I’m going to be trying something new moving forward. It’s called “Words on Wednesday”, and yes I know the acronym is Wow!
The aim is that I pick 5 random words that tickle my fancy for that week, and explain what they mean. Here’s the ones for this week.
Arachibutyrophobia
This word refers to a fear of getting peanut butter stuck to the roof of your mouth, which is, apparently, a phobia more common than previously though. The fear stops the person concerned being able to think or speak properly, which in turns makes him or her feel sick, dizzy and breathless.
Confabulation
This simply means to gossip, chatter, prattle, converse, natter, talk. It refers to general discussions rather than malicious gossip. It comes from the Latin word fabula (‘story’, ‘tale’), which interestingly is also the root of the word ‘fable’.
Ignominious
This is simply a great substitute for the words; humiliating, embarrassing, shameful, disgraceful or discreditable.
Monosyllabically
This word refers to someone who makes conversation using words consisting of just one syllable. The spirit of the word really refers to someone who answers with one or two words and makes no further comment or effort at conversation.
Synonymous
This literally means that something is the same, or almost the same, as something else, or that one thing can be closely identified with another.