Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Simpsons references for Moms#7: made up words edition

Embiggen: (verb.) 1. To make physically bigger, larger or increase in size.
2. specifically, with regards to computers, to maximize a window or image (e.g. click to embiggen)
3. metaphorically, to enrich, empower or to make more admirable or great.

Cromulant (also, cromulent):
(adj.) 1. specifically, as a direct reference, to assign validity to or question the validity of any word (e.g. is that word cromulant?)
2. generally, and assuming knowledge of the inherent reference for the purpose of amusement, to refer to anything that is legitimate, helpful, useful, or applicable to a situation. (e.g. Thank you for your cromulant assistance).
3. ironically or sarcastically (depending on intent), used to mean legitimate, but is in reality, spurious and not at all legitimate.
4. used to describe a dubious or made up word, term, or phrase that sounds plausible because it makes logical sense within existing language conventions (e.g. meese as the plural of moose). Usage of the word cromulant in this sense is ironic as the word itself is incromulant (and arguing the cromulance of the word incromulant is doubly ironic).

(Ant.) Incromulant: (adj.) used to describe a dubious or made up word, term, or phrase that does not makes logical sense within existing language conventions, but may make sense in a cultural context (e.g. "Meh" - 1. an interjection meaning mediocre, lackluster, unexceptional, or uninspiring or 2. used to express feelings of general malaise, indifference, or blandness).
Note: The word "incromulent", while it modifies the word cromulant in a cromulant way, it is not a cromulant word as the word base itself is not cromulant. Although, arguably, making a cromulant word out of an incromulant one may encromulate the new word to some extent.

Reference to: Season 7 Episode 16 ("Lisa the Iconoclast")

Jebidiah Springfield [on film]: "A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man."
Ms.Krabapple: Embiggens? I never heard that word before I moved to Springfield.
Ms.Hoover: I don't know why. It's a perfectly cromulent word.

p.s. Note that there was in fact a memorial service for Adlai Stevenson in Springfield, Ill. right after he died, but he is not actually buried there. Although it is a temporally appropriate homage considering all of the JFK references in the episode (including the parody of the infamous JFK "wanted for treason" poster).

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Worth the wait. Great posts!!

-LP

Anonymous said...

A very cromulent post. My vocabulary has been embiggened...

Mom

 
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