ext_147905 ([identity profile] prettygoodword.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] 1word1day2012-05-10 07:21 am
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circumbendibus

circumbendibus (sur-kuhm-BEN-duh-buhs) - n., a roundabout or circuitous way.


Also an adjective, what with English grammar allowing for such usage, but this word gets me because I always want to use it as an adverb: "he traveled circumbendibus through the lower city," which is apparently Just Wrong -- it should be "he traveled by a circumbendibus." Note that it can also be used for wording, as a synonym for circumlocution. As you might guess, this is largely a humorous word, but it is not, in fact, a colorful 19th-century American mock-Latinism, but rather a colorful 17th-century British mock-Latinism: coined around 1670 from Latin circum, around + English bend + Latin -ibus, ablative plural ending.

Jane waited out Alice's extended explanation, but her polysyllabic circumbendibus did not convince her mother she'd just cause to break her curfew.


Administrivia: I'll be traveling next Thursday, and while I might have net access at some point during the day I know from experience I'd simply forget to post anyway. Anyone want to volunteer to do a guest post?

---L.

[identity profile] theidolhands.livejournal.com 2012-05-10 02:50 pm (UTC)(link)
ngl, sounds like it should be a position in bed
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[personal profile] med_cat 2012-05-10 09:15 pm (UTC)(link)
Funny word, thanks for sharing ;) I can do a guest post next Thursday if you like ;)
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[personal profile] med_cat 2012-05-11 05:08 pm (UTC)(link)
'Tis my pleasure ;)

[identity profile] jesuslovesbono.livejournal.com 2012-05-15 12:59 am (UTC)(link)
i like this word!