What is your favorite intellectual word?

How about a sentence? "I don't know, but I'll find out. No intellectual pretentions there!

lugubrious


Main Entry: lu·gu·bri·ous
Pronunciation: lu-'gü-brE-&s also -'gyü-
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin lugubris, from lugEre to mourn; akin to Greek lygros mournful
1 : MOURNFUL; especially : exaggeratedly or affectedly mournful <dark, dramatic and lugubrious brooding -- V. S. Pritchett>
2 : DISMAL <a lugubrious landscape>
- lu·gu·bri·ous·ly adverb
- lu·gu·bri·ous·ness noun


I have never used this word in a sentence, verbal or in writing. First of all, it just doesn't sound or read to denote mournfulness to me. Plus, few would get it anyway. I don't get that it is in the English language. edgar

When my best friend started her fancy-pantsed, poopity-headed private college career, "paradigm" became her favorite word for the next two years. I get annoyed whenever I hear it now.

Paradigm sounds like the kind of word used by people that say "parameters" a lot.

Re: What is your favorite intellectual word?

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"I"

Virago.



That's why there are men's clubs.

loquacious

Main Entry: lo·qua·cious
Pronunciation: lO-'kwA-sh&s
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin loquac-, loquax, from loqui to speak
1 : full of excessive talk : WORDY
2 : given to fluent or excessive talk : GARRULOUS
synonym see TALKATIVE
- lo·qua·cious·ly adverb
- lo·qua·cious·ness noun

An adjective that fits many members on this forum.

catachresis

Main Entry: cat·a·chre·sis
Pronunciation: "ka-t&-'krE-s&s
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural cat·a·chre·ses /-"sEz/
Etymology: Latin, from Greek katachrEsis misuse, from katachrEsthai to use up, misuse, from kata- + chrEsthai to use
1 : use of the wrong word for the context
2 : use of a forced and especially paradoxical figure of speech (as blind mouths)
- cat·a·chres·tic /-'kres-tik/ or cat·a·chres·ti·cal /-ti-k&l/ adjective
- cat·a·chres·ti·cal·ly /-ti-k(&-)lE/ adverb

bifurcation

or division, splitting in two. i once saw a "Bifurcation room" in a high school i did interviews in... to this day i don't know what the heck were they doing in there...any ideas?

Paphian (paphian)

Main Entry: Pa·phi·an
Pronunciation: 'pA-fE-&n
Function: noun
Etymology: Latin paphius, from Greek paphios, from Paphos, ancient city of Cyprus that was the center of worship of Aphrodite
1 often not capitalized : PROSTITUTE
2 : a native or inhabitant of Paphos

I think "Paradigm" is one of the best. Throw that in and your golden. Along with "dichotomy" or "hegemony".

Also, check out Woody Allen movies. His characters use a lot of great intellectual-type words, like didactic and pedantic...oh, and here's another tip. If you're ever talking to an intellectual, and you feel like you're at a loss for the right word, just say, "I don't know, it's all blue potatoes to me." Intellectuals love that expression.

Pedantic,euphemism,callow,trivial,maudlin,philanthropy,meticulous,rustic, the list could go on.................................................................................................................................................................