Glossary

20 terms

• ABBA fan (n.) /ˈæb.ə fæn/

  A gentleman with a preference for the society of other gentlemen. Abba fans congregate for this purpose in gites.

• Ablative Gentrification (noun) /ˈæblətɪv ˌdʒɛntrɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/

  The replacement of culture with property value, accompanied by the erasure of memory.

• Aeromonads /ˌeə.rəˈməʊ.næds/

  Aquatic bacteria of variable disposition. Harmless enough until the health club gives them a management structure.

• Aeromonad scourge of the flesh /ˌeə.rəˈməʊ.næd ˈskɜːdʒ əv ðə ˈfleʃ/

  Aeromonas infection in its grand-guignol phase. Flesh departs, management continues.

• Aeromonas hydrophila /ˌeə.rəˈməʊ.nəs haɪˈdrɒf.ɪ.lə/

  The worm in the pipes. Water-borne bacillus, destroyer of Herod's privy parts and eventual victor over Pex 'n' Quads.

• A fortiori (n.) /ɑː fɔː.tiˈɔːr.i/

  Literally “from the stronger” [Latin]. The relation of inference obtaining between two sets of propositions A and B where A deductively implies B.

  • Latin

• Agnibite of inwit /ˈæɡ.nɪ.baɪt əv ˈɪn.wɪt/

  Remorse; the inward bite of conscience. Ian Corby suffers a late and unfashionable attack.

• aleiptae /əˈlaɪp.tiː/

  Anointers or trainers [Greek]. People attempting to improve St Just by rubbing, discipline or other civilising procedures.

• Aliter assecurationem subnervat (n. phrase) /əˈlaɪ.tər əˈsɛk.jʊ.rəˌtɪˈoʊ.nɛm ˌsʌbˈnɜr.væt/

  Herod's opaque Latinism for a rule or manoeuvre that somehow undermines assurance. The uncertainty is part of the joke; the establishment proceeds regardless.

  • Latin

• Allgemeineszeitungstahlergänzung (n.) /ˌalɡəˈmaɪnəsˈtsaɪtʊŋstɑːlərˈɛɡzʊŋ/

  German language steel trade bulletin.

• Ambrosia /æmˈbɹoʊʒə/

  The recreational sacrament consumed aboard Phaeacia. Bestows cosiness, warmth and that soothing moral insouciance by which a hobby distinguishes itself from a habit.

• Anarchist Bible /ˈæn.ə.kɪst ˈbaɪ.bəl/

  Scripture sought by Hawksmoor among the radical stalls. Canonical authority for people professionally opposed to canonical authority.

• Anarchists /ˈæn.ə.kɪsts/

  Persons committed to the abolition of hierarchy, except where book-fair tables, clubs and committees make it temporarily useful.

• Aporia (n.) /əˈpɔː.ri.ə/

  Intellectual befuddlement generated by paradox. [Greek]

  • Greek

• Argive (n.) /ˈɑː.dʒaɪv/

  Greek, via metonymous etymological derivation from the Achaean city of Argos.

• Armaround (n.) /ˈɑːrməˌraʊnd/

  Manual relief performed by a top on a bottom during congress.

• Ars sapientiaque viarum (n. phrase) /ɑrs sapˈiːɛn.tiˌækwe viˈaːrum/

  The art and wisdom of the streets [Latin].

  • Latin

• Ars scatologica (n. phrase) /ɑrs ˌskætəˈlɒdʒɪkə/

  The scatological art, i.e. graffiti or tagging [Latin].

  • Latin

• Aryan Maoist /ˈeə.ri.ən ˈmaʊ.ɪst/

  Sir Gerald Inhali’s discarded ideological compound: racial romanticism with a Cultural Revolution attached. A youthful enthusiasm subsequently filed under embarrassment.

• ASBO /ˈæzbəʊ/

  Anti-Social Behaviour Order. In Withywood, imagined as the puissant administrative charm by which ratboys may be made to vanish.