[Opinion] Words Worthy of Lovecraft

[Xenophon]

I was writing something today and needed an adjective meaning "bat-like," but less lame. I googled around in Latin and found "vespertilian." THAT is a word that demands an entire short-story by Lovecraft. "Over the whole eldritch ruin, hovered an agonized atmosphere of lurking vespertilitude..."

Any other deliciously awful words out there? Personal faves of yours? If we get enough of a list, someone could try stringing them together in a "Best of Bad Lovecraft" paragraph.

 

[HoldAll]

I was writing something today and needed an adjective meaning "bat-like," but less lame. I googled around in Latin and found "vespertilian." THAT is a word that demands an entire short-story by Lovecraft. "Over the whole eldritch ruin, hovered an agonized atmosphere of lurking vespertilitude..."

Any other deliciously awful words out there? Personal faves of yours? If we get enough of a list, someone could try stringing them together in a "Best of Bad Lovecraft" paragraph.

"Eldritch" you already mentioned, to this I would add "dread" used as an adjective; come to think of it, it's mostly adjectives that would fit your bill, I'd say, although there is also "to gnaw" used as an intransitive verb - I've been always puzzled as to what those demons and what not were gnawing at/on but it works wonderfully as a stylistic device, in my opinion.

 

[Xenophon]

"Eldritch" you already mentioned, to this I would add "dread" used as an adjective; come to think of it, it's mostly adjectives that would fit your bill, I'd say, although there is also "to gnaw" used as an intransitive verb - I've been always puzzled as to what those demons and what not were gnawing at/on but it works wonderfully as a stylistic device, in my opinion.

All worthy of note. Though I'm fishing specifically for words a Lovecraft should have used but overlooked. Like that "vespertilian."

 

[HoldAll]

All worthy of note. Though I'm fishing specifically for words a Lovecraft should have used but overlooked. Like that "vespertilian."

"Sesquipedalian"?

 

[Xingtian]

Batrachoidal (frog or toadlike)

One of my favorite Lovecraft phrases, from The Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath, is "Those faceless rubbery ticklers," by which he describes the night gaunts. I think it would be an excellent band name. Anyway if I were to render it as some tortured and mangled missapropriation of Latin and Greek words, I might say, "Those aprosoponic gumminous gargalonists!"

 

[Xenophon]

Batrachoidal (frog or toadlike)

One of my favorite Lovecraft phrases, from The Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath, is "Those faceless rubbery ticklers," by which he describes the night gaunts. I think it would be an excellent band name. Anyway if I were to render it as some tortured and mangled missapropriation of Latin and Greek words, I might say, "Those aprosoponic gumminous gargalonists!"

Batrachoidal! That effing NAILS it! It sounds like something lasses used to say to me in grad school: "Look, I know you're like interested in me. But frankly, I was looking for something just a teensy bit less batrachtoidal in a man." I'm going to inflict thatword on my class today! Though how it relates to "Networking in Business" I haven't worked out yet.

 

[stalkinghyena]

I like "illithid" - there was a bit of a mollusk worshipping club built around that word on another website I was on.

But there is also "xenochromatic", which I think would be nice for that story with the thing in the well causing the growth of giant pumpkins and squash and dissolving corpses.

 

[Xingtian]

I like "illithid" - there was a bit of a mollusk worshipping club built around that word on another website I was on.

Isn't that what the "Mind Flayers" of D&D call themselves?

But there is also "xenochromatic", which I think would be nice for that story with the thing in the well causing the growth of giant pumpkins and squash and dissolving corpses.

Oh, that's a good one.

How about "architeuthiphonic" for someone who talks like a giant squid? Okay there isn't anything actually like that in Lovecraft but it sounds fun.

 

[stalkinghyena]

Isn't that what the "Mind Flayers" of D&D call themselves?

You right. It's been so long. I think the word itself is larvalesque.

How about "architeuthiphonic" for someone who talks like a giant squid? Okay there isn't anything actually like that in Lovecraft but it sounds fun.

You reminded me of this bit - the first thirty seconds seems to line up, where the priest says "Tu eres mi ijo."
The rest is a pseudo-Freudian pyroaquatic soap opera.

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[Xenophon]

Isn't that what the "Mind Flayers" of D&D call themselves?



Oh, that's a good one.

How about "architeuthiphonic" for someone who talks like a giant squid? Okay there isn't anything actually like that in Lovecraft but it sounds fun.

Actually what we're after here are words Lovecraft should've used but didn't. So bring 'em on! Don't be "violaceuslucenesque." (From Latin for "shrinking violet." Even Pickman and his ghoul posse would'a gagged at THAT there word.