The Lexicologist’s Handbook

Book Reviews

Jun 29

The Lexicologist’s Handbook: A Dictionary of Unusual Words
By: Dane Cobain

I've always loved words. I used to keep a notebook with new words that I read and looked up. I specifically remember 'discombobulated' being one of those early words.

Even now, if you follow my reviews, you'll find that I often include a section at the end of some reviews with new words I learned.

So this 'fun' dictionary is a cool book to have. While I think 'unusual' is a bit subjective of a word to use and don't think all the words in the book would fit that description (i.e. exponent, depict, etc), there are some like:

"bibliobibuli": (bib-lee-oh-bib-yoo-lie) a person who reads too much
(this may describe me...)

or

"googlewhack": (goo-gul-wack) the result of a search on Google when two words are searched for and only one result is generated
(this seems impossible and now I'm going to Google about it... update: this is dying out because Google now includes variants and the internet is really big now (*citation needed) but if you search "unctuous yellowhammer" there are only two results...)

or

"scaramouche": (scah-rah-moosh) a roguish, clown-like character, found in theater and who's often depicted as a boastful coward wearing a black mask and glasses
(Bohemian Rhapsody anyone?)

This book is literally a dictionary-type of book. It's a list of word entries with their pronunciation, definition, and example sentence. There is no narrative or prose.

You can read it straight through or just use it as a reference or a 'word of the day' kind of situation.

Reading it kinda made me want to create a post on my website for all the new or interesting words I've learned in my reading journeys. Especially when I read books by UK or Australian authors.

Which to that point-- Dane Cobain (I like how his name rhymes) is from the UK so some of the spelling and pronunciation is different than how Americans spell or pronounce.

For example:
- He pronounces 'facade' as 'fass-ard'
- He pronounces 'destitute' as 'dess-tich-oot'
- He spells 'celiac' as 'coeliac'
- He pronounces 'cauterise' as 'corr-ter-ize'
- He pronounces 'timbre' as 'tom-bruh' (which I just realized I was pronouncing 'tim-ber' and google says 'tam-ber'

And then I want to draw special attention to the word 'myriad' which has baffled me as of late because sometimes it's preceded with 'a' or 'the' and sometimes not.

Well Cobain included the word in his book but only listed it as an adjective which would be 'myriad computers.' So I was finally inspired to actually look it up.

It can ALSO be used as a noun in which it would be 'a myriad of computers.'

So now we know!

See, words are fun, and if you enjoy them like me, you'll find this book a good addition to your growing library!

*Just a note though- my 6 year old daughter wanted to read the book because she has taken on my love of learning words, however, I don't think it would be appropriate for younger audiences as there are several words that are sexual or violent in nature that I wouldn't feel comfortable with her reading.