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[kwbMitel]

My father in law is one of the most intelligent people I know. We often discuss unusual words what we've come across in our travels.

Osculate and pulchritudinous for example. Next time you see your better half say the following: - "I would like to osculate your pulchritudinous lips"

He has mentioned several times about a word that he once knew but can no longer remember. He can remember its meaning but not the word. Forgive me but I have to put it in my own words and the meaning might not be exact but hopefully close.

A word that describes other words whose definitions are more complicated than that which they intend to describe?

An attempt at an example (my attempt, and not necessarily a good one)

- Ineffable - A word used to describe something that is "incapable of being expressed in words"

The paradoxical nature of the definition of ineffable makes the definition more complicated than that which it intends to describe.

Does anyone know if there is a word to describe words such as these?

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What's most important is that you realise ... There is no spoon.

 

[CajunCenturion]

Holophrastic?

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[kwbMitel]

@ CajunCenturion - Holophrasic definitely meets enough of the criteria for me to try it out on my Father in Law. My understanding is that a holophrastic word is typically a simple word with complex or depth of meaning.

The definition is therefore more complex than the word itself.

Close enough for now. I'll let you know what he says.

Now for the extra credit question. How did you know that?



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What's most important is that you realise ... There is no spoon.

 

[CajunCenturion]

I would think of a holophrastic word as a single word which encapsulates an entire thought. As a very simple and contrived examples, I may say simple say the word "water" and you would know that to mean, "I am thirsty, please bring me something to drink."

==> How did you know that?
I learned that word many years ago while in graduate school.

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Wise men speak because they have something to say, fools because they have to say something. - Plato

 

[kwbMitel]

Yup, that was my take on the meaning.

Holophrastic makes the cut in my collection of unusual words of which I mentioned a few above.

I like twists in meaning or irony for the most part.

Sequepedalian and ineffible I consider ironic

Osculate and Pulchritudinous I consider ugly words with nice meanings.

Holophrastic is simply cool.

**********************************************
What's most important is that you realise ... There is no spoon.

 

[flyboytim]

Reminds me of Gerald Ratner's demonstration of floccinaucinihilipilification when, instead of describing his company's products as "desirable, affordable bijouterie for the masses", the words "total crap" surfaced instead.

http://www.fxxxingcomputers.co.uk

 

[kwbMitel]

@ Flyboytim - Never came across that one before. If I had any confidence that I could spell it correctly without having to look it up it might make my list. Apparently that word is the longest unchallenged non-technical word. Beats antidisestablishmentarianism by 1 letter - I've never really accepted antidisestablishmentarianism as it seems too contrived but Floccinaucinihilipilification has potential - thanks.

As it turns out, Floccinaucinihilipilification appears to be contrived as well but I still like it.

**********************************************
What's most important is that you realise ... There is no spoon.

 

[flyboytim]

I just wanted to use the F-word in a sentence on Tek-Tips, and get away with it.

http://www.fxxxingcomputers.co.uk

 

[CajunCenturion]

Floccinaucinihilipilification is the antithesis of your goal of finding words which, "describe other words whose definitions are more complicated than that which they intend to describe". In that context, floccinaucinihilipilification in worthless. Actually, in every context it's worthless.


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Wise men speak because they have something to say, fools because they have to say something. - Plato

 

[CajunCenturion]

==> If I had any confidence that I could spell it correctly without having to look it up it might make my list.
Then you're probably not interested in this word:

lopadotemachoselachogaleokranioleipsanodrimhypotrimmatosilphioparaomelitokatakechymenokichlepikossyphophattoperisteralektryonoptekephalliokigklopeleiolagoiosiraiobaphetraganopterygon



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Wise men speak because they have something to say, fools because they have to say something. - Plato

 

[kwbMitel]

@ Cajuncenturion - Yes, but it fits into my sub-text of interesting words.

I'm still waiting for a response from my Father in law on the other.

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What's most important is that you realise ... There is no spoon.

 

[CajunCenturion]

Sounds like your father-in-law is, as am I and several other esteemed members of this community, a logastellus or logophile.

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To get the most from your Tek-Tips experience, please read
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Wise men speak because they have something to say, fools because they have to say something. - Plato

 

[kwbMitel]

Yes and no. His interests and knowledge are far more reaching to be limited into one category. Polymath would fit better.

Logastellus would closely describe my interests.

Logophile is close as well but I don't love words in general, just ones that I find interesting.

My interests are both very specific and varied - hard to define to say the least.

Another example would be the word - Lather. I read once that this is the longest word that has 3 pronounciations with 3 different definitions. There is also a word to describe words such as these but that is long forgotten.


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What's most important is that you realise ... There is no spoon.

 

[CajunCenturion]

==> His interests and knowledge are far more reaching to be limited into one category.
There is nothing about logastellus which suggests or implies that the word interest and knowledge is exclusive to one category. Being a logastellus may be one of the many interests of a polymath.

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Good Luck
To get the most from your Tek-Tips experience, please read
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Wise men speak because they have something to say, fools because they have to say something. - Plato

 

[kwbMitel]

Thus the Yes and the No. The yes meaning that the term applies but the no meaning to suggest that a better term applies.

This is what I meant anyway.

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What's most important is that you realise ... There is no spoon.

 

[CajunCenturion]

==> but the no meaning to suggest that a better term applies
I don't get the 'no' at all. What part of your father is not a logastellus? I see it only as a yes. And not only that, he is a polymath as well.

If I said your someone football, does it makes sense to respond, "Yes and no, he loves entertainment"?

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To get the most from your Tek-Tips experience, please read
FAQ181-2886
Wise men speak because they have something to say, fools because they have to say something. - Plato

 

[kwbMitel]

While I see your point CajunCenturion I also know what I was trying to say. It makes sense to me even if not to you.

The term somewhat applies at one level but not at another.

It might have been simpler to just say no and not sit on the fence. Being a polymath does not imply that one is also either of the terms you offered. Hopefully without getting too far into the weeds, I would liken it to calling Einstein a mathematician.

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What's most important is that you realise ... There is no spoon.

 

[CajunCenturion]

Regardless, I hope you find the discussions with your father-in-law fruitful and entertaining.

--------------
Good Luck
To get the most from your Tek-Tips experience, please read
FAQ181-2886
Wise men speak because they have something to say, fools because they have to say something. - Plato

 

[flyboytim]

Sorry CC, this has me rolling in pure Zen:

If I said your someone football, does it makes sense to respond, "Yes and no, he loves entertainment"?

It was my fault for throwing in the "F-word" earlier, but it was "crap" to which I was alluding as one of those "words whose definitions are more complicated than that which they intend to describe"

http://www.fxxxingcomputers.co.uk

 

[kwbMitel]

I have found out that he is out of town which explains why he has not responded to my emails.

I'm curious to know if holophrasic is the word. Seems close enough for me.

Flyboytim, no regrets on the f word I hope. I quite enjoyed it. It has been added to my list of words.

**********************************************
What's most important is that you realise ... There is no spoon.