Sunday 22 February 2009
Discombobulation...
One of my favourite words is discombobulated! It sums up how I've been feeling a bit lately, a little like the proverbial Puppet On A String!
No sympathy now, no strings necessary!
dis·com·bob·u·late (dĭs'kəm-bŏb'yə-lāt') Pronunciation Key
tr.v. dis·com·bob·u·lat·ed, dis·com·bob·u·lat·ing, dis·com·bob·u·lates
To throw into a state of confusion.
[Perhaps alteration of discompose.]
dis'com·bob'u·la'tion noun.
(The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved).
"Discombobulate" is an American invention, first appearing around 1834, but its origins are a bit cloudy. It may be, as the Oxford English Dictionary suggests, simply a humorous alteration of "discompose" or "discomfit." The Dictionary of American Regional English, however, suggests that the "bob" in "discombobulate" may have come from "bobbery," a somewhat antiquated word meaning "uproar" or "confusion."
"Bobbery" is an interesting word in its own right. It is thought to be a relic of the British colonial regime in India, where the Hindi phrase "Bap re!" ("Oh Father!") is a common exclamation of surprise, dismay or grief.
adjective: having self-possession upset; thrown into confusion; "the hecklers pelted the discombobulated speaker with anything that came to hand"; "looked at each other dumbly, quite disconcerted" - G. B. Shaw
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23 comments:
Ah Fhi, l wish l could be some comfort...if you lived next door l'd be right round, with dvd's , chat, choc, cake, treats and a hug!! but l'm not so this'll have to do babe!
((HUG))
I do hope you feel better soon!
Saz, I'm feeling better already - Your hugs are obviously very powerful! I feel pretty good, you know, considering - Just I like the word, 'discombobulated', and I think it's the painkillers making me drift in and out a bit de temps en temps - But I have been for a lovely walk today and had a good airing in the outdoors! xox and thank you for everything!
Sounds made up and much more modern - a bit like 'pericombobulations' from Blackadder!
Hope you are feeling more 'tickety boo' soon instead!
Lovely - as always an interesting posting. This is one word that will have to go on my word blog at some stage.
that word describes me too! Any tips on how I could possibly be recombobulated? ;)
P.S. You looooook faaaaabulous! smooch smooch
For fine tuning, perhaps a little twiddle of your horizontal or vertical hold knobs will get you back to the optimum picture that is you! ( Just loved the old interlude/tuning thingy at the end of your post, thanks)xxx
You poor woman. I have always loved the word, but never cared to feel as it describes.
As always, an interesting post my discombobulated blogging friend. Glad you got out today. Hey, if you have any of those painkillers left over... yeah, nevermind.
I CAN'T believe you used that word!! I totally LOVe that word- and when I use it my kids always roll their eyes at me!!!!!
I can even use it in a sentence. "When I've had too many martinis I feel discombobulated." there.
You just reminded me that I once wrote a Verse And Worse with the word ``discombobulator''!
That is a strange word! Thanks for the explanation.
The cat on the turntable clip is absolutely hilarious.;)
Working mum: Pericombobulations from Blackadder is such a good word - I agree, it does have a modern feel to it, it needs to be re-instated methinks! I love 'tickety boo' and 'toodle-oo', too!
Scriptor Senex: I would love you to ramble from your chair about discombobulation, Sir!
adlibby: You have made me feel fabulous with your generosity to all your dear followers, Adlibby - Bless you! As for 'bobulation', I always recommend good chocolate and lots of sleep! Mwah, dahling! x
jinksy: I knew you would get the test card, la jinksy - Probably very few will, but it was worth finding it - And I think I need my horizontal hold looking at!!! x
Meredith Teagarden (The Things We Carried): I use it to mean when I am just feeling a little out of sorts, if you know what I mean... Just not quite oneself! Hope you always feel bobulated, M!
blognut: I have oodles of painkillers - How many do you want posted?!
Vodka Mom: I can't believe you have the time to be over here, VKMom! I was amazed that it's an American word, and here I am bamboozling folk with it over here! It is such a lovely descriptive word, and so suitable for a few too many martini-winis!
david mcmahon: I have never used the word discombobulator - I need to work out how I can get it into a sentence, perhaps tomorrow!
Protege - you can just see Batcat doing that, can't you - They get into everything, lovely, curious cats, don't they?! x
Just popped over from Tom Foolery's. I have enjoyed your blog and its fantastic photos.
Discombobulated... my perpetual state :) xo
How interesting! Thanks for the word history. Well surgery will do that to a person, I think, though the docs never talk about that. I feel for you...and glad you got out on a walk. That must have felt good.
I love six syllable words - plenipotentiary is a favourite of mine, well actually most long words just give me a little, um, what's the word?
You have been through a time of it, AWONI and you must go back into your normal routine very slowly and carefully. How long before the staples come out?
Well now at least I know the word that describes exactly how I feel too! Thank you for reminding me of it - a fab word, and a fab blog. Thanks for the lovely message you left me. xx
Cait O'Connor: TF's friends are welcome here any time! Glad you enjoyed the visit - I love your pretty name!
Diane: Thee and me both, Diane! Ever discombobulated! xx
sallymandy: Glad you enjoyed it - See how many conversations you can slip 'discombobulated' into this week, and watch the faces of those around you! I am going off on a walk this afternoon again, weather permitting - You are so right about the post-surgery feeling of discombobulation!
French Fancy: We need to share more long words - Plenipotentiary is amazing - I need to go and look it up! Staples are out on Friday - Yay! I know exactly what you mean about not overdoing things, FF - I promise you that I won't! x
Reasons to be Cheerful 1,2,3: You are most welcome - Glad you enjoyed discombobulation, and your blog is terrific! x
I use those words ALL THE TIME dahling! Especially discombobulation.....
Hello Fhina,
This is a Ken Dodd type of word, isn't it? But for the life of me I can't recall any of his at the moment!
I see you did take a walk yesterday and are planning the same for today. That's OK, so long as you remember not to climb any stiles!
Oh! and I nearly forgot! I should own up to being one of those who didn't "see" why you had put the test card pic in!! AND, I've finally managed to start getting everyones comments relayed along with your replies, which I've being catching up on. Hope you didn't think I was ignoring anything you said!
I love that word. I may use it for my Sunday word of the day OK???
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