http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pleonasm Pleonasm is the use of more words (or even word-parts) than necessary to express an idea clearly.
Category Archives: Linguistics
Defalcation | Define Defalcation at Dictionary.com
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=defalcation The Word of the Moment is one you have to enunciate very, very carefully… Defalcation, noun Law. 1. misappropriation of money or funds held by an official, trustee, or other fiduciary. 2. the sum misappropriated. [Origin: 1425-75; late ME: deduction from wages]
Exclamation mark – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exclamation_point The history and usage of the exclamation mark, with a terrific alternative name: In typesetting or printing (and therefore when spelling text out orally), the exclamation mark is called a screamer or bang.
Michael Hann on | Media | The Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,,2026533,00.html Guardian article discusses the increasing use of “meh”. Only a few paragraphs, and it doesn’t mention the fairly obvious Simpsons origin ’til near the end. All in all, a low-key waste of time and effort. Anyone else see the irony, here?
Cats-paw | Define Cats-paw at Dictionary.com
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=cat%27s-paw Cat’s-paw, n. A person used by another as a dupe or tool. [From a fable about a monkey that used a cat’s paw to pull chestnuts out of a fire.]
Urban Dictionary: shufty
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=shufty Shufty n. The English form of shufti (arabic for look / take a look) Originally RAF but later Army also, shufty or shufti became taking a look for possible dangers. Back home, it was used simply for having a quick look (Am. checking out)
Titivation | Define Titivation at Dictionary.com
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=titivation Titivate, v. To make oneself smart or spruce. [Origin: 1795-1805; earlier tidivate (tidy+(ele)vate]
Sedulous | Define Sedulous at Dictionary.com
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=sedulous Sedulous, adj. 1. diligent in application or attention; persevering; assiduous. 2. persistently or carefully maintained: sedulous flattery. [Origin: 1530-1340; < L s
Belletristic | Define Belletristic at Dictionary.com
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=belletristic Belletristic, adj. From the French belles lettres: 1. literature regarded as a fine art, esp. as having a purely aesthetic function. 2. light and elegant literature, esp. that which is excessively refined, characterized by aestheticism, and minor in subject, substance, or scope.
Fungible | Define Fungible at Dictionary.com
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=fungible Fungible, adj. Interchangeable or substitutable. [Medieval Latin fungibilis, from Latin fungi (vice), to perform (in place of).]