English Explanatory Dictionary

contrafibularities

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. False congratulations, sounding congratulatory while actually pulling someone's leg.

Pronunciation

/ˌkɒntɹəˌfɪbjʊˈlæɹɪtiz/ En-us-contrafibularities.oga LL-Q1860 (eng)-Naomi Persephone Amethyst (NaomiAmethyst)-contrafibularities.wav

Word forms

contrafibularities

Etymology

From contra- + fibular + -ity + -s. From a 1987 episode of the British television comedy Blackadder, after Dr. Samuel Johnson boasts about his newly completed dictionary containing every word in the English language. Blackadder wishes Dr. Johnson his "most enthusiastic contrafibularities", upsetting Johnson, who quickly adds the alleged word to his manuscript.

Related words

anaspeptic frasmotic compunctuous pericombobulation
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