Yes, I’m a logophile

Try rolling some of these around on your tongue. Tasty, don’t you think? Even though I rarely have the chance to use gems like these in my work, they’re even more satisfying to collect than one of my other passions: shoes. Well . . . almost more satisfying. And definitely cheaper! (My heartfelt thanks to Anu Garg at wordsmith.org for the ongoing inspiration.)

kakistocracy
(kak-i-STOK-ruh-see, kah-ki-) noun

Government by the least qualified or worst persons.

mogigraphia
(moj-i-GRAF-ee-uh) noun

Writer’s cramp.

tarantism
(TAR-uhn-tiz-uhm) noun

An uncontrollable urge to dance.

tohubohu
(TOH-hoo-BO-hoo) noun

Chaos; confusion.

quisquilian
(kwis-KWIL-ee-uhn) adjective

Worthless, trifling.

doolally
(DU-lah-lee) adjective

Irrational, deranged, or insane.

pluvial
(PLOO-vee-uhl) adjective

Of or relating to rain, especially much rain.

logorrhea
(log-uh-REE-uh) noun

Excessive flow of words, especially when incoherent.

sprezzatura
(spret-sah-TOOR-uh) noun

Doing (or giving the appearance of doing) something effortlessly; effortless grace; nonchalance.

osculate
(OS-kyuh-layt)

verb tr.: To kiss.

verb intr.: To touch or to bring together.

mulligrubs
(MUL-i-grubz) noun

  1. Grumpiness; colic; low spirits.
  2. An ill-tempered person.
floccinaucinihilipilification
(FLOK-si-NO-si-NY-HIL-i-PIL-i-fi-KAY-shuhn) noun

Estimating something as worthless.

omphaloskepsis
(om-fuh-lo-SKEP-sis) noun

Contemplation of one’s navel.

callipygian
(kal-uh-PIJ-ee-uhn) adjective

Having well-shaped buttocks.

edacious
(i-DAY-shuhs) adjective

Devouring; voracious.

paean
(PEE-uhn) noun

An expression of praise, joy, or triumph, traditionally in the form of a song.

sang-froid
(san*-FRWA) [* the first syllable is nasal] noun

Calmness, especially under stress.

pecksniffian
(pek-SNIF-ee-uhn) adjective

Pretending to have high moral principles; sanctimonious, hypocritical.

saturnalia
(sat-uhr-NAY-lee-uh) noun

A time of unrestrained revelry.

verb intr.: To touch or to bring together.

oniomania
(O-nee-uh-MAY-nee-uh, -MAYN-yuh) noun

Compulsive shopping; excessive, uncontrollable desire to buy things.

oscitant
(OS-i-tant) adjective

  1. Yawning, gaping from drowsiness.
  2. Inattentive, dull, negligent.
ataraxia
(at-uh-RAK-see-uh) also ataraxy, noun

A state of freedom from disturbance of mind.

wifty
(WIF-tee) adjective

Eccentric, silly, scatterbrained.

gallimaufry
(gal-uh-MAW-free) noun

A hodgepodge; a jumble.

risible
(RIZ-uh-buhl) adjective

  1. Laughable; ludicrous.
  2. Disposed to laugh.
  3. Relating to laughter.
mondegreen
(MON-di-green) noun

A word or phrase resulting from mishearing a word or phrase, especially in song lyrics. For example:

“The girl with colitis goes by” for “The girl with kaleidoscope eyes” in the Beatles song “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds”.

smellfungus
(smel-FUNG-uhs) noun

A habitual faultfinder or complainer.

plashy
(PLASH-ee) adjective

  1. Marshy; watery; full of puddles.
  2. Splashy.
jimjams
(JIM-jams) noun

  1. Extreme nervousness; jitters
  2. Delirium tremens: tremors and hallucinations caused by withdrawal from alcohol.
kerfuffle
(kuhr-FUHF-uhl) noun

A commotion.

flummadiddle or flumadiddle
(flum-uh-DID-l) noun

  1. Nonsense.
  2. Something worthless.
callithump
(KAL-uh-thump) noun

  1. A noisy, boisterous celebration or parade.
  2. A mock serenade with pots, pans, kettles, etc., given for a newly married couple. Also known as charivari or shivaree.
troglodyte
(TROG-luh-dyt) noun

  1. 1. Someone who is brutish, reactionary, or primitive.
  2. A cave dweller.
  3. An animal that lives underground.
logophile
(LOG-uh-fyl) noun

One who loves words.

bumfuzzle
(bum-FUZ-uhl) verb tr.

To confuse.