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January 20, 2017

Strange But True!

Q. In the category of “I didn't know there was a word for that” are the following from Anu Garg's “A.Word.A.Day” web site: “ambisinistrous,” “boodler,” “defenestration,” and “kakistocracy.” Let's hope you don't have reason to use them regularly.

A. You're no doubt familiar with “ambidextrous,” from Latin “ambi” for both, thus, ease of using both hands. But in “ambisinistrous,” “sinister” for left suggests having two left hands, or being clumsy with both hands. “Boodler” comes from the Dutch “boedel” for property, so a boodler is someone involved in bribery or corruption.


 
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