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

[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