This blog is for everyone who uses words.

The ordinary-sized words are for everyone, but the big ones are especially for children.



Sunday 30 September 2012

Sunday Rest: Word Not To Use Today: sphygmoid.

Yes, I know, you have more taste than to use the word sphygmoid on any occasion.

Still, for those thinking of inflicting sentences like:

The club was pounding with the sphygmoid beat.

or:

Between the rows of cheering, terrified women, the boots of the soldiers sounded sphygmoidally on the flags.

or: 

the ribs of the great ship echoed to the sphygmoid crashing of rivets being hammered home.

Just don't.

Okay?

Word Not To Use Today: sphygmoid. This is a medical word meaning resembling the pulse. Any but a strictly technical use will make you look like an idiot.

Ther word comes from the Greek word sphugmos, pulsation, from sphuzein, to throb.







1 comment:

  1. Naaah! Think I'll give this one a miss. Lovely idea but don't like either the way it sounds or the way it looks on the page Dunno why!

    ReplyDelete

All comments are very welcome, but please make them suitable for The Word Den's family audience.