Words, Phrases, Names, and Quotes I find interesting

This is an article that collects words, phrases, names, and such that I think are neat.

In the past, I would input things I wrote into a grammar checker. Almost always, something I wrote would be labelled ‘archaic’. This inspired me to check the words I use in a dictionary. This article started as a collection of archaic words I found interesting, but eventually grew to include regular words I found interesting…and then I started including ‘other’.
Since my speech is already unorthodox, why not double-down?

Definitions given here may not be completely accurate; this is because they’re based on my understanding of the words. I also don’t currently have my own dictionaries, which means I’m limited in what I can write.

I include a few words that aren’t from English as well, which I have marked as from another lingua. Occasionally I’ll also include words I create myself, sourced from one of the conlangs I developed.

Since I’ve decided to start including more Quenya and Sindarin on this page, I should note that I am currently not going to be including their Tengwar spellings. This is because the dictionary I rely on is the Eldamo, which encodes Tengwar differently from how I display it.

I’ll fix this in the future at some point, but I don’t know when.

For the sake of simplicity (and my own sanity) I use ‘Quenya’ to refer to words/phrases from both the ‘canon’ Quenya(s) and ‘Neo-Quenya’. Because I tend to stick to Eldamo’s Neo-Quenya, you can assume that if I refer to Quenya…I’m referring to Neo-Quenya.

Unorthodox is the term I use to differentiate words from those that are simply present in English.
Words are placed into this category if they are:

• Borrowed from a language besides English.
• Constructed.^A)
• Present within English, but have a ‘personal’ definition.

Finally, I include those words that are simply ‘outside the norm.’

2-3

E7: tú-t’thrí (R)

Two-to-three.

I use this term when I want to say a number but I don’t know what number it is specifically, or when I choose to be vague on purpose.

Example: 2-3 years ago I learned to act.

Adonai 日本語

E7: adonä (R)

アドナイ

Borrowed from Toaru Project which itself borrowed it from Hebrew.

It probably means lord or master.

I learned more recently that it’s also used to refer to the god of the Abrahamic faiths. So the usage I’m claiming here is more broad.

Example: What is your wish Adonai-sama?

Ambostulco 

Quenya word for bra.¹⁾

Andor

I find myself saying and/or very often. At some point I got tired of writing the slash, so I just merged the two words. I had forgotten there’s a character in Star Wars with this name.

Example: Jeans andor swimsuits are unacceptable indoors.

Aschente

E7: ascente (R)

Variants: ‘Ashente’; ‘Asciente’; ‘Asshente’

From No Game No Life. Meaning I swear by these covenants or I swear by these pledges. Essentially shorthand.

• Additional Note Meant to specifically refer to the Ten Covenants/Ten Pledges governing Disboard. The meaning can extend to any pledges/rules/covenants/whatever though.

Example: Let’s start the game Adonai, Aschente!

Burárum Entish

Entish noise of disgust.²⁾

From Tolkien‘s Entish language.

Example: Orcs died here? Burárum…

(a) certain (X)

I find myself using this particular word in this particular way very often.

Example: A Certain Magical Index.

coimas 

Quenya term for ‘lembas’.³⁾

(to) conscript

E7: cùnskript (R)

To ask/order/force someone to perform a chore/task or other such thing. Used extensively by myself and my siblings.

I believe it originated with me, but I can’t remember exactly when.

Examples:

• You’ve been conscripted to do the laundry.
• We need help in the garden, so you’re being conscripted.

Cost-Performance 日本語

Alternatively: Cosupa; Cospa

I think this is from Japanese office slang: コスパ.

My understanding is that it’s the value of the item in relation to the price of it. So a high-value low-cost item has a high cost-performance, while a low-value high-cost item has a low cost-performance.

Example: This coffee has a good cospa.

Cradle tongue

Variants (in theory - I’m making these up): ‘cradle language’; ‘born language’; ‘born tongue’

The language someone is born with/grows up with. Meant to differentiate it from ‘native tongue/native language’, which should be seen as the language of the group you identify with.⁴⁾

Additional note I got this definition from a J.R.R. Tolkien lecture⁴⁾ I happened to find on Wikipedia. It should probably be noted that he only defines ‘cradle tongue’ the way I laid out, ‘native tongue’ is different. The definition he uses for ‘native tongue’… I don’t find very useful, so I modified an existing definition of ‘native tongue’ - ‘it is the language of your ethnic group or “nation”’ - instead.

Example: My cradle tongue is English, what’s yours?

Danger Zone

Refers to any physical area or situation that is vaguely ‘dangerous’.

Basically, anything that can be considered risky, such as hand-holding, can be considered the ‘danger zone’.

I believe I adopted it from the Jontron Work Safety Video. The specific clip in question: Jontron - Danger Zone.

DHCP

‘Dynamic Hugging Carpentry Pedophile’.

I had forgotten what it actually stood for, so I guessed. They were the first words that came to mind.

Probably suitable as an insult.

Example: Now where did I stash that DHCP?

Dict

A shortening of ‘dictionary’ that was originally meant as a search engine shortcut for Wiktionary. Over time, I’ve found myself using it more like a synonym of ‘dictionary’.

Example: Let me take out my dict.

D.N.S.^B)

‘Delta Nile Slut’.

Similar to DHCP, but this time created more intentionally. Similar as above, the words that I came up with were the first that came to mind.

I’m guessing this can be used as an insult.

DQN 日本語/チャン語

Means something like idiot. I’m pretty sure it was borrowed from 2channel.

Pronounced ‘Do-kyun’ (like in ‘dog’).

Example: Why are you putting corn syrup in there, DQN?

Ek se

Southern African (and Rhodesian…) expression used to seek agreement. It literally means ‘I say’.^5;6)

• For Japanese speakers, compare with ‘ね’.

Example: Yellow bird overhead; flat dog in the river; no wide tar for miles; at least bowl us the ages ek se?

Error

I found myself using it instead of ‘mistake’.

Example: Damn, I made an error.

-fag チャン語

A suffix that is basically unheard of outside the Chanverse. It doesn’t actually have any negative connotation^C). It’s comparable to the '-man’ suffix - boatman, seaman, rifleman.

Common derivations:

• Drawfag - One who draws.
• Writefag - One who writes.
  • Writefaggotry - The content produced by writefags.

Example: What are the drawfags up to these days?

Folk

I essentially just use this as a kind of synonym for ‘people’, but only when I combine it with some adjective that specifies some kind of location.

I assume I somehow picked it up from Tolkien (Durin’s folk), but I don’t understand exactly why.

• Examples:
  • city-folk - Those who live in or around a city.
  • country-folk or rural-folk - Those who live in the country, outside of the city.
  • coastal-folk - Those who live near the coastline.
  • mountain-folk - Those who live in the mountains.

GanchiKamicova

A word for Human, similar to ‘Terran’. Literally translated as ‘child of Gaia’.

Sourced from ‘Kamicova’^D), a conlang I abandoned.

Additional Notes I found this word in particular to be nice, compared to the rest of what I came up with. It was originally spelled ‘Ganthi’, because ‘th’ was pronounced like a ‘ch’ in the lingua. I realized a bit later that it obviously looks like the word ‘child’ was used here, but that was unintentional.

Example: Maybe we’re all ganchi, but we aren’t all the same.

Gyaru 日本語/ギャル語

ギャル

This word is used to describe a girl belonging to the specific fashion subculture^E).

Derived from the English world ‘gal’.

Example: It’s been ages since I’ve spoken to a girl…and she has to be a gyaru!

Helen

The Helen is a unit of measurement for quantifying beauty, based on how willing armed men in ships would be to fight for that particular woman. 1 helen is defined as having the power to launch a thousand ships, of 50 oarsmen each. It’s alternatively equivalent to 50 million women⁷⁾.

As is often the case with such old units of measurement, post standardization, it was discovered that Helen was herself not worth 1 helen, but 1.186⁷⁾.

Heri 

The Quenya word for ‘lady’.⁸⁾

Hérincë 

The Quenya word for ‘little lady’.⁹⁾

Hlappo 

The Quenya word for ‘dress’, as in the article of clothing usually worn by women.¹⁰⁾

Hrissë 

The Quenya word for ‘snowfall’ or ‘fall of snow’.¹¹⁾

Indis 

The Quenya word for ‘bride’ or ‘wife’ and, possibly, ‘fiancée’.¹²⁾

Indis is also the name of a character in the Tolkien's Legendarium, though I forgot which one (oops).

Inimë 

The Quenya word for ‘femininity’.¹³⁾

Inimeitë 

The Quenya adjective for ‘feminine’, related to the above inimë (in reverse).¹⁴⁾

Intex

It’s a shortcut word for ‘interactive experience’ to describe ‘games’ with little to no gameplay and a focus on themes/story above all else.

I made this term up while extremely tired, and whether I’ll even use it is still to be seen.

Example: Actually, it’s an ‘intex’, not a ‘vidya’, it says so on the LoreBook!

Isekai’d

E7: isekäd (R)

A term derived from the name of the Japanese genre Isekai. ‘Isekai’ itself just means '(in) another world’.

The term is a humorous way of referring to someone’s death. Popular especially among the western manga community.

Example: A: What happened to Tim? B: Got isekai’d by a truck - instant. A: Damn, sadness overwhelming.

JK 日本語

女子高生(じょしこうせい)

E7: jëkë (R)

A Japanese latin abbreviation for ‘High-school Girl’ - 女子高生(じょしこうせい), joshi kōsei.

Example: Wait, it isn’t illegal to talk to JK?

Kin

Those who belong to the same group or family.¹⁵⁾

I just use it to refer to those I believe I am related to in some way or another.

Example: He may be a bastard, but he’s kin, so screw off!

Kopipe 日本語/チャン語

An older term. It was likely borrowed from Japanese (コピペ) but I don’t know for sure. It means ‘Copypasta’.

Example: George Zimmer is a famous Kopipe.

(to) Kwai

E7: quë (R)

To blow something up - make something explode.¹⁶⁾

Example: Let’s just get this over with… kwai the bridge!

Liantë 

The Quenya word for ‘spider’, contrasted with ‘ungol’ which refers to a monstrous spider.¹⁷⁾

Lingua Español

E7: liŋwa (R)

Variant: ‘linga’

I found myself using this over ‘language’ since I found it easier to pronounce. It’s borrowed from the romance languages

Example: How many linguas can you understand?

Lossë 

The Quenya word for ‘fallen snow’, but can generally refer to snow as well.¹⁸⁾

Massa 

The Quenya word for ‘bread’.¹⁹⁾

Massánië 

This is the Quenya title for noble elvish ladies who keep the recipe for lembas and give it out.²⁰⁾

Melesellë 

This one is actually a bit complicated. The translation means ‘love sister’, but it refers to a close (platonic) female friend that you love very dearly…like a sister.²¹⁾

MK5 日本語/ギャル語

マジ、キレる、5秒前

I think it literally means “seriously angry within 5 seconds”.

It’s used in a lighthearted manner to describe an uncomfortable situation that has been experienced.²²⁾

Netto 

The Quenya word for ‘big sister’.²³⁾

I feel there’s some potential for Japanese puns here.

Nindari 

The Quenya word for ‘nymph’ or ‘river-maid’.²⁴⁾

Nís 

The Quenya word for ‘woman’ of any kind…regardless of race/species.²⁵⁾

Nowy 日本語/ギャル語

Basically an adjectival form of the English word ‘now’, with the meaning of being ‘trendy’ or ‘chic’.²²⁾

The romanization used on the source is ‘naui’, though I think this is due to a machine translation.

Núrë 

The Quenya word for ‘maidservant’, ‘maid’.²⁶⁾

Oolong Cha/Tea 日本語/ギャル語

A punny abbreviation which roughly means ‘annoying, long-haired, brown-haired guy’.²²⁾

Perwaima 

The Quenya word for ‘skirt’.²⁷⁾

Primary world

The real world of the reader or viewer, as opposed to the imaginary ‘secondary world’ of a work of fiction.²⁸⁾

I find it works far better than ‘real world’, which can conflict in stories where virtual reality plays a role.

Contrast with ‘secondary world’.

Professor argument

An argument that is perceived to be intelligent in some way.

Originates from a bizarre dream I had.

Example: Wait, you’re really hitting me with the professor arguments? It was a joke!

Raiwë 

The Quenya word for ‘lace’.²⁹⁾

(to) Refrain

E7: rifrën (R) rifrein (E)

This is more of a derived term. The original meant ‘chorus’.³⁰⁾

This one can mean '(to) repeat’, ‘loop’, ‘redo’, '(to) cycle through’. It’s derived from Little Busters! Refrain.

Example: How many times must I refrain this?

Respite

E7: respät (R)

A moment of rest.

Alternatively, an ‘area’ of rest.

• Additional Note I picked this up from Ender Lilies - Quietus of the Knights. Checkpoints were called ‘respites’ and I ended up picking the word up with this particular meaning.

Example: Just a little more and we’ll get to the respite.

Retard Units

Used to describe the American and British Imperial units of measurement. The opposite are ‘non-retard units’ or the Metric units.

However, I feel that ‘non-retard units’ can refer to other more regular systems.

Example: Why would you give us the distance in retard units?

Ribadyan Adûni

A person celebrating their birthday.³¹⁾

From the Westron language.

Example: Yesterday it was you, but today I am the ribadyan!

Sekuhara 日本語

セクハラ

A shortening of ‘sexual harassment’ borrowed from Japanese.

Sermë 

The Quenya word for ‘female friend’.³²⁾

Shope

The theoretical singular of ‘sheep’.

Skub チャン語

A word that refers to something controversial which causes debates.³³⁾

Can simultaneously refer to those debates, in the sense of a ‘source of skub’.^F)

Snoze

The theoretical past-tense of ‘sneeze’.

Speculah チャン語

E7: spekȷula (R)

Originally 4chan(?) slang for ‘speculation’. I use it to refer to any kind of speculation or analysis.

Systemizer

A word I use to describe a particular type of person.

A systemizer is someone who hopes to improve something through systemization andor simplification. A systemizer would agree with the statement ‘A bad system is a complex system.’

(to be) Tanged

To have the physical boundaries of your body vanish, dissolving your body. Your soul is then released from it.

Example: Finally, after years of constant work…I will finally be tanged.

Tavaril 

The Quenya word for ‘dryad’ or ‘female spirit of the woods’.³⁴⁾

Tension 日本語

テンション

E7: tenscon (R)

A word borrowed from Japanese borrowed from English. However, unlike the original English word, this one means ‘excitement’ or ‘enthusiasm’.

Example: Woah, that’s some high tension right there dude.

Tessa 

The Quenya word for ‘maid’ or ‘maiden’.³⁵⁾

The meaning of this word slightly overlaps with vendë. Eldamo doesn’t actually recommend its use, but I kinda like the sound of it anyway.

I personally think of it as referring to a ‘maidservant’^G) though I don’t know how common that is. That meaning overlaps with ‘núrë’.

Tyallas 

The Quenya word for ‘playing card’.³⁶⁾

U. N. Owen

A fancy way of saying ‘murderer’.

• Additional Note This originates from an Agatha Christie novel, where it’s the pseudonym for the murderer. It’s a play on words - ‘U N Owen’ → ‘Unknown’. However, it may be associated more with the theme from Touhou. I believe the name of the theme, U.N. Owen was her, implies ZUN interpreted it with this meaning.

Example: Methinks U.N. Owen is you.

Ungol 

The Quenya word for ‘monstrous spider’.³⁷⁾

Ungwë 

The Quenya word for ‘spider’s web’.³⁸⁾

Vaina 

The Quenya word for ‘blonde hair’.³⁹⁾

Vendë 

The Quenya word for ‘maiden’.⁴⁰⁾

Vendelë 

The Quenya word for ‘maidenhood’.⁴¹⁾

Volapük Dansk

E7: volapuq (R)

It means gibberish or nonsense.⁴²⁾.

• Additional Note This is borrowed from Danish. The word originates as the name of an international auxiliary language, which was mocked for sounding awful and being hard to learn(?). Hilariously, it has the same meaning in Esperanto⁴³⁾. The irony eh?

Example: Stop speaking Volapük dude.

www

Basically just the thing you type into the address, except it’s pronounced “double double double u”. The origin is the Eurobeat song ‘Cyber Dance’.

♪

An emoticon indicating a singsong tone of voice or playful attitude.⁴⁴⁾

(to) Accoll

To hug (or embrace) someone or something.⁴⁵⁾

Example: I accolled my cousin, but she ended up slapping me.

Adulterate

To be corrupted by being mixed with something else.⁴⁶⁾

To be the product of adultery, related to adultery andor to commonly commit adultery.⁴⁶⁾

Example: That poor adulterate child…

Alacrity

Cheerful and speedy readiness.^47;48)H)

Alcove

A small hidden portion of a room.⁴⁹⁾

Anachronism

Someone or something that seems out of place in a particular time period or historical event.⁵⁰⁾

• For example: A T-34 tank at the Ottoman siege of Constantinople.

I occasionally describe myself as a walking anachronism, considering how all over the place my interests are.

Ante

A cost/price of some sort.⁵¹⁾

Example: Ante is rising every day, gotta hurry!

Apropos

Something relevant and opportune⁵²⁾.

Ashen

To be ash-coloured; to resemble ashes.⁵³⁾

Example: He lives by the ashen stream.

Avaricious

To be extremely greedy; to desire accumulating wealth or property.⁵⁴⁾

Example: What an avaricious man! I was hoping he’d donate a little to the orphanage…

Balderdash

Nonsense⁵⁵⁾.

(to) Bemoan

To moan or complain about something.⁵⁶⁾

Alternatively, to be worried about someone, particularly due to their circumstances.⁵⁶⁾

Example: Stop bemoaning and get back to work.

(to) Benight

To overtake someone with the darkness of night.⁵⁷⁾

Example: He’ll be benighted soon enough, don’t you worry.

Byzantine

E7: bizèntín (R)

Overly complex or intricate.⁵⁸⁾

Example: Goddamn byzantine paperwork!

Capricious

Something or someone that is unpredictable, arbitrary andor impulsive.⁵⁹⁾

Example: What’s to like about her? She’s capricious.

Casus belli Latinum

An act, or reason, seen as justifying a war.⁶⁰⁾

Example: We set imperialism as our casus belli, marvelous!

Cause célèbre Français

An event andor incident that arouses controversy.⁶¹⁾

Example: It was a cause célèbre indeed. To think the two of them were acquainted…

Chic Français

Of a person or thing that is stylish/fashionable.⁶²⁾

There are three derived terms that basically mean the same thing (very chic): ‘superchic’; ‘ultrachic’; ‘uberchic’

Example: She’s looking pretty chic nowadays…how much do you pay her?

Chiconomics Français

Attempting to appear chic on a budget.⁶³⁾

Example: Chiconomics are a truly complicated thing.

Clay

Land or territory of a country. Used especially when discussing territorial claims.⁶⁴⁾

Example: Rightful! Osean! Clay!

Concord

An agreement/union between parties.⁶⁵⁾

Antonym of ‘discord’.^65;66)

Example: Members of the meeting were in concord.

Confelicity

Taking pleasure in another person’s happiness.⁶⁷⁾

Example: My only motivation is confelicity~.

(to) Convalesce

To gradually recover health and strength after being weakened or sick.⁶⁸⁾

Example: He’s been convalescing ever since that sekuhara incident.

Convent

A gathering of people with the purpose of discussing or working on a previously selected topic.⁶⁹⁾

A religious community where the members live under religious rules and vows.⁶⁹⁾

Example: The convent had been the opposite of silent for a while.

Coven

An assembly/group of witches.⁷⁰⁾

Example: Go by the coven, you’ll find a group of bitches there.

De facto Latinum

‘According to fact’. When something is factually true, regardless of legal status. Compare to ‘de jure’.⁷¹⁾

Example: It’s de facto independent. No-one will care.

De jure Latinum

‘According to law’. When something is claimed to be a certain way, as opposed to ‘de facto’.⁷²⁾

Example: It may be like that de jure, but it matters little.

Deadline fighter

Someone who starts working on something just before the deadline. So a procrastinator.⁷³⁾

Example: Why do you always have to be a deadline fighter?

(to) Deflower

To steal the virginity of a woman or girl.⁷⁴⁾

Alternatively to deprive someone or something of grace and beauty.⁷⁴⁾

Example: He deflowered the monument.

(to) Deign

To condescend to something despite one’s dignity.⁷⁵⁾

Example: Fine. I shall deign myself so I may understand your petty grievances.

Deminonde

A class or circle on the fringes of society, or world, which is usually of a lower repute.⁷⁶⁾

Sometimes specifically refers to the world of prostitution or the class of women, on the fringes of society, who are supported by rich clients.⁷⁶⁾

Dewfall

The time during which dew forms.⁷⁷⁾

Example: I’ll be meeting you after dewfall.

Discord

The lack of an agreement/union between parties.⁶⁶⁾

Antonym of ‘concord’.^66;65)

Example: The meeting had collapsed into discord.

(to) Disquiet

To take away the peace andor quiet of something.⁷⁸⁾

Dolorific

Causing or relating to pain.⁷⁹⁾

Example: It took a while through dolorific running to get to our destination.

Dulcet Français

Used to describe a voice or one as sweet or melodious.⁸⁰⁾

Synonymous with ‘mellifluous’ and ‘birdsweet’.⁸⁰⁾

Example: Ah! She’s just so dulcet!

Ender

Something which ends something else.⁸¹⁾

Example: The party ender entered the party and ended it.

Epicaricacy

Taking pleasure in another person’s misfortune.⁸²⁾

Essentially an antonym of ‘confelicity.’^83;82)

Example: As for reasons…it’s epicaricacy!

Ersatz

Something made in imitation. Especially when of a poor quality.⁸⁴⁾

Example: I stared at the ersatz watch and deeply regretted the choice I had made.

(to) Exhort

To strongly urge to do.⁸⁵⁾

Fae/Fey

Something that is magical, fairylike or fantastic.^86;87)

Example: I looked upon the garden and saw a fae tree.

Fingersmith

Word for pickpocket or midwife⁸⁸⁾

Yes, I thought it was a sex thing too.

Example: Hah? You’re a fingersmith?

Flat dog

Rhodesian slang for crocodile⁸⁹⁾. Yes, really.

Example: There were plenty of flat dogs by the stream.

Fortitude

Mental or emotional strength.⁹⁰⁾

Example: You lack fortitude my apprentice.

Gauche

Lacking the ability to fit into polite society⁹¹⁾.

Example: Not very gauche.

Geas

A magical vow or obligation…or a contract.^92)I)

So, it turns out that it wasn't a made up word.

Geofront 日本語

An underground urban area, usually built in geographically limited cities. Currently, they only exist within Japan.⁹³⁾

Graze

Rhodesian slang for food.⁸⁹⁾

Can also mean ‘to eat’. Also Rhodesian slang.⁸⁹⁾

Examples:

• Hey, bring the graze over here.
• Ain’t it about time to graze?

Hot minute

As has become my custom, I checked the definition for this before I used it. The wiktionary entries made me laugh so I’ll include them all here.

An extremely short period of time; moment.⁹⁴⁾

An unspecified period of time; while.⁹⁴⁾

A long period of time.⁹⁴⁾

Example: A: I’ll be there in a hot minute. B: …how long is that?

Hurcheon

A hedgehog.⁹⁵⁾

Example: I saw a hurcheon today! It was adorable!

Incorrigible

To describe something, such as people, which cannot be fixed/corrected.⁹⁶⁾

Indelible

Something that is difficult to lose, forget or remove.⁹⁷⁾

Example: I thought that hat was indelible…

Instrumental

A composition that lacks lyrics.⁹⁸⁾

Is the word meant to be used instead of ‘song’ if there aren’t lyrics.

Example: It’s called an instrumental you ingrate.

(to) Jawl

To play or have a good time.⁸⁹⁾

Example: Hey! You guys wanna jawl with us?

Jejune

Of a statement/argument that lacks substance.⁹⁹⁾

Example: …How jejune, and here I was expecting professor arguments.

Lese Majesty Français

Alternative spellings: lèse majesté^104;105), leze majesty^106;105).

An offense against the dignity of a reigning monarch or a state.¹⁰⁵⁾

Manufactroversy

A manufactured controversy.¹⁰⁷⁾

Matutinal

Relating to, or occurring in, the early morning.¹⁰⁸⁾

Example: I woke up, had a matutinal coffee, and fell asleep.

Maudlin

Excessively sentimental, in a foolish manner.¹⁰⁹⁾

Example: What a maudlin letter…

Mellifluous

Something that flows like honey.¹¹⁰⁾

Can be used in reference to someone’s voice, tone or writing style.¹¹⁰⁾

Example: Dulcet! Mellifluous! Her voice is so sweet!

Melliloquent

To speak sweetly. Like honey.¹¹¹⁾

Example: Your speech may be melliloquent, but there is malice hidden beneath those words.

(to) Mollify

To soften or relent. To soothe.¹¹²⁾

Motile

Having the power to produce motion.¹¹³⁾

Example: Explain to me, in detail, how this rock is supposedly motile?

Newsie

Referred (or refers to) those who distribute the news, or relay it.¹¹⁴⁾

Example: Heard it from a newsie.

Noblesse oblige Français

The honorable obligation of the nobility, or high-ranked, to the lower-ranked.¹¹⁵⁾

Example: Have you forgotten about noblesse oblige?

Nontroversy

A controversy that either doesn’t exist or is of little importance.¹¹⁶⁾

(to) Obviate

To anticipate and prevent something or to make that something unnecessary.¹¹⁷⁾

Onyx

A type of rock.¹¹⁸⁾

It’s also a synonym for black, jet black.¹¹⁹⁾

Picaresque

Of or relating to rascals/no do-gooders.¹²⁰⁾

Plenipotentiary

A person who has been invested with full power to conduct business. Especially a diplomat.¹²¹⁾

Example: You are deeply mistaken - I am the plenipotentiary!

Poppycock

Word that’s essentially synonymous with ‘nonsense’.¹²²⁾

Profligate

Something or someone which/who is shamelessly immoral.¹²³⁾

Putatively

To be commonly accepted.¹²⁴⁾

Quietus Latinum

Something that is still or quiets, or a stillness.¹²⁵⁾

Can also mean death.¹²⁵⁾

Racy

Something that is mildly risqué.¹²⁶⁾

Example: That’s one racy poster. Are you not concerned what she’ll think of it?

Risqué Français

Sexually improper. Sexually improper; bordering on indelicate.^127;128)

Example: She described it as a risqué poster. Guess I overestimated my luck there.

Rubbernecker

Someone overly curious/inquisitive.¹²⁹⁾

Saccharine

Overly sweet or sentimental.¹³⁰⁾

Also in relation to sugar. Containing sugar, being like sugar, etc.¹³⁰⁾

Same difference

Used when a distinction does not matter or is seen as irrelevant.¹³¹⁾

Example: A: It was maroon, not red. B: Same difference…

Sankyu 日本語

Thank you. A borrowing from Japanese サンキュー which is from the English ‘Thank you’.

Alternative forms: sankyū, sankyuu.

Sclerotic

Resistant to change; isolated.¹³²⁾

Example: The rules here are so sclerotic! Just let us eat ice cream!

Secondary world

An internally consistent setting or fictional world that is different from the real ‘primary world’.¹³³⁾

Septemfluous

To flow in seven streams.¹³⁴⁾

Example: A: How was it? B: It was septemfluous. A: …

Skinship 日本語

Strengthening bonds among family and friends through physical touch.¹³⁵⁾

Example: A: I swear, this is just skinship! B: You went a bit far for skinship!

(to) Skirl

To play the bagpipes.¹³⁶⁾

Slake

To satisfy one’s thirst.¹³⁷⁾

Alternatively, to become less energetic. To slack off.¹³⁷⁾

Example: I slaked myself.

Smooth operator

A person who accomplishes tasks with efficiency and grace¹³⁸⁾.

Alternatively, someone who is skillful or manipulative^138;139).

Alternatively alternatively, a person who is confident and relaxed in a way intended to deceive others¹³⁹⁾.

I personally prefer a mix of the first and third definitions excluding the deception.

Soirée Français

A formal evening party¹⁴⁰⁾.

Alternative spelling: ‘soiree’.

Example: I heard all about it at tonight’s soirée! Honestly, how do you get away with it?

Somnolence

The state of being sleepy/drowsy¹⁴¹⁾

Sparrow-fart

A time very early in the day; dawn.¹⁴²⁾

A person or thing of no consequence.¹⁴²⁾

Spitfire

A quick-tempered or highly emotional person.¹⁴³⁾

Example: A: Why did you do that? B: Eh, I like me a spitfire.

Stupid o’clock

A time of day, usually during the night or early in the morning, considered unreasonable or when one is prone to poor judgment.¹⁴⁴⁾

Sylvan

Relating to the forest or the woods.¹⁴⁵⁾

Example: Just head over to the Sylvan clock.

Tacit

Something that is not made explicit but implied, especially through silence.¹⁴⁶⁾

Example: You tacitly agreed. If you wanted to stop me you would have then.

Terra nullius Latinum

Territory that doesn’t belong to anyone ‘de jure’. May or may not apply to ‘de facto’ territory.¹⁴⁷⁾

Example: It was definitely terra nullius. I don’t make these kinds of mistakes.

Thalassocracy

A state which derives power from its naval supremacy andor commercial supremacy on the sea.¹⁴⁸⁾

Example: A: It’s a thalassocracy. B: … A: …It’s Navally supreme. B: I thought you had a stroke.

Trashy

Having low quality like trash. Used especially to describe media.¹⁴⁹⁾

Très chic Français

Something that is fashionable/in style.¹⁵⁰⁾

Umbra

An uninvited guest who was brought by someone who was invited.¹⁵¹⁾

Alternatively, a shadow.¹⁵¹⁾

Umbral

Relating to an ‘umbra’.¹⁵²⁾

Alternatively, someone or something uninvited.

• Additional Note This is similar to respite, so I won’t repeat what I said there. This extended meaning borrowed from the same game.

Varsity

The main squad representing a university in a sport.¹⁵³⁾

Also a synonym for university.¹⁵³⁾

Verboten Deutsch

Means forbidden.¹⁵⁴⁾ Borrowed from German.¹⁵⁴⁾

• Why a word identical to another would be borrowed I don’t know.

Verily

Meaning ‘in truth’. Basically the same as ‘truly’.¹⁵⁵⁾

Vexation

The act of irritating or annoying.¹⁵⁶⁾

Vidya

A shortening of ‘Video Game(s)'.¹⁵⁷⁾ Favored by 4chan.

Vulgate Latinum

The common version or edition. Published for common use.¹⁵⁸⁾

Wallflower

Someone who is left by the sidelines during a group activity.¹⁵⁹⁾

• More specifically refers to those who do not dance at a party; either because they’re shy or unpopular.¹⁵⁹⁾

Example: I picked myself up a pretty wallflower!

Wanderlust Deutsch

A lust or urge to wander¹⁶⁰⁾.

Warez

Software that is distributed through piracy.¹⁶¹⁾

Alternatively: pirated software.

Wide Tar

Rhodesian slang for paved, two-way roads.¹⁶⁾

Example: Finally some wide tar, I’ve had enough of the dirt roads.

Wilco

Indicates agreement in radio communications.¹⁶²⁾

Winningest

Someone/something to have achieved the most wins.¹⁶³⁾

Witching Hour

An hour after midnight when witches and spirits are active. It is bad luck to stay up during this time.¹⁶⁴⁾

Woggin

Nautical slang for a Great auk or a Penguin.¹⁶⁵⁾

Example: There are many woggins in these parts.

Yellow bird

Rhodesian slang for the sun⁸⁹⁾.

This one manages to be equally understandable and confusing for me.

Example: The yellow bird is flying high.

A brief note that I realized isn’t really clear. When I say that a name means something, I’m not only referring to the specific form it’s in, I’m also referring to whatever it’s a variant of.
Also, keep in mind that most of the meanings are gathered from what I understand on wiktionary and BehindTheName. If an etymologist or whoever wishes to correct me, I’d be more than happy to change stuff here. Actually, I’d prefer to be corrected.

Adelina

Supposedly it means ‘noble’.¹⁷⁴⁾

I believe it’s related to the name ‘Adelaide’.

Aenor

After some figuring out, I learned that the meaning is either ‘rich and famous’ (seriously) or something to do with ‘light’.¹⁷⁵⁾

Aileen

A given name for girls. Wiktionary tells me its a variant of ‘Evelyn’.¹⁷⁶⁾ It means either ‘desirable’ or ‘strong’.¹⁷⁷⁾

Alicia

A variant of ‘Alice’¹⁷⁸⁾. Alice is itself a variant/descendant of the name ‘Adelaide’. Its meaning is basically ‘noble’ or ‘nobility’.¹⁷⁹⁾

Arsinoe

Arsinoé, Arsinoë

This means ‘Elevating/Raising of the mind’.^180;181)

Arthur

The Encyclopaedia of Arthurian Legends gives three possible etymologies for Arthur’s name.

1. The first suggests that Arthur originated as a form of ‘Artorius’, which is a roman name¹⁸²⁾.
2. The second is the one given on Wiktionary, which is that the name is Welsh in origin and it means ‘bear’ or ‘bear man’^182;183).
3. The third suggests a possible connection with the Irish word art, meaning ‘stone’¹⁸²⁾.

Catalina

A variant of ‘Catherine’, which has an unclear meaning. ‘Catherine’ either means ‘each of the two’¹⁸⁴⁾ or it’s derived from the name of the goddess Hecate,¹⁸⁴⁾ which probably means ‘one who works from afar’.^185)K)

Daxter

This is the name of an ottsel¹⁸⁶⁾ from the Jak and Daxter franchise. It appears to be a variant of the name ‘Dexter’ which likely means ‘one who dyes’.^187;188)

‘Dexter’ also overlaps with the latin word ‘dexter’ which means ‘right-handed’/‘skilled’¹⁸⁷⁾, which is where we get the word ‘dexterous’.¹⁸⁹⁾

Dexter

‘But we have “Daxter” up there!’ - Not the surname.

It was originally a feminine word for dyers - ‘those who dye’^190;188) - but became a surname… and then somehow a forename.

Coincidentally (or not), ‘Daxter’ can also be a surname.¹⁹¹⁾

Eleonora

A variant of the name ‘Eleanor’. This one is fairly interesting, since the exact meaning is unknown. The meaning is apparently meant to be ‘the other Aenor’, where ‘Aenor’ has the unknown meaning. As ‘Aenor’ has its own entry, I won’t explain it here.^192;175)

Other variants: ‘Alienora’^193;175); ‘Aliénor’^194;175)

Estelle

Means ‘star’. Borrowed from French.¹⁹⁵⁾

Galahad

It could mean ‘Falcon of Summer’¹⁹⁶⁾ (from Old Welsh) or it may be derived from ‘Gilead’^182)L) which means ‘a heap of stones’.^197;198)

Gawain

Gawain is more confusing than I initially thought from my browsing of wiktionary. The Encyclopedia of Arthurian Legends provides two possible meanings:

1. It’s stated that his name in Welsh is ‘Gwalchmai’, which means ‘Hawk of May’ or ‘Hawk of the plain’¹⁸²⁾. This is the name listed first by the Encyclopedia.
2. The Encyclopedia also presents the theory that Gwalchmai and Gawain are not the same character¹⁸²⁾. Instead, it’s believed Gawain originated as ‘Gwrvan Gwallt-avwy’ from the Mabinogion. ‘Gwrvan Gwallt-avwy’ either means ‘hair like rain’ or ‘fair hair’. The Encyclopedia does make clear that there isn’t agreement over this theory.

Guinevere

This has an unknown meaning. This word might mean ‘white spirit/demon’.^199;200)

The name ‘Jennifer’ descended from this.²⁰⁰⁾

Igraine

This one has a completely unknown meaning apparently. Wiktionary didn’t have the balls to tell me though, I needed behind the name to tell me it’s unknown.^201;202)

Iseult

The name means ‘she who is gazed on’, derived from ‘Adsiltia’.^182;203) However, Wiktionary also says that it could mean ‘Ice Battle’.²⁰³⁾

Keira

A variant of the Irish name ‘Ciara’²⁰⁴⁾ which means ‘black’²⁰⁵⁾, but like feminine.^206;207)

This and ‘Daxter’ will probably make people realize I’ve remembered the Jak and Daxter franchise exists.

Lancelot

Unfortunately not from ‘lance’ and ‘a lot’. (Lances a lot)

It’s just the word ‘land’ with masculine endings attached. Good job Lancelot, genius name.²⁰⁸⁾

Leticia/Letizia

Wikitionary says it comes from latin ‘gladness’.^209;210)

Lilian

Wikt says it’s a variant of ‘Lilium’.²¹¹⁾

Margatroid

Touhou fans will recognize it instantly. I was honestly surprised when I learned it was a real thing.

It’s related to a place name, but that doesn’t matter too much.

Alternative spellings: ‘Murgatroyd’²¹²⁾; ‘Murgatroid’²¹³⁾

Maybel

A variant of ‘Mabel’ that was clipped from ‘Amabel’ which is from the latin word for ‘lovable’.^214;215)

Merlin

It means ‘Sea-hill’. I don’t understand either.²¹⁶⁾

Míriel 

A Quenya name meaning ‘jeweled daughter’.²¹⁷⁾

Mordred

This one probably means ‘observing moderation’.²¹⁸⁾

Morgan/Morgana

There are two names.

The unisex name means ‘Great/Sea Chief’ but I personally prefer ‘Great Circle’.²¹⁹⁾

The female name means ‘Sea Born’, this is (so far) the Arthurian name with the clearest meaning.²¹⁹⁾

• Variants: ‘Morgaine’; ‘Morgana’; ‘Morgen’

Niamh

Variants: ‘Neve’²²⁰⁾; ‘Nia’²²⁰⁾

Feminine name that means ‘bright’.²²⁰⁾

Nimuë

Unknown meaning, but Wiktionary didn’t have the balls to tell me that… Behind the Name told me.^221;222)

Noor

Variants: ‘Noora’; ‘Nora’; ‘Norah’; ‘Nour’; ‘Nur’; ‘Nura’²²³⁾

Arabic feminine name meaning ‘light’.^224;225)

This is the name that might be related to Aenor.

Pendragon

It probably means ‘head war chief’… in other words ‘king’. It could also mean ‘Top Dragon’ which is probably not what it means, but it sounds funny.^226;227)

Percival

Can be one of two things, either ‘valley piercer’ which sounds kinda cool or, more likely, ‘spear of hard metal or steel’. I honestly know not which I prefer.²²⁸⁾

Shirley

The name means ‘bright clearing’²²⁹⁾ or ‘county meadow’.²³⁰⁾

Tristan

Means ‘Riot’ or ‘Tumult’. ²³¹⁾

Uther

Wiktionary failed me again, Behind the Name saved me again.

The name means ‘Terrible’.²³²⁾ A bit of a surprise at first, but a little thinking later, I realized it makes sense.

Unlike the previous section, this one isn’t ordered alphabetically…or in any order really.

We just deluded ourselves into it being a stonethrow away from Utopia. The source was one of whatifalthist’s videos, but I don’t remember which.

My ignorance amuses me. Manfred Powell, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001)

A task so devious some might call it herculean. Shadiversity, EFAP #194

Wherefore should I go into the direst peril that there is in the world for the sake of a wandering Gnome of the woods? Dairon referring to Beren, Beren & Lúthien, J.R.R. Tolkien

Demetrius: Villain, what has thou done? Aaron: That which thou can’t not undo. Chiron: Thou hast undone our mother. Aaron: Villain, I hath done thy mother! Titus Andronicus: act 4, scene 2, William Shakespeare

All men… are not created equal! Emperor of Britannia, コードギアス興道, Code Geass Koudou

The world’s going to hell pretty quick… Houtarou, Hyouka Episode 19

Because it’s perfectly normal for me to be the best. Haqua du Lot Herminium, 神(かみ)のみぞ知(し)るセカイⅡ(The World God Only Knows Ⅱ) Episode 3

I’ve thought about rebelling, but I don’t even know how to. Matsumae Ohana, 花咲くいろは, Hanasaku Iroha Episode 2

The power of friendship will guide me to her before the other guards!! Saten Ruiko, とある科学の超電磁砲レールガン, Toaru Kagaku no Railgun Volume 15, Chapter 120

I detect a little communism. "Ain't I Right" - American Anti-Communist song - YouTube, 0:59

Pornography can save the world. Okajima Taiga, 暗殺教室, Ansatsu Kyoushitsu

All your base are belong to us. CATS, Zero Wing

I have this bad habit of starting galactic wars whenever I get stuck. Shiomiya Shiori, 神(かみ)のみぞ知(し)るセカイ女神(めがみ)篇(へん)(The World God Only Knows Goddess Arc), Episode 6

You still watch anime even though you’re in high school? Kosaka Chihiro, 神のみぞ知るセカイ4人とアイドル, Kami Nomi zo Shiru Sekai 4-nin to Idol

Something tells me that God isn’t a stalker… Oshimizu Nako, 花咲くいろは, Hanasaku Iroha Episode 7

Viva la civil engineering! Uiharu Kazari, とある魔術の禁書目録エンデュミオンの奇蹟, Toaru Majutsu no Index: Miracle of Endymion

You yawn, I spawn. Kanzaki Kaori, とある魔術の禁書目録エンデュミオンの奇蹟, Toaru Majutsu no Index: Miracle of Endymion

There is nothing that I cannot blow away!!! _{I just have to pay for what I destroy afterwards.} Kongou Mitsuko, とある科学の超電磁砲レールガン, Toaru Kagaku no Railgun Volume 8, Chapter 50

And what am I supposed to do with this newfound hatred of tumbleweed? TimTVT, The Trouble With Tumbleweed - YouTube Comments

Please have my babies. Nishijima Masumi, 未来(みらい)日記(にっき)(Future Diary) Episode 20

If you use the power of money, you do not need that girl to get the milk, do you? Holo, 狼(おおかみ)と更新料(こうしんりょう)II 狼(おおかみ)と琥珀色(こはくいろ)の憂鬱(ゆううつ)(Spice & Wolf II Wolf & Amber Melancholy)

It is lamentable, that to be a good patriot we must become the enemy of the rest of mankind. Voltaire, Philosophical Dictionary, annotated by Abner Kneeland, vol. 1, 239

Truth is like poetry. And most people fucking hate poetry. Overheard at a Washington D.C. bar (According to the film The Big Short)

…Civilized people shouldn’t get into water too deep to stand in. Treize, Lillia & Treize, Volume 2, Chapter 8

So much fun in the old time. doorway, 2018-07-27, Danbooru post 500787

People think they want complete control over their experience when what they really want is to cut down trees to cross ravines — something they’ll never actually do if they have complete control over their experience. Matthewmatosis, Breath of the Wild Review

sex is fun, i assume Japan Hater #1, 2025-04-27

One has to belong to the intelligentsia to believe things like that: no ordinary man could be such a fool. George Orwell²³³⁾

The ends can never justify the means; nothing ever ends. DJ Peach Cobbler, The Mad God of the Yucatán

• I had a plan for something here but I forgot it.
• Regarding sources:
  • My primary source was, and currently still is, Wiktionary, but I am in the process of replacing it. I’m trying to find a decent dictionary…as in a book…but, well, I haven’t found one yet. Wiktionary’s quality is highly variable and I don’t like the Wikimedia project anyway.
    • I have managed to secure a few dictionaries of Japanese Grammar, as well as a dictionary of Shinto, and a Matoran language dictionary. I don’t know if any of those will ever come up here however.
  • However, for names, I’ve switched to relying on BehindTheName.
• Words being considered:
  • Dixie, Yankee