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Posts Tagged ‘James Joyce’

Ovoblastic

adj. Of or relating to an egg cell.

Mr Dixon,..took on to ask of Mr Mulligan himself whether his incipient ventripotence,..betokened an ovoblastic gestation in the prostatic utricle.
Ulysses, James Joyce (1922)

All the big words in the above quotation are fun as well. Sprinkle “utricle” into conversation wherever possible.

I know you talk about egg cells on a regular basis, so this will be an especially useful word to you. For me however, I just like to say it because it has “blastic” in it. Sounds dangerous. Like it might blow up at any minute. Resulting, of course, in an egg-splosion.


Obstropolos

Noun. An obstreperous mouth.

Hark! Shut your obstropolos.
- Ulysses, James Joyce (1922) 

Leave it to the OED to give you a definition that you probably need to look up.

Obstreperous: adj. Clamorous, noisy, vociferous. Give yourself a pat on the back if you already knew obstreperous. You are a true word-nerd.

This could be a good word to use when you feel like coming off like a total snob to someone who just won’t be quiet. Just say, “Shut your obstropolos,” and you’ll no longer be plagued by their presence. Works well for co-workers, in-laws, and tele-marketers.