- Hardcover: 176 pages
- Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC; New edition edition (5 Nov 2001)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0747553378
- ISBN-13: 978-0747553373
- Product Dimensions: 19.8 x 13.4 x 2.4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 150,039 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
The avowed purpose of this witty little book is to equip the reader to be the superior person of the title by expanding the vocabulary of the rare and arcane ("Secret, hidden. An excellent example of a Superior Word of the first order, ie, one that is on the margin of recognition for most people, is known to many, but used by few."). You can then indulge in the arts of parisology ("The deliberate pursuit of ambiguity in one's language") or charientism ("An elegantly veiled insult"), using terms such as fungible ("Replaceable by, or acceptable as a replacement for, a similar item ... Your sister's latest boyfriend could be referred to as 'one of Belinda's fungibles."). Or challenge the pretentious who insist on using terms such as matrix, parameter or paradigm ("Model, pattern, or example. A pretentious and unnecessary word, normally found only in psychology theses. Never use this word yourself, but be prepared, when it is used by another, to lean forward intently, narrow your eyes, and say, 'Just a moment--do you really mean "paradigm" in that context?' When, somewhat bemused, he avers that he does, you merely raise your eyebrows and remain silent..."). You will also have a remarkable collection of words for minor but serious-sounding illnesses to get you out of doing chores, and be able to drive Scrabble players wild with words ranging from aeaeae ("magic") to zaftig ("desirably plump").
A nicely produced hardback, just the right size for dipping into in bed, this would make an excellent present for your favourite word-lover or word-game fanatic. --Julia Cresswell
Product Description
'Words are not only tools; they are also weapons' The secret to being a truly Superior Person is to use really superior words. More impressive than a top hat, much more effective than a fist-fight, here are five hundred words to help you wiggle out of sticky debates, deal with obnoxious dinner guests and fill in sick leave application forms with panache. Impress your friends, amaze your colleagues and baffle your enemies with this witty, charming, and clever little book.
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First Sentence
ABECEDARIAN a. (i) Arranged in alphabetical order; (ii) elementary, devoid of sophistication. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
ABECEDARIAN a. (i) Arranged in alphabetical order; (ii) elementary, devoid of sophistication. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This book makes very entertaining and informative reading. It is particularly useful for creating veiled insults for the typical "middle management types" who seem to enjoy such abysmal phases as "blue sky thinking" and use words such as paradigm completely out of context. The descriptions given for each word are both funny and interesting. I have given a few copies out to my friends and they've also found it very entertaining.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This book is engaging, witty and light-hearted – a satisfying (and time-saving) trifle for anyone who enjoys idly flicking through dictionaries in search of interesting and unusual words. Those like the previous reviewer yearning for ‘lexical superiority’ might be advised to look elsewhere. Indeed, given the array of errors of grammar, spelling and word-usage he displays – to say nothing of the absurd verbosity – it is a quest in which he should be earnestly encouraged. But it is entertaining, anyway, to read this ‘dedicated philologist’s denunciation of anachronism rapidly followed by his bewildering misuse of the (very) archaic verb ‘prepend’. The pot calling the kettle nigrous?
Format:Hardcover
For word-lovers or even word-lover-haters. I was given this book because I love words, obscure and pedantic, and have a habit of using a diminutive word where a small one might do.
This book gave me all sorts of new words with which to boggle the mind of my family and friends....but it was given to me by someone as a protest against word snobbery who found it equally funny.
Our ante-jentacular conversations are now geared around the quisquous nimiety (perplexing excess) of those who struggle against boondoggling (carrying out trivial work in such a way as to convey the impression of being extremely busy) and hebetation (growing dull or stupid). I also discovered the beautiful excuse of aprosexia (the inability to concentrate).
Happy parisologising!
This book gave me all sorts of new words with which to boggle the mind of my family and friends....but it was given to me by someone as a protest against word snobbery who found it equally funny.
Our ante-jentacular conversations are now geared around the quisquous nimiety (perplexing excess) of those who struggle against boondoggling (carrying out trivial work in such a way as to convey the impression of being extremely busy) and hebetation (growing dull or stupid). I also discovered the beautiful excuse of aprosexia (the inability to concentrate).
Happy parisologising!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A good laugh, nothing more
The idea that anyone would really find the opportunity to use some of these words is ridiculous. Its a bit of fun to read granted, but not to be taken too seriously, sicne the... Read more
Published on 19 Jan 2006 by Mr. J. Featherstone
Not as good as the first
The first book in the series was excellent because it was quite fresh as an idea. The second just dishes up more of the same and lacks the freshness of the first book. Read more
Published on 3 Nov 2004 by Alistair Duncan
Tedious and dull
How can one take seriously a book which suggests that 'Infrastrucuture' has "no discernable useful meaning", and that the word 'paradigm' is "pretentious and unnecessary"? Read more
Published on 25 Dec 2003 by Marcus Dyson
This is a great book
This book is fantastic. It contains a large number of words that are no longer in mainstream usage. Many words are those that were popular several centuries ago. Read more
Published on 31 Jan 2003 by Alistair Duncan
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