tridecalogism
"Tridecalogism" is a thirteen-letter word that means "thirteen-letter word."
Leo Lesquereux, paleobotanist
I just finished the first two books of the "Midnighter" series by Scott Westerfeld. A sci-fi fantasy story targeting young adults, the source of good magic is the number 13, and good guys in the story name their weapons with tridecalogisms.
To name a few:
• blamelessness
• backscratcher
• justification
• gravitational
• lexicographer
• irresponsible
• individuality
Our heroes are highschoolers (oh, that's a tridec!). Not to give too much of the story away, they use common household objects containing metal alloys as their weapons. They wield these weapons to kill dark, evil creatures like flying panthers. Reading about kids swinging a tire iron at a leathery vulture is one thing; when that tire iron is named "Unjustifiable Deliciousness," it brings the whole scene into three dimensions.
I loved this story for the plot, the characters, the mythology--it was a fun read. But even more than that, I loved learning all these tridecalogisms. I didn't even know there was a word for that! How scintillating! Now I instinctively count the letters in long words to see if there are 13. Twelve is just so...even, and uninteresting, and disappointing.
Overzealously yours, call me--
"Bubbleheaded Serendipitous Groundbreaker"
Samuel Clemens, lexicographer
**reposted from Portable Elephants
