Easy, right?

Here are the definitions.

1. absquatulate
   
   • to decamp abruptly – seems to have been really popular in the 1860s.
2. bandoline
   
   • a sticky hair product – also much used in the 19th Century. We feel sorry for the hairdressers.
3. callithumpian
   
   • describing the New Ashmolean Marching Society and Students' Conservatory Band – a loud, cheerful, but not entirely pleasant noise. (Kind of like the Editor's Leslie on an off-day.)
4. deracinate
   
   • to tear something up by the roots – a deracinated person has lost his or her connection to roots.
5. emmetropia
   
   • having 20/20 vision – yep: it just means you don't need glasses, lucky you.
6. famulus
   
   • a magician's assistant – 'For my next trick, I will make my famulus disappear.' Also used for academic assistants.
7. galligaskins
   
   • pirate trousers – yo-ho, me hearties, yeah, those baggy things also worn by Pieter Stuyvesant.
8. hodiernal
   
   • of today – plain old Latin. Try saying, 'Oh, those shoes are the latest thing. Positively hodiernal!' See if that doesn't get you looks.
9. inspissate
   
   • to thicken or congeal – I'm waiting for my jelly to inspissate. Then I'll take it out of the mould and over to Janet's party.
10. Kinnikinnick
    
    • something smoked by Native Americans – it had sumac and dogwood in, among other savoury things. Okay, and it's also the name of a Canadian gluten-free company. They've got the right idea.

You know what to do with this information, don't you? Go out and annoy 10 people today. It will be a hodiernal pleasure.

Dmitri Gheorgheni

06.11.17 Front Page

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