Buzz
John Camden Hotten, in his 1859 Dictionary of Modern Slang, highlighted a trend of crafting elaborate, grandiose words. These terms borrowed loosely from the structures of sophisticated vocabulary, blending prefixes and suffixes creatively. He noted, 'Ignorant individuals are particularly fond of grandiose expressions brimming with intensity. The rhythmic, resonant quality of these vulgar flourishes is undeniable... A shrewd landlord, for instance, wields such words as weapons, flaunting her supposed erudition to intimidate tenants who dare question her fees or threaten to ABSQUATULATE!'
While the educated elite might scoff at the 'crude' manipulation of Latin-based linguistic conventions, even they couldn't resist the sheer pleasure of pronouncing these words. Their rhythmic cadence and playful construction made them irresistible. Though many such terms faded into obscurity, as slang often does, a select few were so charming and fitting that they earned a permanent spot in our language. Below are 15 of the most delightful faux-educated words from that era.
1. Absquatulate
Popularized in the 1830s, this term meant to flee or steal something. It loosely evokes the idea of abscond, but with a more elaborate twist. Variations included absquatualize and the noun abscotchalater, which referred to a thief.
2. Rambunctious
This well-known word originated in the U.S. around 1830, likely derived from the earlier term rumbustious.
3. Bloviate
A blend of blow and orate, bloviate dates back to the 1850s. It gained widespread recognition in the early 20th century thanks to President Warren G. Harding, whose lengthy, verbose speeches became legendary.
4. Discombobulated
Originating in the 1820s as discombobberate, this term describes a state of bewildering discomfort. Another related term, conbobberation, was used to denote a form of disruption or commotion.
5. Explaterate
The –ate ending was especially popular in such invented words. Explaterate, a mix of explain and prattle, referred to the act of speaking endlessly, a trend noted in the 1830s.
6. Teetotaciously
A far more emphatic and delightful alternative to the word 'totally.'
7. Exflunctify
Meaning 'to exhaust' or 'deplete,' an activity could exfluncticate you, leaving you utterly drained or exflunctified—or, in the worst case, teetotaciously exflunctified.
8. Obflisticate
While obliterate is a perfectly respectable term, its substitute obflisticate adds an extra layer of finality to the act of destruction.
9. Ripsniptious
Sharp, clever, and utterly splendid. 'My, don’t you appear absolutely ripsniptious this fine day!'
10. Bodaciously
While bodacious took on its modern meaning of 'excellent' in the 1970s, in the 1830s, bodaciously was an emphatic way to describe something physical. Venturing into the wild without caution could result in being 'bodaciously mauled by a grizzly bear.'
11. Discumgalligumfricated
Louise Pound, the founder of American Speech, documented this magnificent term, which means 'thoroughly amazed yet delighted,' in her notes on the language used by her University of Nebraska students in the early 20th century.
12. Ramsasspatorious
This term, describing a state of being 'eager, restless, and impatient,' evokes all three sensations simultaneously.
13. Slantingdicular
If something can be perpendicular, why not slantingdicular (also spelled slantindicular)? First appearing in the 1840s, this word is ripe for a revival.
14. Dedodgement
Historical dialect records identify this as a Kentucky expression meaning 'to leave' or 'exit.'
15. Explicitrize
H.L. Mencken’s The American Language documents explicitrize as a term meaning 'to reprimand' or 'censure.'
This list was first published in 2015.
