"First encountered this word in some column by George Will. Which just figures. (Both the fact that it was a George Will-dispatched vocabulary word,..." more...
"Generally, referring to male-to-female transsexual persons, whether pre- or post-op (or whether or not a transitioning surgery is intended by the..." more...
"Apparently this means "above everything else" and is derived from the German*, but one can only get at that definition via Merriam Webster by <a..." more...
"Evidently, this means "Diamond-bearing ground." Yet another word I had to look up in the course of reading Twisty Faster's blog, I Blame the..." more...
"Ooh, that's where I heard it, too. (Somehow it comforts me to know that I'm not the only one who rushes to look up words in the middle of watching..." more...
"I love how this word, which describes the classification of diseases, has nothing to do with noses per se, but in some cases (diseases of the nose,..." more...
"Thanks ever so for the comment; indeed I simply misspelled my entry, and have since deleted it from my collection (adding the correct term,..." more...
"I do know that it makes a big difference to women I know who were coerced into the industry (whether as children or adults). Typically, once someone..." more...
"Animals whose natural diet consists chiefly of fruit. Not a recommended regimen for humans, despite the existence of self-described fruitarians." more...
"One of the hornier species of primates, besides us humans (and with far fewer hangups about same-gender sexual relations). Remarkably peaceful apes." more...
"A handy alternative to calling trafficked women "prostitutes," which recognizes the humanity of the individuals concerned, and whose identities ought..." more...
"Term of endearment (and sometimes antipathy) for rundown vehicles characteristic of ghetto life - e.g., my first car, the driver's side door for..." more...