Weird Words Trivia Quiz

Answer: chyron

A chyron is the electronic message superimposed on the bottom of a television or movie screen, also called "the crawl". It is a noun, derived from the manufacturer, i.e., the Chyron Corporation, in the 1970s.

Answer: hyperthymesia

Hyperthymesia, also known as piking or hyperthymestic syndrome, is a condition where a person can recall most of his/her life experiences in vivid detail. Their autobiographical or eidetic memory actually prevents them from forgetting personal experiences. It is a rare condition that is a blessing and a curse.

Answer: blepharism

The medical condition known as blepharism is a spasm of the eyelids resulting in excessive blinking. It can be caused by a nervous condition. Like blepharitis, an inflammation of the eyelid, it is derived from the Greek word "blepharon", meaning eyelid.

Answer: xylology

Xylology is a branch (pun intended) of dendrology or the scientific study of trees. More specifically, it deals with the structure and composition of wood and the botanical classifications. Like the word xylem in the vascular system of plants, "xylon" is from the Greek word for wood.

Answer: edacity

Edacity is a fancy word for one of the seven deadly sins, i.e., gluttony in its extreme. It is synonymous with voraciousness, ravenousness and the excessive desire to eat. Edacity is a noun from the Latin "edere", to eat. We might expect to find this condition in a participant of Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest.

Answer: columbary

A structure for keeping doves or pigeons is called a columbary, and is synonymous with a pigeon loft or dovecote. It is derived from the Latin "columba" (dove or pigeon) and "arium" (place for), but not to be confused with a columbarium, which is a place for storing urns containing cremated remains.

Answer: acersecomic

Used in antiquity, acersecomic is a rare word which has nothing to do with comedy. It is a noun used to describe a person who never had his/her hair cut during their lifetime. The word is derived from the Latin "acersecomes", meaning a long-haired youth, and appeared in dictionaries in 1623 and 1626.

Answer: pavane

The pavane, alternately spelled pavan, paven, pavin, pavian, pavine or pavyn, is a slow, stately processional court dance, originating in Europe during the 16th century. It can also represent the music for the dance. The word seems to have evolved from the Italian "padua" to the French "pavane".

Answer: thane

Historically, a thane was an Anglo-Saxon title between a freeman and a nobleman, who held land granted by the king or military noble. He was considered a feudal lord or baron. According to the Scottish definition, a thane was not only a landholder, but often the chief of a clan, e.g., Macbeth was the Thane of Glamis.

Answer: rhodomontade

While the word 'rhodomontade' sounds to me like a fern in a forest, it is actually a noun meaning vain or empty boasting, i.e., boastful talk or behavior. It comes from the name Rodomonte who is a character in the Italian epic poem "Orlando Innamorato" about a heroic knight, published in 1495.