To abridge

I find it difficult to find time to create these entries; I also find it difficult to wade through the muck of language to which I’ve been exposed and into whose lexicon of meaning I wish to interpolate my own maverick persuasions.

So, in the interest of time, and to make my own kind of bookmark, I will simply list the words that have caught my eye lately, with the intention of returning to expound them at a later time.

In no particular order:

logophilia

glossolalia — discovered very recently as part of the title of a current exhibition at MoMA, where its meaning has been transferred to drawing, this word originally has referred to the phenomenon of “speaking in tongues.” (1879, from Gk. glossa “tongue, language” + lalia “a speaking,” from lalein “to speak, prattle,” of echoic origin)[1]

geophagy — of primary interest to me as a symptom of the fascinating disorder pica. If I ever end up creating the video, photo series, and paintings I’ve thought about relating to this disease, I’ll probably post them here too.

lipogram — e.g., La Disparition, by George Perec. I won’t say it’s my “favorite” part about this word, but I do enjoy how instinctively I think about liposuction when I see it. Turns out “lipo” does indeed originate from the Greek lipos, fat, but becomes something sticky that adheres, delivering the meaning “to remain behind” or “to leave.”

logomisia

Well, I’m having a hard time finding words that anger me these days. Certainly none more than “semiprecious.” I’ll try harder to hate more.

1. <Online Etymological Dictionary http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=glossolalia&searchmode=none>.