Friday, June 04, 2004

Lu-DRISH-uss

...is how I used to think "ludicrous" was pronounced. (I guess I encountered the word in the "Anne of Green Gables" books, and never heard it said.)

I discovered that a friend had the same misconception. From then on, we used the word to each other nonstop in the lab: "They won't schedule you for scanner time until next month? That's ludricious!"

We felt that our work as minions of Satan was done, the day we heard someone who wasn't in the know saying "ludricious".

Since many people seem to be finding this blog by searching for the definition of "ludricious", here's the OED definition of ludicrous, for which "ludricious" is a mis-spelling:
ludicrous, a.[f. L. ludicr-us (app. evolved from the neut. n. ludicrum: sportive performance, stage-play, f. ludere: to play) + -OUS.]
1. Pertaining to play or sport; sportive; intended in jest, jocular, derisive. Obs.
2. Given to jesting; trifling, frivolous; also, in favourable sense, witty, humorous. Obs.
3. Suited to occasion derisive laughter; ridiculous, laughably absurd. (The only current sense.)
4. absol. (in senses 2 and 3).

Glad I could clear that up for you.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

A not-too-bright friend of mine bought one of those "improve your vocabulary" calendars wherin you tore off each day as it passed.

I tried SO hard not to laugh out loud when he over-casually,very proudly, and gratuitously used the word façade in a sentence... but pronounced it "fa-KADE."

- Don

P.S. I didn't know until I was in my 20s that people in Brazil speak Portuguese, not Spanish.

leetdood said...

Thanks! I was googling for the correct spelling, and now i have it.

IN85 said...

Ditto :D