery or bewildering to…)
adjective:
- at a loss, nonplused, nonplussed, puzzled – (filled with bewilderment)
-The Word Detective:
The the rescue! Sort of:
“So the good news is that you are right, but the bad news is that you are only right for the time being. Like it or not (and believe me, I often don’t), popular usage changes language…”
[pn: Arg.]
-The Free Dictionary:
tr.v.
To put at a loss as to what to think, say, or do; bewilder.
n
A state of perplexity, confusion, or bewilderment.
-The Online Etymology Dictionary:
nonplus
1580s (n.), properly “state where ‘nothing more’ can be done or said,” from L. non plus “no more, no further.” The verb meaning “to bring to a nonplus, to perplex” is attested from 1590s. Related: Nonplussed.
-Wordcount Ranking: 36908 (between ribble and thistles)
-Sigh. Okay. A Brief Smattering:
[pn: Yeah, I know I didn’t need that much quote there. But I just love triggercut’s posts about music. Sorry.]
…and now we come full circle…
-xtien
I should have guessed.
If it makes you feel any better, plussing actually is a term used in business and sales. Walt Disney coined it to indicate delivering more than any customer could possibly expect. These days it’s used when someone attempts to increase the perceived value of a sale so as to land it. Buy now and get a five year warranty! Call in the next thirty minutes and we’ll toss in a set of metric crescent wrenches! Buy any pornographic DVD and get three more pornographic DVDs for free! That sort of thing.
Not that this still makes the non-canonical definition of nonplussed make that much more sense.
It’s as misused as its near-synonym, bemused.
WELL! Color me nonplussed.