omnifarious

[prettygoodword.livejournal.com]

omnifarious (om-nuh-FAIR-ee-uhs) - adj., of all forms, varieties, or kinds.


Borrowed around 1650 from Latin omnifārius, which is clearly omni-, all + some stem, but there seems to be some confusion exactly which. In five dictionary entries, I find the -fārius traced to fāriam, place/side; ferre, to bear; *fās, utterance; and facere, to do. It's a puzzler. You could almost say it has an omnifarious etymology ... but not really -- it's merely multifarious.

When I opened the door, the omnifarious colors stunned me -- it as if Maddie had dipped a dozen peacocks into Lisa Frank's paint cans and thrown them across her room.

---L.

Comments

[jesuslovesbono.livejournal.com]

i like this one!

[prettygoodword.livejournal.com]

So do I. For when many just isn't enough.

---L.

[auroracosmica.livejournal.com]

hello! i just discovered this community, i like your work!!
and this word too :D

[prettygoodword.livejournal.com]

:-)

[thorintatge.livejournal.com]

I started using 'multifarious' when I saw it in a Super Mario Bros 3 strategy guide, weirdly. I like this extension of the concept. The etymology is amusing and the example is stunning, too. :)

[prettygoodword.livejournal.com]

Some of the words you can create by replacing multi- with omni- are faboo. Of course, some are just nonsensical -- omniplication, anyone?

---L.

Making a difference...

[brassknight86.livejournal.com]

This is the word I was 'looking for' whenever I gagged on "everythingness", trying to describe how my life seems to have exploded at me.

You made a difference to me. Cudos.

Re: Making a difference...

[prettygoodword.livejournal.com]

De nada. Glad to be of service.

---L.