When you’re a voracious reader — online and off — you come across a wide variety of interesting content.
And when I collect ideas, I’m always trying to link them to leadership lessons we can glean from history and literature.
But some ideas and content don’t always fit neatly into that bin.
So I’ve started this new section of Timeless & Timely that I’m calling Off the Clock.
Whenever the mood strikes me (and perhaps on a regular basis), I’ll add interesting tidbits to this section—which you can see in the sections at the top of the main site. It’ll be an ad hoc effort.
I’d be interested in your feedback.
Words have always fascinated me. Especially the English language, with all of its quirkiness.
There are times when we know a feeling or circumstance, but struggle to come up with a word that describes the situation.
Arthur Schopenhauer wrote “One should use common words to say uncommon things.” Perhaps the opposite is true: we should use uncommon words to say common things.
Well, look no further! History has examples of English words that fill those gaps.
Snollygoster
A person who has intelligence but no principles
Peg puff
A young woman with the manners of an old one
Fudgel
The act of giving the impression of working but actually doing nothing
Twattling
Gossiping idly about unimportant matters
Grumbletonians
People who are angry or unhappy with the government
Hum durgeon
An imaginary illness
Groke
Someone who stares at you hoping you'll share your food
Shivviness
The uncomfortable feeling of wearing new underwear
Crapulous
Feeling ill as a result of having eaten too much
Mugwump
Someone of authority who affects being above petty squabbles
Dysania
Difficulty getting out of bed in the morning
Hugger mugger
Secretive or covert behavior
Elflock
Tangled hair (as if matted by elves)
Ultracrepidarian
One who gives opinions on a subjects he knows nothing about
Trumpery
Things that look good but are essentially worthless
Jargogle
To confuse or jumble up
Callipygean
Having beautiful, well-shaped buttocks
Lanspresado
Someone who always conveniently shows up with no money
Cockalorum
A small man with a big opinion of himself
Zwodder
A drowsy and stupid state of mind
Did any of these speak to you? Leave a comment.
Please share this with someone you’d think would enjoy these kinds of words. And maybe even use some of them in your conversations.
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Fun stuff, Scott. In fact the list you started should be required reading for writers at The Simpsons. Lots of scenes where either Mr. Burns or Abe Simpson are spouting off in twattle that no one else on screen can follow.
If you're looking for fascinating, unheard-of words, take a look at "The Liar's Dictionary". It's an incredible read. And the most ambitious use of language I've discovered since "Finnegan's Wake". (But at least this time, in "The Liar's Dictionary" all the words are real!