lexicography \ lek-suh-KAH-gruh-fee \ noun – The writing or compiling of dictionaries; the editing or making of dictionaries. The principles and practices applied to writing dictionaries. Origin: Lexicography is derived from the Greek lexicon (biblion), a word- or phrase-book (from lexis, a phrase, a word) + graphein, to write. A lexicographer (thought to be formed [...]

libation \ ly-BAY-shun \ noun – The act of pouring a liquid (usually wine) either on the ground or on a victim in sacrifice to some deity; also, the wine or liquid thus poured out. A beverage, especially an alcoholic beverage. An act or instance of drinking. Origin: Libation is from Latin libatio, from libare, [...]

jobbery \ JOB-uh-ree \ noun – The conduct of public or official business for the sake of improper private gain. Origin: Jobbery combines the sense of job and robbery and reflects the historically negative connotation of job, whose definition may derive from gob, as in “a mass or lump.”

offal \ AW-fuhl \ noun – The edible internal parts of an animal. Dead or decomposing organic matter. Refuse; rubbish. Origin: Offal is a combination of off and fall, referring to parts fallen or cut off.