A.Word.A.Day -- arsy-varsy

A.Word.A.Day

About | Media | Search | Contact

Home

Today's Word

Yesterday's Word

A.Word.A.Day--arsy-varsy

This week's theme: reduplicatives.

arsy-varsy (AR-see VAR-see) adjective, adverb

Upside-down, backward, preposterous.

[A facetious rhyming compound of arse; perhaps coined after vice versa, from Latin versus, from vertere (to turn).]

-Anu Garg (garg wordsmith.org)

"The sense of things being arsy-varsy persists at this first make-up session." Simon Callow; Shooting the Actor; Picador; 2003.

X-Bonus

Without books the development of civilization would have been impossible. They are the engines of change, windows on the world, "Lighthouses" as the poet said "erected in the sea of time." They are companions, teachers, magicians, bankers of the treasures of the mind, Books are humanity in print. -Arthur Schopenhauer , philosopher (1788-1860)

We need your help

Help us continue to spread the magic of words to readers everywhere

Donate

Subscriber Services
Awards | Stats | Links | Privacy Policy
Contribute | Advertise