Saturday, October 2, 2010

Mussitate

Mussitate \MUHS-i-teyt\ , verb;1. To silently move the lips in simulation of audible speech

This word brings immediately to mind Mufasa and moussaka, but of course it mussitate has nothing to do with either of those words, or Turkey or Africa either.

The Oxford English Dictionary defines this word 'to mutter' and lists it as obsolete and rare. The etymology is based on the Latin mussitare or 'to mutter', but it is also imitative of an ancient Greek word μ{guacu}ζειν, which also means 'to mutter'

So next time someone stands behind you and rudely mimics you while you talk, don't get mad, tell them that their mussitating makes them look juvenile...yeah, that'll show 'em...

*Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Saturday, October 2

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