Words I have had to look up while reading "The Complete Fiction Of W.M. Spackman"

"pibroch"

"oestrus"

"manumission"

"meiosis"

"gerent"

"ullaged"

Comments

[Petey]

I can understand "oestrus", cuz of the funky spelling. But "manumission" surprises me.

[preston (cap in hand)]

And I thought they were all Songs From the Wood, but alas only the first one was.

[Not David Bordwell]

Meiosis as in the production of gametes, or as in another word for "litotes"?

[Not David Bordwell]

Hear all ye Angels, Progeny of Light,
Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Vertues, Powers,
Hear my Decree, which unrevok't shall stand.
This day I have begot whom I declare
My only Son, and on this holy Hill
Him have anointed, whom ye now behold
At my right hand; your Head I him appoint;
And by my Self have sworn to him shall bow
All knees in Heav'n, and shall confess him Lord:
Under his great Vice-gerent Reign abide
United as one individual Soule
For ever happy: him who disobeys
Mee disobeyes, breaks union, and that day
Cast out from God and blessed vision, falls
Into utter darkness.

John Milton, Paradise Lost Book V, ll. 600ff.

That's actually Vice-gerent, NOT Vice-regent. Obscure!