Word Ultra — Set 34

Set 34 of Word Ultra covers 5 words: demimonde, absquatulation, deipnosophist, trichotillomania, catholicon. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.

1. demimonde · noun/ˈdɛmɪˌmoʊnd/

   a group of people considered to be on the fringes of respectable society or engaged in immoral or disreputable activities

   The novel beautifully captures the lives of women in the demimonde of Paris, showcasing their struggles and aspirations outside conventional society.

   Synonyms: underworld, bohemia, fringe

   Origin: French word 'demimonde', meaning 'half world', which originally referred to a class of society that lives on the fringes of respectability.

2. absquatulation · noun/æbˌskwɑːtʃʊˈleɪʃən/

   the act of leaving quickly or suddenly

   His absquatulation from the party was so sudden that no one even noticed he was gone.

   Synonyms: departure, escape, flight

   Origin: The word absquatulation is a blend of 'abscond' and 'squat' with the Latin suffix '-ation', originating in the early 19th century.

3. deipnosophist · noun/deɪpˈnɑːsəfɪst/

   a person skilled in the art of dining and entertaining at meals

   At the lavish dinner party, the deipnosophist effortlessly guided the conversation, making everyone feel comfortable and entertained.

   Synonyms: gastronomer, bon vivant, epicure

   Origin: The word 'deipnosophist' comes from the Ancient Greek 'deipnosophistēs', meaning 'dinner philosopher', composed of 'deipnon' (dinner) and 'sophistēs' (wise or skilled).

4. trichotillomania · noun/ˌtrɪk.əˌtɪl.əˈmeɪ.ni.ə/

   a psychological disorder characterized by the compulsive urge to pull out one's hair

   Many individuals suffering from trichotillomania experience significant emotional distress due to their condition.

   Synonyms: hair-pulling disorder, compulsive hair-pulling, trichotillosis

   Origin: from the Greek words 'trichos' meaning 'hair' and 'tillein' meaning 'to pull' combined with the Latin suffix '-mania' indicating obsession or madness

5. catholicon · noun/ˌkæθəˈlɪkən/

   a universal remedy or cure

   Many believe that education is a catholicon for societal problems, offering solutions to poverty and ignorance.

   Synonyms: panacea, cure-all, remedy

   Origin: from Medieval Latin 'catholicon', meaning 'universal remedy', from Greek 'katholikos' meaning 'general' or 'universal'