Friday, July 27, 2007

Ginormous Deal

So ginormous is now an acceptable word. Big deal. I've been using unacceptable words for years, and no one ever noticed. Aren't new innovations often ignored until the passing of an age? Only years later, after some child genius bites the dust, are such gems discovered.

"Cootie" is an example of child genius never given its just due. My whole first grade class knew what it meant: some yucky thing on girls that rubbed off on boys. We knew enough to run away from girls who had them. But adults never learned the word. Look in a dictionary and it says a cootie is a body louse. Maybe first grade girls did have body lice, I don't know, but my point is the true meaning of cootie hasn't been recognized. Modern definitions simply lack the intimate connection of cooties to girls, and boys running away from them. If first graders can invent words, why can't we? Think of something that will make you famous, then write it down:

Snargle (verb):
1) to express disturbing feelings (She snargled at her husband all day long)
2) to trip over one's feet on the way to the bathroom at nighttime (Why don't you put your shoes in the closet where they belong, so I won't snargle all the time?)
Synonyms: dunkdraggle.

Until later.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

gibbled - not in the dictionary I just checked.

gibbled - I use this word to describe how my body feels just before a chiropractic adjustment. How do you feel today Babzy? I am all gibbled. We used it back in the day and it's still a good word.

Doctor Rick said...

Babzy:

Good word. Reminds me of turkey gizzards.

Delirious said...

We always used the word, "gudgeons". When you are dipping up a piece of pie, make sure you get all the gudgeons. Of course, the dictionary defines it as:
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English gojoun, from Middle French goujon
1 : PIVOT 1, : JOURNAL
2 : a socket for a rudder pintle

They can define it how they want, but if I'm really happy I might just hug your gudgeons out.

Anonymous said...

Gudgeons - must be similar to innards.

Anonymous said...

I really need to write down the words I create in my classroom when I'm avoiding saying something that will get me into trouble. :P

Thanks for your comment on my blog!

Symbiosis said...

Hello there doc...first things first..thanks a ton for visiting my blog...i dont write a lot and usually get visits from people i know...its lovely to see someone new...
Now for wat u mentioned...abt those words that make sense but not officially...language is only for communication...sophisticated or not who the hell really cares as long as u get wat it means...atleast thats the way i see it..i have an interesting incident that happened to me once..i was relatively new in this country and since i grew up in India...we ofcourse were taught Victorian English (I am not sure if we are proud of it, but i guess it is wat it is..) anyways so I am pretty damn sure abt my vocabulary for the most part...one of the professors was teaching and something came up and i said are you going to the felicitation Dr... (cant remem his name) and he said u mean facilitate...i said no i mean felicitate...and in front of the entire class he said maybe thats a word in India...its not here...needless to say i was offended and emailed him the dictionary link and got back an apology...i was so glad!
Btw is fantabulous a real word..i use it lot..if its not they should consider making it one...lol..as u can see i am miles away from Victorian English now!
I am going to stop my blabber now and once again thanks...have a great week!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for writting on my blog. I just started this a while ago and I am uncomfortable with this format. My older daughter is familar with my space and can help me navigate through it where with blogging I am forced to work it on my own. I think I am going to try my space for awhile. Who knows I might be back to blogging someday. Time will tell. Have fun...Ruth

Alan Roy Hocking said...

Hi Doc,
Thanks for the visit and comment. I've just finished reading about how we should all stay focused on one subject if we want to increase traffic to our blogs so it was nice to visit your blog and find like me you just share what's on your mind at the time. Very refreshing and an inspiration for me to carry on the way I'm going.
Keep Blogging Fun!

Sewmouse said...

Like Beth, I had to "invent" some words when I ran the daycare after-school program when my daughter was a baby.

"Fardleschnockered" is a nice replacement "F" word.

Anonymous said...

Sewmouse really knows her F-words. She's a master. Or is it a mistress? Whatever, she's fantabulous.

Hi Doctor, Just stopping by to say hello on my way to the beach. Have a good day.

Doctor Rick said...

"Fardleschnockered" is good for the soul. It takes awhile to pronounce it, so there's time to chill before choosing the next word.

S* said...

A lot of people have been using ginormous for a while now. I've always found the word weird. It sounds like something a child made up, so it's weird when a "grown up" uses it.

taza said...

"snarky"
sort of mean in a pointed way

"groshing"
totally cool (i actually stole that one from Tanith Lee)

i like "snargle" a lot!

oh, and when thinking of "ruminating," i prefer goats to cows.

but, whatever works!