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Jun-7-2005 23:57

OK ... as there are so many readers and writers here, we'll see if this is popular ...

I'll post a list of dictionary definitions and see if you can provide the word. I'll try to balance between making it too hard and making it interesting. I'll try and make it so that, even if you don't one right, you'll at least have heard the word before. For each quiz, all answers will begin with the same letter:

Jun-22-2005 08:46

And finally ... all answers beginning with 'X', 'Y' or 'Z' (and in no special order:

1) n. a form of mental delusion in which a man believes himself to be a beast.

2) n. the double veil worn by Muslim woman in public, the eyes only being uncovered (Ar).

3) (slang) n. a raw recruit: a teenage loafer: a lout.

4) n. a surgeon's instrument for scraping bones.

5) n. an inordinate attachment to things foreign.

6) n. the spirit of the age (Ger)

Bonus: adj. proceeding by inquiry.

Jun-22-2005 10:33

1. zoanthropy
2. yashmak
3. yahoo
4. xyster
5. xenomania
6. zeitgeist
B. zetetic

Jun-22-2005 11:01

Very good Envy ... but I'm afraid you got (3) wrong. Any advance? : o )

Jun-22-2005 22:44

3.wastrel

Jun-23-2005 03:42

3. Yob? (although I only know it to mean lout ...)

Jun-23-2005 04:51

Well done Arthur ... the final answer was indeed yob which, interestingly, stems from a backword corruption of the word 'boy'. Hmm.

Jun-23-2005 04:53

So ... that brings us through the entire alphabet. It was fun - I had no idea it would prove so popular. The question is, though, what do we do now? Any suggestions? If anyone would like to volunteer to continue the word quiz, please step forward if another round of dictionary-bashing is in order. Or, any other suggestions on how to develop this thread.

Jun-23-2005 09:31

We could do it in Dutch. :)

Sep-14-2005 15:05

OK!

Sep-14-2005 17:09

Darn! I misssed the WHOLE thing!