common root words and word origins roots meaning word alter other alternate, alter ego ami, amiclove amiable, amicable amphi both ends or all sides amphibian ann, enni year anniversary, annual, biennial, perennial anthrop human, man anthropology, anthropomorphic, misanthrope aqua, aque water aquatic, aquarium, aqueduct arch chief, leader, ruler archangel, monarch, archaic, archenemy arthro joint arthritis aud sound auditorium, audible, audiologist, audiotape bell war belligerent, bellicose biblio book bibliography, bibliophile biolife biography, autobiography, biology, antibiotic brev

short brief, abbreviate cap take, seize capture, captivate, capacity carn meat carnivorous, chili con carne ced yield, go recede, secede, proceed, intercede, concession chromcolor chromatic, monochrome, polychrome chrontime chronicle, chronology, chronometer, synchronize cogn know recognize, cognitive, incognito cord/chord cord harpsichord corp body corpus, corpse, corporal crac, crat rule, ruler autocrat, democracy, bureaucrat, democracy cred believe credible, credulous, credibility, credit, credo cruc cross crucifix, crucial crusta shell crustacean crypt hidden cryptogram, cryptology, cryptic culp

guilt culpable, culprit dei god deity, deify demopeople demography, democracy, epidemic dent tooth dentist, dentifrice, dentin dermskin dermatology, epidermis, hypodermic dic speak, say dictate, predict, diction, indict dox belief, opinion orthodoxy, paradox, heterodoxy duc, duct lead induce, deduce, seduction, conduct, abduct duo two duo dynampower dynamo, hydrodynamics ego self egotist, egomania equ equal equal, equity, equanimity, equate, equidistant fac make, do manufacture, factory, benefactor fil threadlike filament frater

brother fraternal, fraternize gammarriage monogamy, polygamy, bigamy geoearth geopolitical, geology, geography, geothermal glyph vertical groove hieroglyphicsegyptian sky writing grad, gress step gradual, progression, transgression graphwriting, printing graphology, biography, telegraph, geography gym naked gymnasium gynwoman gynecologist, androgynous hemo, hema, hem blood hemophilia, hematology, hemoglobin holo whole, entire holograph hydro, hydr water dehydrate, hydraulics, hydroelectric, hydroplane iso equal, identical isolate ject throw inject, reject, subject, projection jud judge judicial, judge, adjudicate leg, lect

read, choose legible, lectern, lecturer, election liter letter literature, illiterate, literal loc place local, location log word monologue, epilogue luc light lucid, elucidate magn large magnify, magnate, magnificent man hand manufacture, manual, manuscript mar sea marine, mariner mater mother maternal, maternity, matriarchy, matricide mere part, segment mere meta, met behind, between metacognitionbehind the thinking metri, metermeasure geometric, thermometer, odometer min small minority, minuscule, minute mit, miss send permit, submission, mission, emit, mob, mot, mov

move mobile, automobile, motion, promote, movie mon warn premonition, admonition mor, mort death mortal, mortician, immortality morph form, structure metamorphosis, amorphous, morphology mut change mutant, mutability, mutate neuro nerve neurology, neurosis, neurobiology nomen /nomin name nominal, nominate, nomenclature nov new novel, renovate, innovation, novella nym, onym word, name synonym, acronym, anonymous, pseudonym odonto tooth orthodontistone who straightens teeth orthostraight, correct orthodox, orthodontist, orthopedic pac peace pacify, pacific ocean, pacifist pater father paternal, paternity, patricide, patrilineal, patriotic path feeling, suffering sympathy, apathy, empathy, telepathy, pathology ped, pod

foot pedal, pedometer, centipede, gastropod pel, puls push pulsate, repulsive, impulse, compel, propel pend hang, weigh pendulum, pendant, suspend, pending phon-, phonosound, voice telephone, euphony, cacophony, phonograph plan flat planar, plantation, plane pneum lung pneumatic pod feet podiatrist port carry portable, transport, portage, report, pot power potent, omnipotent, potentate psychsoul, spirit, mind psychology, psychic, psychobiography pugna fight pugnacious, pugilist quer, quis ask query, inquisition, scent, scend climb ascend, ascent schizo, schiz division, split schizophrenic sci

know scientific sciss cut scissors scrib, script write manuscript, scribe, proscribe, scripture sec, sect cut dissect, section sed, sess sit sedentary, session sens, sent feel, be aware sensible, sentient sequ, secu follow sequence, sequel, consecutive serv serve, protect service simil same similar, assimilate, simile, facsimile (fax) siphon tube siphon sol sun solar son sound sonar, resonate, unison soph wisdom, knowledge philosophy, sophisticated, sophomore (wise fool) spec, spic look, see spectacles, spectator, inauspicious, prospect spir

coil spiral spir breathe inspire, respiration, conspire, perspiration spond, spons promise, answer for respond, responsible spont by one's own force spontaneous stat stay, position station tang, tact touch tactile, tangible temp time temporary, temporize ten, tent hold tentative, tenable, tenuous terr earth subterranean, terrain, terrestrial, disinter theo god, deity theology, polytheism, atheist, monotheism thermheat thermal, thermos, thermometer trophy nutrition, food atrophywithout nutrition uro urine urologist vac empty vacation, vacuum, vacuous, vacant ven, vent

come, go intervene, convene, contravene ver truth veracity, verify, verity vert turn introvert, irreversible, vertigo vit life vital, revitalize, vitamin voc call revoke, invocation, vocal, evocative, convocation zoo animal zoo, zoology, zoolatry

prefixes prefix meaning examples a-, annot, without amoral, anesthetic, apolitical, asocial abaway from abduction, abstain, abnormal adto, toward adjoin, adjacent (lying near to) ambiboth ambidextrous, ambivalent anaup, back, again analogy, anatomy, anagram antiagainst antipathy, antiwar, antisocial apofrom, away from apology, apologize autoself autobiography, automobile, autocracy, automaton benegood benediction benevolent benefactor cata-, catdown, against catastrophe--a turning down centro, centriaround, center concentric, centrifugal circumaround circumlocution circumference, circumvent comwith, together

communal, community conwith, together connect, confide conspire contraagainst contradict, contravene dedown, away descend, deject (cast down) dia-, dithrough, across diameter, division disapart, not disengage, discord, discomfort dysill, difficult, bad dysfunctional, dysentery eout of, from elect (choose out of), eject (throw out) ectoon the outside ectoderm--outer skin en-, emin empathy--feeling in endowithin, inside endoscope--instrument for observing inside epiupon epitaph epidermis, epicenter esoinward, within esoteric--more inward, esophagus euwell, good euthanasia--good death exout of, from

exhume, exhale, exodus heteroother, different heterosexual, heterodoxy, heterodox heterogeneous homosame homosexual, homogeneous, homogenized hyperover hypertension, hypersensitive, hyperactivity hypounder hypotension, hypodermic ilnot illegitimate, illicit, illegal, illegible imnot imperfect, impolite, impossible iminto imbibe (drink in, take in) innot indiscreet, invisible ininto incorporate (take into the body) interbetween intervene (come between), interstate intrawithin intrastate, intramural irnot irregular, irrational, irredeemable macrolarge macrocosm, macroeconomics mal, malebad, evil

malediction malevolent, malnutrition metabeyond metaphysical microsmall microscope, microcosm, microeconomics monoone, single monologue, monotheism, monarchy, monogamy neonew, recent neologism, neo-liberal, neonatology. neolithic obagainst object, obstruct (build against) palin-, paliback, again palindrome panall, every pantheism, pan-hellenic, panorama, pandemic parafalse paramilitary, paralegal, parachute perthrough percolate (flow through) perforate (punch through) periaround perimeter, periscope phil-, philolike, lover of philosophy, francophile, bibliophile, philanthropy polymany, several polygon, polygamy, polytechnic, polytheism postafter postgraduate, posthumous postpone prebefore

precede, predict (tell before) profor, forward promote, project prostoward, in front prospectview in front, something coming up protofirst prototype, protoplasm, protobiology pseudo false pseudonym, pseudoscience reagain, back repeat, recede, regress (step back) retroback retrogression, retroactive seaway from seduce (lead away), secede subunder submarine, subject, subhuman subterranean sur-, superover, above superhuman, superego, superintend, surpass syn-, sym-, syl-, syswith, together symphony, synonym, system, syllable teledistant, far off telephone, telepathy, television, telegram transacross transient, transatlantic, transport (carry across)

suffixes suffix definition example -agog, -agogue leader demagogue, pedagogue -cide kill(ing) patricide, infanticide, herbicide. suicide -ectomy cutting appendectomy, splenectomy -ia, -y act, state amnesia, mania, democracy, anarchy -ic, -tic, -ical, -ac having to do with anthropomorphic, dramatic, biblical, cardiac -ics things having to do with optics, physics -isk, -iscus small asterisk--a little star -ism the belief in pacifism, terrorism, socialism, communism -ist one who believes in pacifist, terrorist, socialist, communist -ite one connected with meteorite, polite, cosmopolite -logy study field of biology, geology, etymology, cardiology -oid resembling, like-shaped asteroid, spheroid -or, -er one who takes part in

doctor, actor, teacher, driver -phobia exaggerated fear photophobia, claustrophobia, agoraphobia -sis act, state, condition of analysis

forms of government it has been suggested that every government which has ever existed has been a prime example of kakistocracy, or the rule of the worst, but this list of 169 different types of leadership suggests that that might be a bit too simplistic. each of the following words indicates a type of government by a certain kind of person or institution. everyone seems to want to get in on this rulership gig, from saints and mothers to beggars and prostitutes (hmm ...). etymologically-minded folks should note the difference between the suffix 'archy', meaning 'rulership', and 'cracy', meaning 'power', which both come from greek roots. this fact, of course, should suggest to any reasonable-minded person that the greek people are inherently more fit to rule than all other groups. at least in my world ...word definition acracy government by none; anarchy adhocracy government in an unstructured fashion; an unstructured organization albocracy government by white people anarchy government by none androcracy government by men anemocracy government by the wind or by whim angelocracy government by angels antarchy opposition to government; anarchy argentocracy government by money aristarchy government by the best aristocracy government by the nobility arithmocracy government by simple majority autarchy government by an absolute ruler autocracy government by one individual barbarocracy government by barbarians beerocracy government by brewers or brewing interests bestiocracy rule by beasts biarchy government by two people; diarchy binarchy government by two people; diarchy bureaucracy government by civil servants cannonarchy government by superior firepower or by cannons capelocracy government by shopkeepers chiliarchy government by one thousand people chirocracy government by physical force chromatocracy government by rulers of a particular skin colour chrysoaristocracy government by the wealthy; plutocracy chrysocracy government by the wealthy; plutocracy corpocracy government by corporate bureaucrats cosmarchy rulership over the entire world, esp. by the devil cottonocracy government by those involved in the cotton trade cryptarchy secret rulership decadarchy government by ten individuals; decarchy decarchy government by ten individuals demarchy government by the people; popular government democracy government by the people demonarchy government by a demon demonocracy government by demons or evil forces despotocracy government by despots or tyrants diabolocracy government by the devil diarchy government by two people dinarchy government by two people; diarchy dodecarchy government by twelve people doulocracy government by slaves duarchy government by two people; diarchy dulocracy government by slaves; doulocracy

dyarchy government by two people; diarchy ecclesiarchy government by clerics or ecclesiastical authorities endarchy centralised government ergatocracy government by the workers or the working class ethnarchy government over an ethnic group ethnocracy government by an ethnic group or race exarchy government by bishops foolocracy government by fools gerontocracy government by the aged gunarchy government by women; gynarchy gymnasiarchy government over a school or academy gynaecocracy government by women; gynarchy gynarchy government by women gynocracy government by women; gynarchy hagiarchy government by saints or holy persons hagiocracy government by holy men hamarchy government by a cooperative body of parts hecatarchy government by one hundred people; hecatontarchy hecatontarchy government by one hundred people hendecarchy government by eleven people heptarchy government by seven people heroarchy government by heroes hetaerocracy government by paramours heterarchy government by a foreign ruler hierarchy government by a ranked body; government by priests hierocracy government by priests or religious ministers hipparchy rule or control of horses hoplarchy government by the military hyperanarchy condition of extreme anarchy hyperarchy excessive government iatrarchy government by physicians idiocracy personal rule; self-rule infantocracy government by an infant isocracy equal political power jesuitocracy government by jesuits juntocracy government by a junta kakistocracy government by the worst kleptocracy government by thieves kritarchy government by judges landocracy government by the propertied class; timocracy logocracy government of words matriarchy government by women or mothers meritocracy government by the meritorious merocracy government by a part of the citizenry mesocracy government by the middle classes metrocracy government by mothers or women; matriarchy millionocracy government by millionaires millocracy government by mill owners mobocracy government by mobs or crowds monarchy government by one individual moneyocracy government by the monied classes monocracy government by one individual myriarchy government by ten thousand individuals narcokleptocracy government by those who profit from trade in illegal drugs navarchy rulership over the seas neocracy government by new or inexperienced rulers

nomocracy government based on legal system; rule of law ochlocracy government by mobs octarchy government by eight people oligarchy government by the few paedarchy government by children paedocracy government by children; paedarchy panarchy universal rule or dominion pantarchy government by all the people; world government pantisocracy government by all equally paparchy government by the pope papyrocracy government by newspapers or literature parsonarchy government by parsons partocracy government by a single unopposed political party patriarchy government by men or fathers pedantocracy government by pedants or strict rule-bound scholars pentarchy government by five individuals phallocracy government by men philosophocracy government by philosophers phylarchy government by a specific class or tribe physiocracy government according to natural laws or principles pigmentocracy government by those of one skin colour plantocracy government by plantation owners plousiocracy government by the wealthy; plutocracy plutarchy government by the wealthy; plutocracy plutocracy government by the wealthy polarchy government by many people; polyarchy policeocracy government by police pollarchy government by the multitude or a mob; ochlocracy polyarchy government by many people polycracy government by many rulers; polyarchy popocracy government by populists pornocracy government by harlots prophetocracy government by a prophet psephocracy government resulting from election by ballot ptochocracy government by beggars or paupers; wholesale pauperization punditocracy government by political pundits quangocracy rule of quasi-autonomous non-governmental organizations rotocracy government by those who control rotten boroughs septarchy government by seven rulers; heptarchy shopocracy government by shopkeepers slavocracy government by slave-owners snobocracy government by snobs sociocracy government by society as a whole squarsonocracy government by landholding clergymen squatterarchy government by squatters; squattocracy squattocracy government by squatters squirearchy government by squires squirocracy government by squires; squirearchy statocracy government by the state alone, without ecclesiastical influence stratarchy rulership over an army stratocracy military rule or despotism strumpetocracy government by strumpets synarchy joint sovereignty technocracy government by technical experts tetradarchy government by four people; tetrarchy tetrarchy government by four people

thalassiarchy sovereignty of the seas; thalassocracy thalassocracy sovereignty of the seas thearchy rule by a god or gods; body of divine rulers theatrocracy goverment by gathered assemblies of citizens theocracy government by priests or by religious law timarchy government by the propertied class; timocracy timocracy government by the propertied class triarchy government by three people tritarchy government by three people; triarchy tritheocracy government by three gods whiggarchy government by whigs xenocracy government by a body of foreigners

colour terms this list contains 168 definitions of obscure colour terms using combinations of 'normal' colours of the rainbow and descriptive adjectives; e.g. cardinal = deep scarlet red; russet = reddish brown. note that most english speakers outside the u.s. spell colour with the added british 'u' rather than the american version color. don't worry if the colours (or colors) in your universe don't match up with the definitions i've given for these words, though - i've been known to have skewed perceptions of reality ...word definition aeneous shining bronze colour albicant whitish; becoming white albugineous like the white of an eye or an egg; white-coloured amaranthine immortal; undying; deep purple-red colour argent the heraldic colour silver or white atrous jet black aubergine eggplant; a dark purple colour aurulent gold-coloured azuline blue azure light or sky blue; the heraldic colour blue badious chestnut-coloured beige light creamy white-brown brunneous dark brown burnet dark brown; dark woollen cloth caesious bluish or greyish green cardinal deep scarlet red colour castaneous chestnut-coloured castory brown colour; brown dye derived from beaver pelts celadon pale green; pale green glazed pottery celeste sky blue cerulean sky-blue; dark blue; sea-green cesious bluish-grey chartreuse yellow-green colour chlorochrous green-coloured chrysochlorous greenish-gold cinerious ashen; ash-grey cinnabar red crystalline mercuric sulfide pigment; deep red or scarlet colour citreous lemon-coloured; lemony citrine dark greenish-yellow claret dark red-purple colour; a dark-red wine coccineous bright red columbine of or like a dove; dove-coloured coquelicot brilliant red; poppy red corbeau blackish green cramoisy crimson cretaceous of or resembling chalk; of a whitish colour croceate saffron-coloured cyaneous sky blue eau-de-nil pale green colour eburnean of or like ivory; ivory-coloured erythraean reddish colour ferruginous of the colour of rust; impregnated with iron filemot dead-leaf colour; dull brown flammeous flame-coloured flavescent yellowish or turning yellow fuliginous sooty; dusky; soot-coloured; of or pertaining to soot fulvous dull yellow; tawny

fuscous brown; tawny; dingy gamboge reddish-yellow colour glaucous sea-green; greyish-blue goldenrod dark golden yellow greige of a grey-beige colour gridelin violet-grey griseous pearl-grey or blue-grey; grizzled haematic blood-coloured heliotrope purplish hue; purplish-flowered plant; ancient sundial; signalling mirror hoary pale silver-grey colour; grey with age hyacinthine of a blue or purple colour ianthine violet-coloured ibis large stork-like bird; a pale apricot colour icterine yellowish or marked with yellow icteritious jaundiced; yellow incarnadine carnation-coloured; blood-red indigo deep blue-violet colour; a blue-violet dye infuscate clouded or tinged with brown; obscured; cloudy brown colour isabelline greyish yellow jacinthe orange colour jessamy yellow like a jasmine kermes brilliant red colour; a red dye derived from insects khaki light brown or tan lateritious brick-red leucochroic white or pale-coloured liard grey; dapple-grey lovat grey-green; blue-green lurid red-yellow; yellow-brown luteolous yellowish luteous golden-yellow lutescent yellowish madder red dye made from brazil wood; a reddish or red-orange colour magenta reddish purple maroon brownish crimson mauve light bluish purple mazarine rich blue or reddish-blue colour melanic black; very dark melichrous having a honey-like colour meline canary-yellow miniaceous colour of reddish lead minium vermilion; red lead modena crimson morel dark-coloured horse; blackish colour nacarat bright orange-red nankeen buff-coloured; durable buff-coloured cotton nigricant of a blackish colour nigrine black niveous snowy; white ochre yellowish or yellow-brown colour ochroleucous yellowish white olivaceous olive-coloured or heraldic colour gold or yellow pavonated peacock-blue periwinkle a bluish or azure colour; a plant with bluish flowers perse dark blue or bluish-grey; cloth of such a colour phoeniceous bright scarlet-red colour

piceous like pitch; inflammable; reddish black plumbeous leaden; lead-coloured ponceau poppy red porphyrous purple porraceous leek-green prasinous leek-green colour primrose pale yellow puccoon blood-root; dark red colour puce brownish-purple; purplish-pink puniceous bright or purplish red purpure heraldic colour purple purpureal purple pyrrhous reddish; ruddy rhodopsin visual purple rubiginous rusty-coloured rubious ruby red; rusty rufous reddish or brownish-red russet reddish brown sable black; dark; of a black colour in heraldry saffron orange-yellow sage grey-green colour sanguineous bloody; of, like or pertaining to blood; blood-red sapphire deep pure blue sarcoline flesh-coloured sepia fine brown sinopia preparatory drawing for a fresco; reddish-brown colour slate dull dark blue-grey smalt deep blue smaragdine emerald green solferino purplish red sorrel reddish-brown; light chestnut spadiceous chestnut-coloured stammel coarse woollen fabric, usually dyed red; bright red colour stramineous strawy; light; worthless; straw-coloured suede light beige sulphureous bright yellow tan tawny brown taupe brownish-grey tawny brownish-yellow teal greenish-blue terracotta reddish-brown testaceous of or having a hard shell; brick-red tilleul pale yellowish-green titian red-gold or reddish-brown topaz dark yellow turquoise blue-green ultramarine deep blue umber brownish red vermeil bright red or vermilion colour; gilded silver vermilion bright red vinaceous wine-coloured vinous deep red; burgundy violaceous violet-coloured violet bluish purple virescent becoming green or greenish; of a greenish colour virid green

viridian chrome green vitellary bright yellow wallflower yellowish-red watchet pale blue wheaten the golden colour of ripe wheat whey off-white willowish of the colour of willow leaves xanthic yellow; yellowish zinnober chrome green

philosophical isms here are 234 different isms, each representing a philosophical, political or moral doctrine or a belief system. in selecting terms for the list, i have deliberately avoided any word which apply ism to a personal name, so that marxism doesn't count although it is otherwise an ideal candidate for the list. i also excluded isms which do not refer to a specific belief system, such as impressionism (an artistic movement) or alcoholism (a disease). despite these omissions, enough remain to leave an ism in every pot, including beliefs about proper government, god, and the nature of existence itself. of the terms on the list that are of a religious nature, most are christian, which is not unexpected, but i'm open to adding isms from other world religions. word definition absolutism doctrine of government by a single absolute ruler; autocracy absurdism doctrine that we live in an irrational universe academicism doctrine that nothing can be known accidentalism theory that events do not have causes acosmism disbelief in existence of eternal universe distinct from god adamitism nakedness for religious reasons adevism denial of gods of mythology and legend adiaphorism doctrine of theological indifference or latitudinarianism adoptionism belief that christ was the adopted and not natural son of god aestheticism doctrine that beauty is central to other moral principles agapism ethics of love agathism belief in ultimate triumph of good despite evil means agnosticism doctrine that we can know nothing beyond material phenomena anarchism doctrine that all governments should be abolished animism attribution of soul to inanimate objects annihilationism doctrine that the wicked are utterly destroyed after death anthropomorphism attribution of human qualities to non-human things anthropotheism belief that gods are only deified men antidisestablishmentarianism doctrine opposed to removing church of england's official religion status antilapsarianism denial of doctrine of the fall of humanity antinomianism doctrine of the rejection of moral law antipedobaptism denial of validity of infant baptism apocalypticism doctrine of the imminent end of the world asceticism doctrine that self-denial of the body permits spiritual enlightenment aspheterism denial of the right to private property atheism belief that there is no god atomism belief that the universe consists of small indivisible particles autosoterism belief that one can obtain salvation through oneself autotheism belief that one is god incarnate or that one is christ bitheism belief in two gods bonism the doctrine that the world is good but not perfect bullionism belief in the importance of metallic currency in economics capitalism doctrine that private ownership and free markets should govern economies casualism the belief that chance governs all things catabaptism belief in the wrongness of infant baptism catastrophism belief in rapid geological and biological change collectivism doctrine of communal control of means of production collegialism theory that church is independent from the state conceptualism theory that universal truths exist as mental concepts conservatism belief in maintaining political and social traditions constructivism belief that knowledge and reality do not have an objective value cosmism belief that the cosmos is a self-existing whole cosmotheism the belief that identifies god with the cosmos deism belief in god but rejection of religion

determinism doctrine that events are predetermined by preceding events or laws diphysitism belief in the dual nature of christ ditheism belief in two equal gods, one good and one evil ditheletism doctrine that christ had two wills dualism doctrine that the universe is controlled by one good and one evil force egalitarianism belief that humans ought to be equal in rights and privileges egoism doctrine that the pursuit of self-interest is the highest good egotheism identification of oneself with god eidolism belief in ghosts emotivism theory that moral statements are inherently biased empiricism doctrine that the experience of the senses is the only source of knowledge entryism doctrine of joining a group to change its policies epiphenomenalism doctrine that mental processes are epiphenomena of brain activity eternalism the belief that matter has existed eternally eudaemonism ethical belief that happiness equals morality euhemerism explanation of mythology as growing out of history existentialism doctrine of individual human responsibility in an unfathomable universe experientialism doctrine that knowledge comes from experience fallibilism the doctrine that empirical knowledge is uncertain fatalism doctrine that events are fixed and humans are powerless fideism doctrine that knowledge depends on faith over reason finalism belief that an end has or can be reached fortuitism belief in evolution by chance variation functionalism doctrine emphasising utility and function geocentrism belief that earth is the centre of the universe gnosticism belief that freedom derives solely from knowledge gradualism belief that things proceed by degrees gymnobiblism belief that the bible can be presented to unlearned without commentary hedonism belief that pleasure is the highest good henism doctrine that there is only one kind of existence henotheism belief in one tribal god, but not as the only god historicism belief that all phenomena are historically determined holism doctrine that parts of any thing must be understood in relation to the whole holobaptism belief in baptism with total immersion in water humanism belief that human interests and mind are paramount humanitarianism doctrine that the highest moral obligation is to improve human welfare hylicism materialism hylomorphism belief that matter is cause of the universe hylopathism belief in ability of matter to affect the spiritual world hylotheism belief that the universe is purely material hylozoism doctrine that all matter is endowed with life idealism belief that our experiences of the world consist of ideas identism doctrine that objective and subjective, or matter and mind, are identical ignorantism doctrine that ignorance is a favourable thing illuminism belief in an inward spiritual light illusionism belief that the external world is philosophy imagism doctrine of use of precise images with unrestricted subject immanentism belief in an immanent or permanent god immaterialism the doctrine that there is no material substance immoralism rejection of morality indifferentism the belief that all religions are equally valid individualism belief that individual interests and rights are paramount instrumentalism doctrine that ideas are instruments of action intellectualism belief that all knowledge is derived from reason interactionism belief that mind and body act on each other introspectionism doctrine that knowledge of mind must derive from introspection

intuitionism belief that the perception of truth is by intuition irreligionism system of belief that is hostile to religions kathenotheism polytheism in which each god is considered single and supreme kenotism doctrine that christ rid himself of divinity in becoming human laicism doctrine of opposition to clergy and priests latitudinarianism doctrine of broad liberality in religious belief and conduct laxism belief that an unlikely opinion may be safely followed legalism belief that salvation depends on strict adherence to the law liberalism doctrine of social change and tolerance libertarianism doctrine that personal liberty is the highest value malism the belief that the world is evil materialism belief that matter is the only extant substance mechanism belief that life is explainable by mechanical forces meliorism the belief the world tends to become better mentalism belief that the world can be explained as aspect of the mind messianism belief in a single messiah or saviour millenarianism belief that an ideal society will be produced in the near future modalism belief in unity of father, son and holy spirit monadism theory that there exist ultimate units of being monergism theory that the holy spirit alone can act monism belief that all things can be placed in one category monophysitism belief that christ was primarily divine but in human form monopsychism belief that individuals have a single eternal soul monotheism belief in only one god monotheletism belief that christ had only one will mortalism belief that the soul is mortal mutualism belief in mutual dependence of society and the individual nativism belief that the mind possesses inborn thoughts naturalism belief that the world can be explained in terms of natural forces necessarianism theory that actions are determined by prior history; fatalism neonomianism theory that the gospel abrogates earlier moral codes neovitalism theory that total material explanation is impossible nihilism denial of all reality; extreme scepticism nominalism doctrine that naming of things defines reality nomism view that moral conduct consists in observance of laws noumenalism belief in existence of noumena nullibilism denial that the soul exists in space numenism belief in local deities or spirits objectivism doctrine that all reality is objective omnism belief in all religions optimism doctrine that we live in the best of all possible worlds organicism conception of life or society as an organism paedobaptism doctrine of infant baptism panaesthetism theory that consciousness may inhere generally in matter pancosmism theory that the material universe is all that exists panegoism solipsism panentheism belief that world is part but not all of gods being panpsychism theory that all nature has a psychic side pansexualism theory that all thought derived from sexual instinct panspermatism belief in origin of life from extraterrestrial germs pantheism belief that the universe is god; belief in many gods panzoism belief that humans and animals share vital life energy parallelism belief that matter and mind dont interact but relate pejorism severe pessimism perfectibilism doctrine that humans capable of becoming perfect perfectionism doctrine that moral perfection constitutes the highest value

personalism doctrine that humans possess spiritual freedom pessimism doctrine that the universe is essentially evil phenomenalism belief that phenomena are the only realities physicalism belief that all phenomena reducible to verifiable assertions physitheism attribution of physical form and attributes to deities pluralism belief that reality consists of several kinds or entities polytheism belief in multiple deities positivism doctrine that that which is not observable is not knowable pragmatism doctrine emphasizing practical value of philosophy predestinarianism belief that what ever is to happen is already fixed prescriptivism belief that moral edicts are merely orders with no truth value primitivism doctrine that a simple and natural life is morally best privatism attitude of avoiding involvement in outside interests probabiliorism belief that when in doubt one must choose most likely answer probabilism belief that knowledge is always probable but never absolute psilanthropism denial of christ's divinity psychism belief in universal soul psychomorphism doctrine that inanimate objects have human mentality psychopannychism belief souls sleep from death to resurrection psychotheism doctrine that god is a purely spiritual entity pyrrhonism total or radical skepticism quietism doctrine of enlightenment through mental tranquility racism belief that race is the primary determinant of human capacities rationalism belief that reason is the fundamental source of knowledge realism doctrine that objects of cognition are real reductionism belief that complex phenomena are reducible to simple ones regalism doctrine of the monarch's supremacy in church affairs representationalism doctrine that ideas rather than external objects are basis of knowledge republicanism belief that a republic is the best form of government resistentialism humorous theory that inanimate objects display malice towards humans romanticism belief in sentimental feeling in artistic expression sacerdotalism belief that priests are necessary mediators between god and mankind sacramentarianism belief that sacraments have unusual properties scientism belief that the methods of science are universally applicable self-determinism doctrine that the actions of a self are determined by itself sensationalism belief that ideas originate solely in sensation siderism belief that the stars influence human affairs skepticism doctrine that true knowledge is always uncertain socialism doctrine of centralized state control of wealth and property solarism excessive use of solar myths in explaining mythology solifidianism doctrine that faith alone will ensure salvation solipsism theory that self-existence is the only certainty somatism materialism spatialism doctrine that matter has only spatial, temporal and causal properties spiritualism belief that nothing is real except the soul or spirit stercoranism belief that the consecrated eucharist is digested and evacuated stoicism belief in indifference to pleasure or pain subjectivism doctrine that all knowledge is subjective substantialism belief that there is a real existence underlying phenomena syndicalism doctrine of direct worker control of capital synergism belief that human will and divine spirit cooperate in salvation terminism doctrine that there is a time limit for repentance thanatism belief that the soul dies with the body theism belief in the existence of god without special revelation theocentrism belief that god is central fact of existence theopantism belief that god is the only reality

theopsychism belief that the soul is of a divine nature thnetopsychism belief that the soul dies with the body, to be reborn on day of judgement titanism spirit of revolt or defiance against social conventions tolerationism doctrine of toleration of religious differences totemism belief that a group has a special kinship with an object or animal transcendentalism theory that emphasizes that which transcends perception transmigrationism belief that soul passes into other body at death trialism doctrine that humans have three separate essences (body, soul, spirit) tritheism belief that the members of the trinity are separate gods triumphalism belief in the superiority of one particular religious creed tuism theory that individuals have a second or other self tutiorism doctrine that one should take the safer moral course tychism theory that accepts role of pure chance ubiquitarianism belief that christ is everywhere undulationism theory that light consists of waves universalism belief in universal salvation utilitarianism belief that utility of actions determines moral value vitalism the doctrine that there is a vital force behind life voluntarism belief that the will dominates the intellect zoism doctrine that life originates from a single vital principle zoomorphism conception of a god or man in animal form zootheism attribution of divine qualities to animals

killing and killers anyone who has looked at the news lately knows that the human species seems to have an inordinate propensity for killing things. similarly, anyone looking at this list of 85 terms relating to killing will quickly realize that humans also have an inordinate propensity for making up words about killing things. all of these words end in 'cide', from latin caedere, to kill. however, some of them refer exclusively to the act of killing a specific thing (e.g. herbicide) while others can refer alternately to the act itself or to the person performing the act (e.g. homicide). of all of these, though, perhaps the greatest crime of all is verbicide, the brutal slaughter of our language by incompetents and ignoramuses. will the atrocities never end? also check out my list of fighting words - those ending in "machy".word definition aborticide killing of a fetus; abortion acaricide killer of mites and ticks algicide killer of algae amicicide murder of a friend aphicide killer of aphids aphidicide killer of aphids avicide killing of birds bacillicide killer of bacteria bactericide killer of bacteria biocide killing living material bovicide slaughter of cattle; one who kills cattle ceticide killing of whales and other cetaceans cimicide substance used to kill bed-bugs deicide destruction or killing of a god ecocide destruction of the environment episcopicide killing of bishops famicide one who destroys another's reputation; slanderer felicide killing of a cat femicide killing of a woman feticide killing of a fetus filicide killing of one's own child floricide killing or killer of flowers foeticide killing a fetus formicide substance that kills ants fratricide killing of one's brother fungicide killing of fungus genocide killing of a race or ethnic group germicide substance that kills germs giganticide killing of a giant gynaecide killing of women herbicide killing of plants hereticide killing of heretics homicide killing of a human being infanticide killing of an infant insecticide killing of insects larvicide killing of larvae liberticide destruction of liberty lupicide killing of a wolf mariticide killing or killer of one's husband matricide killing of one's mother menticide reduction of mind by psychological pressure microbicide killing or killer of microbes miticide agent which kills mites molluscicide killing of mollusks

muscicide neonaticide ovicide ovicide parasiticide parasuicide parenticide parricide patricide perdricide pesticide prolicide pulicide raticide regicide rodenticide senicide serpenticide siblicide silvicide sororicide speciocide spermicide sporicide suicide taeniacide tauricide trypanocide tyrannicide urbicide ursicide utricide uxoricide vaticide verbicide vermicide vespacide viricide virucide vulpicide weedicide

substance for killing flies killing or killer of a newborn infant killing insect eggs sheep-killing killing of parasites harmful act appearing to be an attempt at suicide killing or killer of one's parents killing of parents or a parent-like close relative killing of one's father killer of partridges killing of pests killing of offspring; killing of the human race flea-killer substance or person who kills rats killing of a monarch killing of rodents killing of old men killing or killer of a snake killing or killer of a sibling substance that kills trees killing of one's own sister destruction of an entire species killing of sperm killing of spores killing of oneself killing of tapeworms killing or killer of a bull killing of trypanosomes killing or killer of a tyrant destruction of a city killing or killer of a bear one who stabs an inflated skin vessel instead of killing someone killing of one's own wife killing or killer of a prophet destroying the meaning of a word killing of worms substance or person who kills wasps killing of viruses; killing of men or of husbands killing of viruses killing of a fox something that kills weeds

love and attraction while this list might seem a bit risqu judging from its title, it's not as bad (or good) as you might think. each of these 114 weird words contains the word element "phil", from ancient greek phileein to love, and so a 'philia' is a special love, affection, attraction or preference for a certain type of thing. from aerophilately - a pastime practiced by few - to zoophily - a pastime hopefully practiced by few, but unfortunately not - if you're a logophile, you'll love this list. incidentally, since "zoophily" is regularly one of the phrontistery's top keywords, a note to any aspiring zoophilists: there's nothing to see here! get out! as for the rest of you, enjoy! to complement this list of philias, you may also find my list of manias to be of interest.word definition aerophilately collecting of air-mail stamps ailurophilia love of cats ammophilous sand-loving; preferring to dwell in sand anemophilous pollinated by wind anglophilia love or fondness for england or the english anthophilous loving or frequenting flowers apodysophilia feverish desire to undress arctophily study of teddy bears astrophile person interested in astronomy audiophile one who loves accurately reproduced recorded sound belonephilia sexual obsession with sharp objects bibliophily love or fondness for books or reading canophilia love or fondness for dogs cartophily the hobby of collecting cigarette cards chasmophilous fond of nooks, crevices and crannies chiropterophilous pollinated or frequented by bats chromophilous staining easily chrysophilist gold-lover clinophilia passion for beds coprophilia abnormal love or fondness for feces cynophilist one who loves dogs dendrophilous fond of trees discophile one who loves and studies sound recordings electrophile substance having an affinity for electrons or negative charge entomophilous adapted for pollination by insects ergophile one who loves work europhile one who loves europe francophile one who loves france or the french gallophile one who loves france or the french geophilous living in or near the ground germanophilia love or fondness for germany or the germans gerontophilia sexual attraction towards the elderly gynotikolobomassophile one who nibbles on womens earlobes haemophilia hereditary disease causing excesssive bleeding halophilous tolerant of salt or salt-water heliophilous preferring or attracted to the sunlight hippophile lover of horses homophile one who prefers the company of the same sex; a homosexual hydrophilous loving or preferring water hygrophilous preferring or living where there is an abundance of moisture iconophilism a taste for pictures and symbols japanophilia love or admiration for japan or the japanese labeorphily collection and study of beer bottle labels limnophilous living in ponds or marshes

lithophilous living among stones logophile a lover of words lygophilia love of darkness lyophile easily dispersed in a suitable medium malacophilous pollinated by snails myrmecophilous having a symbiotic relationship with ants necrophilia unusual love or sexual attraction for corpses negrophile one who is sympathetic towards black people nemophilist one who loves the woods neophile one who loves novelty and trends nitrophilous flourishing in or preferring locations with abundant nitrogen notaphily collecting of bank-notes and cheques oenophile one who is fond of or loves wine ombrophilous tolerant of large amounts of rainfall ophiophilist snake-lover ornithophilous pollinated by birds paedophilia abnormal love or sexual attraction for children palaeophile antiquarian paraphilia any abnormal sexual attraction peristerophily pigeon-collecting petrophilous living on or thriving in rocky areas philalethist lover of truth philately study of postage stamps philhippic loving or admiring horses phillumeny collecting of matchbox labels philocaly love of beauty philodemic fond of commoners or the lower classes philogyny love of women philomath lover of learning philonoist one who seeks knowledge philopornist lover of prostitutes philotechnical devoted to the arts philotherianism love of animals philoxenia hospitality photophilous preferring or thriving in lighted conditions phytophilous fond of plants pogonophile one who loves beards psammophile sand-loving plant psychrophilic thriving in cold temperatures retrophilia love of things of the past rheophile living or thriving in running water rhizophilous growing or thriving on or near roots russophile one who admires russia or the russians sarcophilous fond of flesh sciophilous thriving in or loving shady conditions scopophilia obtaining sexual pleasure from seeing things scotophilia admiration for scotland or the scots scripophily collection of bond and share certificates sinophile one who admires china or the chinese slavophile one who admires the slavs spermophile member of family of seed-loving rodents stegophilist one who climbs buildings for sport stigmatophilia obsession with tattooing or branding symphily living together for mutual benefit technophile one who is fond of technology thalassophilous living in or fond of the sea

theophile thermophilous timbrophily tobaccophile topophilia toxophily tropophilous turophile typhlophile xenophilia xerophily xylophilous zoophilia zoophily

one who loves or is loved by god preferring or thriving in high temperatures love or fondness for stamps; stamp-collecting one who loves tobacco great love or affection for a particular place love of archery; archery; study of archery flourishing in seasonal extremes of climate cheese lover one who is kind to the blind love of foreigners adaptation to very dry conditions fond of wood; living in or on wood loving or caring for animals; bestiality loving or caring for animals; bestiality

manias and obsessions sometimes, when i look over what i've created in the phrontistery, i start to think i'm more than a bit crazy, and must be suffering from verbomania. still, i probably don't officially have any of the 142 manias or obsessions listed below. some of these mania words represent clinical illnesses, while others are merely facetious. they show the range of unusual and weird things with which one can become obsessed. these words are the ones found in major dictionaries; no doubt there are many others, given that, like phobias, manias are easy to form by taking a root word from latin or greek and affixing the suffix 'mania'. also my word list of types of love and attraction or 'philias', some of which indicate pathological attractions.word definition ablutomania mania for washing oneself aboulomania pathological indecisiveness agromania intense desire to be in open spaces andromania nymphomania anglomania craze or obsession with england and the english anthomania obsession with flowers aphrodisiomania abnormal sexual interest arithmomania obsessive preoccupation with numbers balletomania abnormal fondness for ballet bibliomania craze for books or reading bruxomania compulsion for grinding teeth cacodemomania pathological belief that one is inhabited by an evil spirit catapedamania obsession with jumping from high places chinamania obsession with collecting china choreomania dancing mania or frenzy clinomania excessive desire to stay in bed copromania obsession with feces cytheromania nymphomania dacnomania obsession with killing demonomania pathological belief that one is possessed by demons dinomania mania for dancing dipsomania abnormal craving for alcohol discomania obsession for disco music doramania obsession with owning furs doromania obsession with giving gifts drapetomania intense desire to run away from home dromomania compulsive longing for travel ecdemomania abnormal compulsion for wandering egomania irrational self-centered attitude or self-worship eleutheromania manic desire for freedom empleomania mania for holding public office enosimania pathological belief that one has sinned entheomania abnormal belief that one is divinely inspired epomania craze for writing epics ergasiomania excessive desire to work; ergomania ergomania excessive desire to work; workaholism erotomania abnormally powerful sex drive etheromania craving for ether ethnomania obsessive devotion to one's own people eulogomania obsessive craze for eulogies flagellomania abnormal enthusiasm for flogging florimania craze for flowers francomania craze or obsession with france and the french gallomania craze or obsession with france and the french gamomania obsession with issuing odd marriage proposals

graecomania obsession with greece and the greeks graphomania obsession with writing gynaecomania abnormal sexual obsession with women habromania insanity featuring cheerful delusions hagiomania mania for sainthood hellenomania obsession with greece and the greeks; graecomania hexametromania mania for writing in hexameter hieromania pathological religious visions or delusions hippomania obsession with horses hydromania irrational craving for water hylomania excessive tendency towards materialism hypermania severe mania hypomania minor mania hysteromania nymphomania iconomania obsession with icons or portraits idolomania obsession or devotion to idols infomania excessive devotion to accumulating facts islomania craze or obsession for islands italomania obsession with italy or italians kleptomania irrational predilection for stealing klopemania kleptomania logomania pathological loquacity lypemania extreme pathological mournfulness macromania delusion that objects are larger than natural size megalomania abnormal tendency towards grand or grandiose behaviour melomania craze for music methomania morbid craving for alcohol metromania insatiable desire for writing verse micromania pathological self-deprecation or belief that one is very small monomania abnormal obsession with a single thought or idea morphinomania habitual craving or desire for morphine musomania obsession with music mythomania lying or exaggerating to an abnormal extent narcomania uncontrollable craving for narcotics necromania sexual obsession with dead bodies; necrophilia nosomania delusion of suffering from a disease nostomania abnormal desire to go back to familiar places nymphomania excessive or crazed sexual desire oenomania obsession or craze for wine oligomania obsession with a few thoughts or ideas oniomania mania for making purchases onomamania mania for names onomatomania irresistible desire to repeat certain words onychotillomania compulsive picking at the fingernails opiomania craving for opium opsomania abnormal love for one kind of food orchidomania abnormal obsession with orchids parousiamania obsession with the second coming of christ pathomania moral insanity peotillomania abnormal compulsion for pulling on the penis phagomania excessive desire for food or eating phaneromania habit of biting ones nails pharmacomania abnormal obsession with trying drugs phonomania pathological tendency to murder photomania pathological desire for light phyllomania excessive or abnormal production of leaves

phytomania obsession with collecting plants planomania abnormal desire to wander and disobey social norms plutomania mania for money polemomania mania for war politicomania mania for politics polkamania craze for polka dancing polymania mania affecting several different mental faculties poriomania abnormal compulsion to wander pornomania obsession with pornography potichomania craze for imitating oriental porcelain potomania abnormal desire to drink alcohol pseudomania irrational predilection for lying pteridomania passion for ferns pyromania craze for starting fires rhinotillexomania compulsive nose picking rinkomania obsession with skating satyromania abnormally great male sexual desire; satyriasis scribbleomania obsession with scribbling sebastomania religious insanity sitiomania morbid aversion to food sophomania delusion that one is incredibly intelligent squandermania irrational propensity for spending money wastefully stampomania obsession with stamp-collecting syphilomania pathological belief that one is afflicted with syphilis technomania craze for technology teutomania obsession with teutonic or german things thanatomania belief that one has been affected by death magic, and resulting illness theatromania craze for going to plays theomania belief that one is a god timbromania craze for stamp collecting tomomania irrational predilection for performing surgery toxicomania morbid craving for poisons trichotillomania neurosis where patient pulls out own hair tulipomania obsession with tulips typhomania delirious state resulting from typhus fever typomania craze for printing ones lucubrations uranomania obsession with the idea of divinity verbomania craze for words xenomania inordinate attachment to foreign things zoomania insane fondness for animals

names for names when my brother and i were little, our parents used to joke that if one of us had been a girl, they could have named us chris and alice, so that we would be "chris and alice chrisomalis". fortunately for all concerned, they did not do so, because names are very powerful things (here are some more of my thoughts on the subject). anyway, this short and probably incomplete list defines about 40 words relating to names. these words contain the root "nym", which comes from the greek onoma, a name.word definition acronym word formed from initial letters of another word allonym other person's name used by an author ananym name written backward; often used as synonym anonym person whose name is not given; pseudonym antonym word whose meaning is the opposite of a given word aptronym name that suits its owner autonym a writer's real name; work published under writer's own name caconym wrongly derived name cohyponym word which is one of multiple hyponyms of another word cryptonym secret name dionym name containing two parts or terms eponym personal name from which another name is derived euonym a pleasing or beautiful name euonymous appropriately named euphonym euphonious synonym exonym name for a town or country in a foreign language heteronym word having same spelling but different sound and meaning homonym words having the same sound but different meanings hypernym word representing a class of words or things hyponym term which is a member of a larger class isonym word having the same derivation or form as another meronym word whose relation to another is a part to the whole metonymy figurative use of word to name an attribute of its subject metronymy system of naming after the mother's or female line onymous bearing the authors name paedonymic name taken from one's child paranym euphemism; word whose meaning altered to conceal evasion paronym word from same root or having same sound as another patronym name derived from father's name poecilonym synonym polyonym name consisting of several words pseudonym fictitious name used by an author retronym new name as modification of older term used alone synonym word whose meaning is the same as another word tautonym taxonomic name in which genus and species are the same teknonymy the naming of the parent from the child toponym place name derived from geographical feature trionym name consisting of three words

phobias this is a list that has been stewing on my hard drive for several years, defining 136 phobias, irrational or pathological fears of various things. the reason i've resisted is that someone else has done a far more thorough job than i could ever do, over at the phobia list, where around 530 phobias are listed. however, so many people over the years have asked for a phrontistery phobia list that i've finally capitulated. while the phobia list includes phobias used in medical papers or other printed sources, but not in a major reference dictionary, i strongly recommend it to those interested in phobias. note: i am not an expert on phobias or mental illness. my interest in phobias is strictly limited to words. word definition acarophobia fear of itching or of insects causing itching acrophobia fear of heights aerophobia fear of flying or draughts agoraphobia fear of open spaces agyiophobia fear of crossing busy streets aichmophobia fear of sharp or pointed objects ailurophobia fear of cats algophobia fear of pain amathophobia fear of dust amaxophobia fear of riding in a car ambulophobia fear of walking anglophobia fear of england or the english anthrophobia fear of humans anuptaphobia fear of staying single aquaphobia fear of water arachibutyrophobia fear of peanut butter sticking to roof of mouth arachnophobia fear of spiders astraphobia fear of being struck by lightning astrapophobia fear of thunder and lightning automysophobia fear of being dirty autophobia fear of solitude ballistophobia fear of missiles bathophobia fear of falling from a high place batophobia fear of heights or being close to tall buildings batrachophobia fear of frogs and toads belonephobia fear of pins and needles bibliophobia fear of books blennophobia fear of slime brontophobia fear of thunder and lightning cancerophobia fear of cancer cathisophobia fear of sitting cenophobia fear of empty spaces chrematophobia fear of money cibophobia fear of or distaste for food claustrophobia fear of closed spaces climacophobia fear of falling down stairs clinophobia fear of staying in bed cremnophobia fear of cliffs and precipices cyberphobia fear of computers cynophobia fear of dogs dromophobia fear of crossing streets dysmorphophobia fear of physical deformities

ecophobia fear of home eleutherophobia fear of freedom eosophobia fear of dawn ergasiophobia fear of work ergophobia fear of work erotophobia fear of sex erythrophobia fear of red lights or of blushing euphobia fear of good news francophobia fear of france or the french gallophobia fear of france or the french gamophobia fear of marriage geniophobia fear of chins genophobia fear of sex gerascophobia fear of growing old graphophobia fear of writing gymnophobia fear of nudity heliophobia fear of sunlight herpetophobia fear of snakes hierophobia fear of sacred things homichlophobia fear of fog homophobia fear of homosexuals hydrophobia fear of water hypsophobia fear of high places iatrophobia fear of going to the doctor iconophobia fear or hatred of images kainotophobia fear of change kakorrhaphiophobia fear of failure kenophobia fear of empty spaces ligyrophobia fear of loud noises linonophobia fear of string lygophobia fear of darkness lyssophobia fear of hydrophobia macrophobia fear of prolonged waiting metrophobia fear of poetry monophobia fear of being alone muriphobia fear of mice myophobia fear of mice mysophobia fear of contamination or dirt nebulaphobia fear of fog necrophobia fear of corpses negrophobia fear of blacks neophobia fear of novelty nosophobia fear of disease novercaphobia fear of one's stepmother nyctophobia fear of the night or darkness ochlophobia fear of crowds oenophobia fear or hatred of wine ombrophobia fear of rain onomatophobia fear of hearing a certain word ophidiophobia fear of snakes ophthalmophobia fear of being stared at optophobia fear of opening ones eyes ornithophobia fear of birds paedophobia fear of children; fear of dolls panophobia melancholia marked by groundless fears pantophobia fear of everything

parthophobia fear of virgins pathophobia fear of disease pediculophobia fear of lice pentheraphobia fear or hatred of ones mother-in-law phagophobia fear of eating phengophobia fear of daylight phonophobia fear of noise or of speaking aloud photophobia fear of light pogonophobia fear of beards psychrophobia fear of the cold pteronophobia fear of being tickled by feathers pyrophobia fear of fire russophobia fear of russia or russians satanophobia fear of the devil sciaphobia fear of shadows scopophobia fear of being looked at scoptophobia fear of being looked at scotophobia fear of the dark sitiophobia fear of food sitophobia fear of food or eating spectrophobia fear of looking in a mirror symmetrophobia fear of symmetry syphilophobia fear of syphilis taphephobia fear of being buried alive technophobia fear of technology thalassophobia fear of the sea thanatophobia fear of death theophobia fear of god tocophobia fear of pregnancy or childbirth tonitrophobia fear of thunder topophobia fear of performing; fear of certain places toxicophobia fear of poisoning toxiphobia fear of poison or being poisoned triskaidekaphobia fear of the number thirteen uranophobia fear of heaven xenophobia fear of foreigners zelophobia fear of jealousy zoophobia fear of animals

pretenders and dabblers this small set of 21 obscure words consists of nouns used to define minor, inferior, or petty members of various professions. the words end with '-aster', a latin pejorative suffix indicating incomplete resemblance or lesser status. these words are little used today, but in another age were devices of scorn used by the intelligentsia to deride their lesser fellows. with a little creativity, practically any name for a profession can be altered in this way, should you find a desirable object for your contempt. let's hope i don't see too many of them in your e-mails to me!word definition astrologaster a foolish or petty astrologer criticaster inferior or petty critic grammaticaster a piddling grammarian hereticaster a petty or contemptible heretic latinitaster a petty scholar of latin logicaster a petty logician mathematicaster minor or inferior mathematician medicaster quack; charlatan militaster soldier without skill or ability musicaster a mediocre musician opiniaster one who obstinately holds to an opinion parasitaster a mean or sorry parasite philologaster petty or contemptible philologist philosophaster amateur or superficial philosopher poetaster petty poet; writer of contemptible verses politicaster petty politician rhetoricaster petty rhetorician scientaster petty scientist theologaster petty or shallow theologian usageaster self-appointed and conservative language usage expert witticaster a petty or inferior wit

scientific instruments have you ever been in the middle of a class lecture, medical examination or episode of star trek only to realise suddenly that you have no clue what all those gizmos, gadgets and other scientific instruments actually do? if so, your problems are solved. this list defines 418 scientific instruments and technical tools used for viewing, displaying, recording and measuring just about anything you can imagine (and some things you probably can't). most of these words end in "meter" (instruments for measuring), "scope" (instruments for viewing) or "graph" (instruments for displaying and recording).word definition absorptiometer instrument for measuring solubility of gases in liquids accelerometer instrument for measuring acceleration or vibrations acetimeter instrument for measuring strength of vinegar acidimeter instrument for measuring concentration of acids actinograph instrument used to calculate time of photographic exposure actinometer instrument for measuring incident radiation aerometer instrument for measuring weight or density of gas aethrioscope instrument for measuring temperature variations due to sky conditions alcoholometer instrument for measuring proportion of alcohol in solutions alcovinometer instrument to measure strength of wine algometer instrument for measuring sensitivity to pain alkalimeter instrument for measuring strength of alkalines altimeter instrument for measuring altitude ammeter instrument for measuring electrical current anemograph instrument for measuring pressure and velocity of wind anemometer instrument for measuring wind velocity areometer instrument used for measuring specific gravity arthroscope instrument for examining interior of a joint atmometer instrument for measuring evaporating capacity of air audiometer instrument for measuring acuity of hearing auriscope instrument for examining the ear auxanometer instrument for measuring growth of plants auxometer instrument for measuring magnifying power ballistocardiograph instrument for detecting body movements caused by heartbeat barograph instrument for recording air pressure barometer instrument for measuring air pressure baroscope weather-glass bathymeter instrument for recording contours of deep oceans bathythermograph instrument for recording water temperature as compared to depth bolometer instrument for measuring radiant energy or infrared light bronchoscope instrument for examining the windpipe calorimeter instrument for measuring absorbed or evolved heat cardiograph instrument for recording movements of the heart cathetometer instrument for measuring short vertical distances ceilometer instrument for measuring height of cloud ceiling above earth ceraunograph instrument for recording thunder and lightning chlorometer instrument for measuring amount of chlorine in a solution chromatograph instrument for performing chromatographic separations chromatoptometer instrument measuring eyes' sensitivity to colour chronograph instrument for recording the moment of an event chronometer instrument for measuring time chronoscope instrument for measuring very short time intervals clinometer instrument used to measure slopes and elevations coercimeter instrument for measuring coercive force colonoscope instrument for viewing the colon colorimeter instrument for measuring and determining color colposcope instrument for viewing the neck of the uterus

coronagraph instrument for viewing the corona of the sun coulombmeter instrument for measuring electric charge coulometer instrument measuring amount of substance released in electrolysis craniometer instrument for measuring the skull cratometer instrument for measuring power of magnification crescograph instrument for measuring the growth of plants cryometer instrument for measuring low temperatures cryoscope instrument for determining freezing points of substances cyanometer instrument for measuring blueness of the sky or ocean cyclograph instrument for describing arcs of circles without compasses cyclometer instrument for measuring revolutions of a wheel cymograph instrument for tracing the outline of mouldings cymometer instrument for measuring frequency of electrical waves cystoscope instrument for examining the bladder cytometer instrument for counting cells decelerometer instrument for measuring deceleration declinometer instrument for measuring magnetic declination dendrometer instrument for measuring trees densimeter instrument for measuring closeness of grain of a substance densitometer instrument for measuring optical or photographic density diagometer instrument for measuring electrical conductivity diagraph instrument for enlarging or projecting drawings diaphanometer instrument for measuring the transparency of air dichroscope instrument for examining crystals for dichroism diffractometer instrument for determining structure of crystal through light diffraction dilatometer instrument for measuring expansion dioptometer instrument for measuring focus or refraction of the eyes dipleidoscope instrument for measuring moment when an object passes a meridian diplograph instrument for writing two lines of text at once dosimeter instrument for measuring dose of radiation dromometer instrument for measuring speed drosometer instrument for measuring dew durometer instrument for measuring hardness of substances dynamograph instrument for recording mechanical forces dynamometer instrument for measuring mechanical force ebullioscope instrument for measuring boiling point of liquids effusiometer instrument for comparing molecular weights of gases eidograph instrument for copying drawings elatrometer instrument for measuring gaseous pressure electrocardiograph instrument for recording unusual electrical fluctuations of the heart electrodynamometer instrument for measuring electrical current electroencephalograph instrument for measuring the brain's electrical impulses electrograph instrument for recording electrical potential electrometer instrument for measuring electrical potential electromyograph instrument for diagnosing neuromuscular disorders electroretinograph instrument for measuring electrical activity in the retina electroscope instrument for detecting electrical charges in the body ellipsograph instrument for describing ellipses encephalograph instrument for recording brain images endoscope instrument for visualizing interior of a hollow organ endosmometer instrument for measuring osmosis into a solution epidiascope instrument for projecting images of objects episcope instrument for projecting images of opaque objects ergograph instrument for measuring and recording muscular work ergometer instrument for measuring work performed eriometer instrument for measuring very small diameters

eudiometer instrument for measuring air purity evaporimeter instrument for measuring rate of evaporation extensometer instrument for measuring deformation in object due to forces applied fathometer instrument for measuring underwater depth using sound fiberscope instrument using fiberoptics to examine inaccessible areas floriscope instrument for inspecting flowers flowmeter instrument for measuring properties of flowing liquids fluorimeter instrument for measuring fluorescence fluoroscope instrument using x-rays to examine internal structure of opaque object focimeter instrument for measuring focal length of a lens galactometer instrument for measuring specific gravity of milk galvanometer instrument for measuring electrical current galvanoscope instrument for detecting presence and direction of electric current gasometer instrument for holding and measuring gases gastroscope instrument for examining interior of the stomach geothermometer instrument for measuring subterranean temperatures goniometer instrument for measuring angles between faces gradiometer instrument for measuring gradient of a physical quantity gravimeter instrument for measuring variations in gravitational fields gyrograph instrument for counting a wheel's revolutions haptometer instrument measuring sensitivity to touch harmonograph instrument drawing curves representing vibrations harmonometer instrument measuring harmonic relations of sounds helicograph instrument for drawing spirals on a plane heliograph instrument for measuring intensity of sunlight heliometer instrument for measuring apparent diameter of the sun helioscope instrument for observing sun without injury to the eyes hemacytometer instrument for counting blood cells hippometer instrument to measure height of horses hodoscope instrument for tracing paths of ionizing particles hydrometer instrument for measuring specific gravity of liquids hydroscope instrument for viewing under water hydrotimeter instrument for measuring water hardness hyetograph instrument for recording rainfall hyetometer instrument for measuring rainfall hyetometrograph instrument for recording rainfall hygrograph instrument for recording variations in atmospheric humidity hygrometer instrument for measuring air moisture hygroscope instrument for displaying changes in air humidity hypsometer instrument for measuring height of trees through triangulation iconometer instrument for finding size of object by measuring its image idiometer instrument for measuring motion of observer in relation to transit of the heavens inclinometer instrument for measuring inclination to the horizontal of an axis interferometer instrument for analysing spectra of light iriscope instrument for exhibiting the prismatic colours katathermometer instrument for measuring the cooling power of air katharometer instrument measuring changes in composition of gases keratometer instrument for measuring curvature of the cornea keraunograph instrument for recording distant thunderstorms kinetoscope instrument for producing curves by combination of circular movements konimeter instrument measuring amount of dust in air koniscope instrument for measuring dust in air kymograph instrument for recording fluid pressure labidometer instrument for measuring size of the head of a fetus lactometer instrument for testing relative density of milk lactoscope instrument for measuring purity or richness of milk

lanameter instrument for measuring quality of wool laparoscope instrument for viewing interior of peritoneal cavity laryngoscope instrument for examining interior of the larynx leptometer instrument for measuring oil viscosity loxodograph device used to record ship's travels lucimeter instrument for measuring light intensity luxmeter instrument for measuring illumination lysimeter instrument for measuring percolation of water through soil magnetograph instrument for recording measurements of magnetic fields magnetometer instrument for measuring intensity of magnetic fields manometer instrument for measuring pressure of a liquid or gas marigraph instrument for recording tide levels mecometer instrument for measuring length megameter instrument for determining longitude by observing stars megascope instrument for projecting an enlarged image mekometer range-finder meldometer instrument for measuring melting points of substances meteorograph instrument recording a variety of meteorological observations methanometer instrument for detecting presence of methane microbarograph instrument for recording minute changes in atmospheric pressure microcalorimeter instrument for measuring tiny quantities of heat micrograph instrument used to write on a very small scale micrometer instrument for measuring very small distances micronometer instrument for measuring short periods of time microscope instrument for magnifying small objects microseismograph instrument for recording small or distant earthquakes microseismometer instrument for measuring small or distant earthquakes mileometer instrument for recording distance travelled in miles milliammeter instrument for recording very small electrical currents myograph instrument for recording muscular contractions myringoscope instrument for viewing the eardrum nephelometer instrument for measuring cloudiness nephograph instrument for photographing clouds nephoscope instrument for observing direction and velocity of clouds nitrometer instrument for measuring nitrogen and its compounds odograph odometer; instrument for measuring distance travelled odometer instrument for measuring distance travelled odontograph instrument for obtaining curves for gear-teeth oenometer instrument for measuring alcoholic strength of wine ohmmeter instrument for measuring electrical resistance oleometer instrument for measuring amount of oil in a substance olfactometer instrument measuring intensity of odour of a substance ombrometer rain-gauge oncometer instrument measuring change in size of internal organs oncosimeter instrument measuring variations in density of molten metal ondograph instrument measuring change in wave formations of electricity oometer instrument for measuring eggs opacimeter instrument for measuring opacity opeidoscope instrument for illustrating sound by means of light ophthalmometer instrument for measuring the eye ophthalmoscope instrument for viewing the interior of the eye opisometer instrument for measuring curved lines opsiometer instrument for testing vision optometer instrument for testing vision orchidometer instrument for measuring the size of the testicles oscillograph instrument for recording alternating current wave forms

oscillometer instrument for measuring ship's rollings oscilloscope instrument for detecting electrical fluctuations osmometer instrument for measuring osmotic pressure otoscope instrument for examining the ear pachymeter instrument for measuring small thicknesses pallograph instrument measuring ship's vibration pantochronometer combined sundial and compass pantograph instrument for copying drawing to a different scale passimeter instrument for issuing automatic tickets pedometer instrument for measuring distance travelled on foot peirameter instrument measuring resistance of road surfaces to wheel movement pelvimeter instrument for measuring the pelvis penetrometer instrument for measuring firmness or consistency of substances permeameter instrument for measuring permeability phacometer instrument for measuring lenses phaometer old instrument for measuring light intensity pharmacometer instrument for measuring drugs pharyngoscope instrument for inspecting the pharynx phonautograph instrument for recording sound vibrations phonendoscope device which amplifies small sounds phonometer instrument for measuring sound levels phorometer instrument used to correct abnormalities in eye muscles photometer instrument for measuring light intensity photopolarimeter instrument for measuring intensity and polarization of reflected light phototachometer instrument for measuring the speed of light phototelegraph instrument for transmitting drawings telegraphically phthongometer instrument measuring intensity of vowel sounds piezometer instrument for measuring pressure or compressibility pitchometer instrument for measuring angles of ship's propeller blades planigraph instrument for copying drawings at a different scale planimeter instrument for measuring area of plane figures platometer instrument for measuring area; planimeter plegometer instrument for measuring the strength of a blow plemyrameter instrument for measuring variations in water level plethysmograph instrument for measuring change in body part size due to blood flow pluviograph self-registering rain gauge pluviometer rain-meter pneometer instrument that measures respiration pneumatometer instrument for measuring quantity of air breathed pneumograph instrument for measuring and recording respiration polarimeter instrument for measuring polarised light polariscope instrument for detecting polarized light polygraph instrument for measuring small changes in pulse and respiration porometer instrument for measuring degree of porosity poroscope instrument for investigating porosity potentiometer instrument for measuring electromotive forces potometer instrument measuring rate at which plants absorb water prisoptometer instrument for measuring degree of astigmatism proctoscope instrument for examining the rectum psophometer instrument measuring audible interference of electrical current psychograph instrument that supposedly records spirit messages psychrometer instrument for measuring air moisture or temperature psychrometer instrument for measuring dryness of the atmosphere pulsimeter instrument for measuring the pulse pycnometer instrument for measuring specific gravity or density pyknometer instrument for measuring specific gravities

pyranometer instrument measuring solar radiation from the sky's whole hemisphere pyrgeometer instrument for measuring radiation from earth pyrheliometer instrument for measuring heating effect of sun pyrometer instrument for measuring very high temperatures pyroscope instrument for measuring intensity of radiant heat qualimeter apparatus for measuring penetrating power of x-ray beams quantimeter apparatus for measuring quantity of x-rays quantometer instrument for measuring proportions of elements in metallic samples rachiometer instrument for measuring the spine radarscope instrument for detecting radar signals radiogoniometer instrument for finding direction through radio signals radiometeorograph instrument for measuring atmospheric conditions at high altitude radiometer instrument measuring radiation energy radioscope instrument for viewing objects using x-rays ratemeter instrument for measuring counting rate of electronic counters recipiangle old instrument with two arms used for measuring angles reflectometer instrument for measuring reflectance of radiant energy refractometer instrument measuring refraction of light respirometer instrument for measuring and studying respiration retinoscope instrument for measuring and viewing the retina rheometer instrument that measures current rhinoscope instrument for examining the nose rhythmometer instrument for measuring speed of rhythms riometer instrument for measuring absorbed cosmic radio waves rotameter old instrument for measuring length of curved lines rotameter instrument consisting of glass tube with free float for measuring liquid flow saccharimeter instrument for measuring amount of sugar in a solution salinometer instrument for measuring amount of salt in a solution scintillometer instrument measuring scintillation of star scintilloscope instrument for measuring gamma rays emitted by a radioactive body sclerometer instrument measuring hardness scoliometer instrument measuring curvature scotograph instrument for writing without seeing scotoscope instrument for detecting objects in darkness seismograph instrument for recording earthquakes seismometer instrument for measuring earthquake intensity seismoscope instrument for detecting earthquakes selenoscope instrument for viewing the moon sensitometer instrument for measuring sensitivity of photographic material sepometer instrument for measuring septic matter in the air serimeter instrument for testing quality of silk shuftiscope instrument used to explore interior of dysentery case siccimeter instrument for measuring liquid evaporation sideroscope instrument using magnets to detect presence of iron sigmoidoscope instrument for examining the interior of the rectum and sigmoid colon sillometer instrument measuring speed of ship skiascope instrument for measuring eye's refraction from movement of shadows snooperscope instrument for viewing infrared radiation solarimeter instrument for measuring solar radiation sonograph instrument for recording and analysing sound spectrofluorimeter instrument for measuring and recording fluorescence spectra spectrograph instrument for viewing a spectrum spectroheliograph instrument for taking pictures of the sun spectroheliokinematograph camera for taking pictures of the sun spectrohelioscope instrument for viewing solar disc in light of a single wavelength spectrometer instrument measuring wavelengths of light of a spectrum

spectrophotometer instrument for measuring speed of different parts of light spectrum spectroscope instrument for forming spectra by dispersing rays of light speedometer instrument for measuring velocity spherometer instrument measuring curvature sphygmograph instrument for recording pulse sphygmomanometer instrument for measuring arterial blood pressure sphygmometer instrument for measuring arterial blood pressure sphygmoscope instrument for making arterial pulsations visible spinthariscope instrument for visually detecting alpha particles spirograph instrument recording movements of breathing spirometer instrument measuring lung capacity stactometer pipette with hollow bulb for counting drops stadiometer instrument for measuring the length of a curved line stagmometer instrument for measuring number of drops in volume of liquid stalagmometer instrument for measuring surface tension by drops statoscope instrument for measuring small changes in atmospheric pressure stauroscope instrument for studying structure of crystals with polarised light stenometer instrument for measuring distances stereometer instrument for measuring specific gravity stereoscope instrument for viewing special three-dimensional photographs stethometer instrument measuring chest expansion during breathing stethoscope instrument for detecting sounds produced by the body strabismometer instrument measuring degree of squinting strabometer instrument for measuring strabismus in the eyes stroboscope instrument for studying motion using flashes of light stylometer instrument for measuring columns swingometer instrument for measuring swing in votes during an election sympiesometer instrument for measuring pressure of a current synchroscope instrument for detecting whether two moving parts are synchronized tacheometer instrument for rapidly measuring survey points on a map tachistoscope instrument for rapidly showing images on a screen to test perception tachograph instrument for recording speed of rotation tachometer instrument for measuring speed of rotation taseometer instrument for measuring stress in a structure tasimeter instrument for measuring changes in pressure taximeter instrument for measuring fee for hired vehicle telemeter instrument for measuring strain or distance from observer telescope instrument for viewing objects at great distances telespectroscope instrument for analysing radiation omitted by distant bodies telestereoscope instrument for viewing distant objects stereoscopically tellurometer instrument using microwaves to measure distance tenderometer instrument for measuring tenderness of fruits and vegetables tensimeter instrument for measuring vapour pressure tensiometer instrument for measuring tension thalassometer instrument for measuring tides thermograph instrument for recording changes in temperature thermometer instrument for measuring temperature thermometrograph instrument for recording changes in temperature thermoscope instrument indicating change in temperature thoracoscope instrument for viewing the thorax and chest wall tiltmeter instrument for measuring tilting of earth's surface tocodynamometer instrument for measuring uterine contractions during childbirth tomograph instrument for viewing section of an object using x-rays tonometer instrument measuring pitch of musical tones topophone instrument to determine direction and distance of a fog-horn torsiograph instrument for recording torsional vibrations on an object

transmissometer instrument for measuring transmission of light through a fluid trechometer instrument for determining distance travelled; odometer tremograph instrument for recording involuntary muscular motion tribometer instrument measuring friction trigonometer instrument for solving triangles trocheameter instrument counting wheel's revolutions tromometer instrument for measuring slight earthquake shocks tropometer instrument measuring rotation turbidimeter instrument for measuring turbidity of liquids turgometer instrument for measuring turgidity typhlograph instrument to help the blind write clearly udometer instrument for measuring rainfall ultramicroscope instrument for viewing extremely small objects urethroscope instrument for viewing the interior of the urethra urinometer instrument for measuring specific gravity of urine vaporimeter instrument for measuring vapour pressure variometer instrument for measuring magnetic declination velocimeter instrument for measuring velocity velometer instrument for measuring speed of air viameter instrument for measuring revolutions of a wheel vibrograph instrument for recording vibrations vibrometer instrument for measuring vibrations viscometer instrument for measuring viscos