Do you know all four of these? 
1. beeves
So I probably should have known this one. But “beeves” as plural of “beef?” Really?
a plural of beef
Usage—“Whereas other, poorer people are fain to go from one market to another to provide their necessities, great rich men have sheep and beeves, corn and clothing, and all things else of their own within themselves, and in this they place their happiness.” from Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment
2. imbroglio
I need the pronunciation key for this one every time I’ve looked it up. A few more times and I might feel confident enough to use it. But probably not.
a confusing and complicated situation [Italian]
Usage—“Establishment paralysis certainly contributed to the imbroglio I found myself in a year and a half ago.” from Against the Machine
3. prelapsarian
I had to dig it out of the sentence, which was itself an exercise of the mind. But worth it.
pertaining to any innocent or carefree period, as before the Fall in Eden
Usage—“What a shame that transformative new technologies usually either inspires uncritical celebration or incite bouts of nostalgia for a prelapsarian age that existed before said technology—anything for an uprising against cellphones and a return to the glorious phone booths of yore!” from Against the Machine
4. excoriate
Against the Machine has a lot of long sentences. See above. See below.
to denounce or berate severely; flay verbally
Usage—“It is now conventional wisdom that the business culture is as playful, creative, and benign as the adversarial/counter/bohemian—choose your terminology—culture that once excoriated the former as soulless, heartless, and devoid of playfulness and imagination.” from Against the Machine
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Check out even more new words at BermudaOnion’s blog.
3 comments:
I'd never heard of beeves either. That's really interesting. Thanks for participating!
I know imbroglio. Others, no!
Wondrous Words Wednesday
Beeves? Is that really-o truly-o a real word? Sounds wacky to me!
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