[identity profile] sea-gaagii.livejournal.com posting in [community profile] 1word1day
om·pha·lo·skep·sis [om-fuh-loh-skep-sis]
–noun contemplation of one's navel as part of a mystical exercise.

[Origin: < Gk omphal(ós) omphalos + -o- -o- + sképsis act of looking]

omphaloskepsis. Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Random House, Inc. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/omphaloskepsis (accessed: June 13, 2008)

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Example:
Bob was in deep contemplation of his navel; how for did it go, where did it end up. This reminded him of childhood summer-nights staring up at the stars, awed at the size of the universe and wondering if, perhaps, somewhere out there was an alien boy contemplating the same thing. Bob wondered, was there some life form on the other side of his navel, also engaging in omphaloskepsis and wondering if there was anything outside of the Bob?

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My step-dad suggested this word when I was visiting in FL last month. A week later "contemplate one's navel" was the subject of a [profile] word_ancestry post.

oompaloompa!

Date: 2008-06-13 11:25 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] pipetti.livejournal.com
Those Greek folks, they had a word for everything didnt they?


Your example sentences are a wondrous journey :-)

(no subject)

Date: 2008-06-13 11:30 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] pawpower4me.livejournal.com
This was fabulous!

(no subject)

Date: 2008-06-14 12:17 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] mizdandylynn.livejournal.com
This is one of my favorite words... I taught it to my students.

(no subject)

Date: 2008-06-14 11:53 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] umpachki.livejournal.com
I have this word written across the top of my bathroom mirror.

:)

(no subject)

Date: 2008-06-15 04:25 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] horitsu-kami.livejournal.com
I love your icon, but you really should cite your source. :-P How's about a footnote?

(no subject)

Date: 2008-06-15 02:20 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] umpachki.livejournal.com
Ha! I'm loling.

Thanks.

(no subject)

Date: 2008-06-15 03:31 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] horitsu-kami.livejournal.com
Thanks. I thought it was rather funny. I hate MLA as well. I picked up Kate Turabian's book a while back and I love it. Chicago is so much easier.

(no subject)

Date: 2008-06-15 03:50 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] umpachki.livejournal.com
Sadly - I do abide by MLA for my needs.

I, however, abide, poetically, by other ideas of how language should be arranged. Maybe it shouldn't be arranged at all sometimes, who knows?

(no subject)

Date: 2008-06-15 04:27 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] horitsu-kami.livejournal.com
I remember the post on "contemplate one's navel." That was a great one, though they are all interesting.

Wow

Date: 2008-06-16 04:34 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lordjacknife.livejournal.com
That is the most random odd word I've ever read.
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