Word of the Day

(We're baaaaack....)

After a year or two hiatus (plural hiatuses.  I wish it were "hiati")  we are happy to be bringing the word of the day back.  I (Tim) love words, so much so that I start each day with word and number puzzles.  My wife is much better at the number puzzles, but I have always had a penchant for words, and the more antiquated or obscure the better.  They don't have to be old words, some words that are new are very exciting.  Today's word originated in 1919, which is not a long time for a word to be around.  And yet, Merriam-Webster still does not recognize it as an actual word deemed worthy of an entry.

I think it should be but judge for yourself...

Librocubicularist -- A person who reads in bed.

 

Though they don't consider it a real word (yet),  they do have it as a word to watch.  Confusing to me, as if it is not a word, how can you say it is not a word?  Those dictionary types can be a bit haughty.

The word could be considered a Latin portmanteau (maybe, don't quote me on that), a combo of Liber (first papyrus then book) and Cubiculum (bedroom, or possibly cubicle).  Webster's had this to say about the origin:

The word is considered a coinage by American writer Christopher Morley. In his novel The Haunted Bookshop, published in 1919, a bookseller suggests to a Miss Chapman that she take a book up to her room and read it in bed (if she wants), and then questions, "Are you a librocubicularist?" Miss Chapman is taken aback by the word, but another character, Helen, chimes in: "He only means you are fond of reading in bed. I've been waiting to hear him work that word in the conversation. He made it up, and he's immensely proud of it."

So I for one hope it makes it into the official dictionary.  It's sesquipedalian (hold that thought for tomorrow) and something to impress your partner the next time you catch them reading in bed...