Crepuscular

[rowyn]

I learned a new word this weekend: crepuscular. Like diurnal or nocturnal, it indicates the times that an animal is active. But instead of day or night, it means "active during the twilight hours (dusk and dawn)". Apparently a lot of animals that are commonly regarded as nocturnal are actually crepuscular.

Which is an interesting tidbit, but not what I was thinking when I learned the word. What I was thinking is: "what a horrible word." It looks like a combination of "creep" and "pus". It sounds like an insult, or maybe a disfiguring disease. "His skin was crepuscular, boils looking ready to burst". "Unhand me, you crepuscular lech!" Yes, I know it's from Latin just like nocturnal and diurnal, but ewww. It sounds nasty. What were they thinking?

Comments

[minor-architect.livejournal.com]

Actually, Harlan Ellison loves to use this word as part of insults in his fiction! I can't remember which story this particular choice phrase was in, but one character called another a "crepuscular old fart."

Blech. I agree, it does sound nasty! :-P

[rowyn]

But it's a real word! I don't think I could use it except as an insult for animals or people that I didn't like and were only active at dusk and dawn.

... I'm thinking I won't get a whole lot of use out of this word.

[terrycloth.livejournal.com]

That's what makes it funny! You call someone crepuscular, they get insulted, and now you've secretly made them look stupid because you weren't actually saying something bad.

Bonus points if they actually *are* crepuscular.

[rowyn]

I think it only works if they actually are crepuscular. Otherwise, you look like you don't know what you're talking about. "You called me 'most active at dusk and dawn'? What? What the heck?"

Now, if you want to insult someone who really is crepuscular, then it's funny. >:)

[minor-architect.livejournal.com]

I think it only works if they actually are crepuscular. Otherwise, you look like you don't know what you're talking about.

And that only works if the other person already knows what the word means!

It's like George Carlin once said: "That pisses them off because they have to figure it out for themselves."

:D

[dajagr.livejournal.com]

I think they were just being niggardly with their Latin roots. :)

[beetiger.livejournal.com]

I've always liked that word for some reason.

[rowyn]

It has a neat meaning! And it's a great word for a skin disease or a degenerative condition. The meaning just doesn't match the word in my mind. :D

[wildcard-47.livejournal.com]

Heh, every time I think of that word, I have flashbacks to an old high school English teacher.

When he taught our vocabulary units, he used to elongate every possible nuance of polysyllabic words while going over them in class. "Crepuscular" was one of his favorites, LOL.

[rowyn]

That word is starting to grow on me. Like a fungus!

[caffeinewabbit.livejournal.com]

I already knew the definition of this word for a lame reason that I'm sure you can figure out.