Dictionary of Peculiar Words
2005.09.16—Found in the weekend movie guide of the Christian Science Monitor to describe Reese Witherspoon in the movie “Just Like Heaven”.
- doppelgänger
- Literally “double goer” in German. It is an often used literary technique in which a character is duplicated. In the movie, Reese is both physical and astral.
2005.06.03—Found in the Introduction by Sir Julian Huxley of the book The Origin of Species by Charles Darwin.
- adumbrated
- a partial disclosure, a sketchy outline, to provide only the main facts and not the details about something, particularly something that will happen in the future
2005.03.01—The death penalty for those under 18 was ruled unconstitutional by the U.S Supreme Court. I found this word in the dissenting opinion by Justice Scalia.
- nomological
- the study and discovery of general physical and logical laws
2005.02.27—Found in the book Essential Writings by Thich Nhat Hanh.
- fetters
- a shackle, restriction, or restraint
2005.01.23—Both found at the beginning of the book Candide. The Sage of Ferney, An Appreciation.
- polemical
- a controversial argument or person
- usufruct
- a real right in a property owned by another, normally for a limited time or until death, one common example is for an older person to give the family homestead to a child while retaining the right to live on the property
2005.01.12—Found in a letter to me from Kris Kringle.
- hawkshaw
- someone who is a detective
2005.01.12–Alfred, Ohio. This years edition of my dictionary of peculiar words. Didn’t find what you expected here? You may be looking for the 2004 dictionary of peculiar words page.
