This is from the back cover of the Paul Dickson book that's been mentioned here several times. Asa, thanks for giving me a copy!

Do you think you're a sesquipedalian logophile? If you do, try to match these words with their definitions. Maybe you'll find you're right.

batrachivorous. .. the tendency to be more lustful when away from home
gruntle. . . .. . . . . .bubble-shaped, bubble-like
apricate. . . . .. . . .prophecy by someone walking around in a circle until he falls from dizziness
jirble. . . . . . .. . . .a craving for unnatural food – dust, for instance
pemphigoid. .. . . .50 pounds of raisins
scomm. . . . . . . . ..to put in a good humor
frail. . . . . . . . . . . pertaining to yesterday
teratism. . . . . . . .one who eats frogs
gyromancy. . . . . .to bask in the sun – to sunbathe
pica. . . . . . . . . .. .love of monsters
ecdemolagnia. . . the cry of the newly born
renifleur. . . . . . . .to pour out a drink unsteadily
vagitus. . . . . . . . .those things that should not be mentioned
hesternal. . . . . . .a buffoon
tacenda. . . . . . . . one who gets sexual pleasure from body odors

I suppose I could look it up, but...wouldn't "gruntled" be a retronym, an invented word to be the opposite of "disgruntled?"

quote:

wouldn't "gruntled" be a retronym

Yes, according to M-W Online it's a back-formation. PG Wodehouse, if I recall correctly, was greatly gruntled at using it in at least one of his many books.

I promise you, Shu, that I don't have the tendency to be more lustful when away from home...whatever that word is! [It is a fun word!]

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Kalleh,