PANJANDRUM
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PANJANDRUM
• panjandrum •
Pronunciation: pæn-jæn-drêm • Hear it!
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: A mock title for a high-ranking, super supercilious, self-centered person: a Pooh-bah (a character in The Mikado), a High Muck-a-muck (Chinook jargon hayo makamak "plenty to eat"), a mugwump (Algonquian for "great chief").
Notes: This is a word bereft of kinswords other than a normal plural, panjandrums. Of course, since it ends on -um, like datum (data) and paramecium (paramecia), you could play with "all the panjandra" to get a wider smile.
In Play: This light-hearted word also has beauty that should not be ignored: "Today I am the Grand Panjandrum of my demesne, overseeing the fall colors of my garden, feasting on olives, cheese, grapes, and fresh-baked bread in my royally favorite nightgown." A large dahlia or chrysanthemum could be the grand panjandrum of that garden. This word is a fine blade to use against self-importance. "Why should I have to lay down a bunt? You're just the coach; you're not the Grand Panjandrum of Poohbahbia," would be a sparkling note on which to end your baseball career.
Word History: The Irish actor Charles Macklin (1697-1797) loved to boast that he could memorize any paragraph on one reading. To test that boast, Samuel Foote composed a test paragraph in 1754 that you may read here. We have no report on how well Macklin performed with the lines of Foote in his mouth, however, one phrase, 'the great Panjandrum', stuck in the language. The word is very remindful of the names of the lords of India and Pakistan, giving it the ring of authenticity and mystery.
Pronunciation: pæn-jæn-drêm • Hear it!
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: A mock title for a high-ranking, super supercilious, self-centered person: a Pooh-bah (a character in The Mikado), a High Muck-a-muck (Chinook jargon hayo makamak "plenty to eat"), a mugwump (Algonquian for "great chief").
Notes: This is a word bereft of kinswords other than a normal plural, panjandrums. Of course, since it ends on -um, like datum (data) and paramecium (paramecia), you could play with "all the panjandra" to get a wider smile.
In Play: This light-hearted word also has beauty that should not be ignored: "Today I am the Grand Panjandrum of my demesne, overseeing the fall colors of my garden, feasting on olives, cheese, grapes, and fresh-baked bread in my royally favorite nightgown." A large dahlia or chrysanthemum could be the grand panjandrum of that garden. This word is a fine blade to use against self-importance. "Why should I have to lay down a bunt? You're just the coach; you're not the Grand Panjandrum of Poohbahbia," would be a sparkling note on which to end your baseball career.
Word History: The Irish actor Charles Macklin (1697-1797) loved to boast that he could memorize any paragraph on one reading. To test that boast, Samuel Foote composed a test paragraph in 1754 that you may read here. We have no report on how well Macklin performed with the lines of Foote in his mouth, however, one phrase, 'the great Panjandrum', stuck in the language. The word is very remindful of the names of the lords of India and Pakistan, giving it the ring of authenticity and mystery.
• The Good Dr. Goodword
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- Great Grand Panjandrum
- Posts: 4423
- Joined: Fri Oct 09, 2009 6:16 pm
- Location: Land of the Flat Water
-
- Great Grand Panjandrum
- Posts: 4423
- Joined: Fri Oct 09, 2009 6:16 pm
- Location: Land of the Flat Water
-
- Great Grand Panjandrum
- Posts: 4423
- Joined: Fri Oct 09, 2009 6:16 pm
- Location: Land of the Flat Water
Not in the summer. But we always have those flaps in the back...Someone should say it, so here goes:
Do panjandrums have those little footies sewn on to the legs?
BTW, this may be the only place on earth I get some respect , so why wouldn't I go for broke?
"Time is nature's way of keeping everything from happening all at once. Lately it hasn't been working."
Anonymous
Anonymous
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- Great Grand Panjandrum
- Posts: 4423
- Joined: Fri Oct 09, 2009 6:16 pm
- Location: Land of the Flat Water
-
- Great Grand Panjandrum
- Posts: 4423
- Joined: Fri Oct 09, 2009 6:16 pm
- Location: Land of the Flat Water
Call Aretha Franklin (1-800-RESPECT). Maybe she'll let lend you one of her giant inaugural hair bows.BTW, this may be the only place on earth I get some respect...
I've since seen a picture of that bow and hat and whatever.
We discussed it on the dead site, once.
That was really "eyecatching" to say the least, and that
is the least I'll say about it.
-----please, draw me a sheep-----
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