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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 21, 2008 is:

non sequitur • \NAHN-SEK-wuh-ter\  • noun
1 : an inference that does not follow from the premises *2 : a statement (as a response) that does not follow logically from or is not clearly related to anything previously said

Example sentence:
The professor's lecture was a jumble of non sequiturs and irrelevant observations.

Did you know?
In Latin, "non sequitur" means "it does not follow." The phrase was borrowed into English in the 1500s by people who made a formal study of logic. For them it meant a conclusion that does not follow from the statements that lead to it. But we now use "non sequitur" for any kind of statement that seems to come out of the blue. The Latin verb "sequi" ("to follow") has actually led the way for a number of English words. A "sequel" follows the original novel, film, or television show. Someone "obsequious" follows another about, flattering and fawning. And an action is often followed by its "consequence."

*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.

Word of the Day

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KTL Collection PDF Print
Kitchen Table LingoWelcome to the KTL Collection

In this collection we will regularly publish a select group of words from the many contributed to the Kitchen Table Lingo (KTL) page at www.englishproject.org. We thank the contributors mentioned below.

A compendium of all KTL words i.e those which have passed the KTL Test of
  1. not appearing in that form or with that meaning in the leading English dictionary
  2. which have been submitted in good faith as having been in use amongst a minimum of three people for at least one month
  3. not being invented for this purpose
will be published periodically.

LIST 1: July 2008

The KTLword DISREVELLED describes one’s APPEARANCE ON THE MORNING AFTER A HEAVY NIGHT OUT.
Source: The Brodie family

The KTLword DORLEYBOWL describes a BAD HAIRCUT.
Source: The Poxon family

The KTLword FLOORDROBE describes the place that most teenagers use to ‘store their clothes’ i.e the floor of their bedroom.
Source: The Hodges family

The KTLword GRIFFLEY describes being a mix of MISCHIEVOUS and GRUMPY in temperament and/or appearance.
Source: The Cardell-Williams family

The KTLword JOLLOP (OUT) means to GO OUT somewhere to enjoy oneself.
Source: The Alexander family

The KTLword to MANAGERIZE means to REDUCE THE QUALITY OF A SERVICE OR PRODUCT through a MANAGEMENT DECISION which pretends to do the opposite.
Source: The Mackay office

The KTLword to MOLLIGISE means to tickle a child’s tummy to produce uncontrollable giggling or laughter.
Source  The Brennen family (Joanna, Douglas, Timothy, Sally)

The KTLword VIBBLE describes a SMALL RODENT – or, maybe, the NOSE OF A SMALL RODENT. Source:
The Taylor family (Richard, Helen and Lucie)

The KTLword SNOOZY-WATCH means to HAVE A NAP in front of the television.
Source: The Hopkinson family

The KTLword SNART describes that tough piece of meat or gristle that you cannot chew or swallow and has to be left at the edge of the plate.
Source: The Harris family

The KTLWord SQUIPPY means being HYPERACTIVE
Source:  The Weaver family