gwynhefar | Definitions

ithyphallic: (adj) 1. Pertaining to or associated with the phallus carried in procession at the Bacchic festivals; specifically composed in the metre of the Bacchic hymns (the trochaic dimeter brachycatalectic).
2. Grossly indecent, obscene.
(n) 3. A poem in ithyphallic metre; also, a poem of licentious or indecent character.

ithyphallus: (n) an erect phallus.
[ok, all of you, stop your juvenile snickering now]

brachycatalectic: (adj) In Prosody: wanting one foot or two syllables.

herm/herma: (n) A statue composed of a head, usually that of the god Hermes, placed on the top of a quadrangular pillar, of the proportions of the human body: such statues were exceedingly numerous in ancient Athens, where they were used as boundary-marks, mile-stones, sign-posts, pillars, pilasters, etc.

dilacerate: (v) To tear asunder, tear in pieces.

laxate: (v) To loosen, relax.

mustulent: (adj) Resembling grape must, especially in sweetness; full of must. Also (humorously): intoxicated by wine.

must: (n) 1. In Winemaking: The juice of freshly pressed grapes before or during fermentation into wine; a thick, pulpy mixture of crushed grapes prepared for or undergoing fermentation. In early use also: new wine (more fully new must).
2. Any juice or liquid undergoing or prepared for alcoholic fermentation; the juice of any fruit.
3. The pulp of apples or pears which remains after the juice has been pressed out for making cider or perry. Also (rare): potato pulp prepared for fermentation.
4. More fully must apple. Any of several varieties of apple used chiefly for making cider.

involuted: (adj) 1. Rolled or curled up spirally; spiral; specifically in Conchology: having the whorls wound closely round the axis, and nearly or wholly concealing it.
2. In Botany: Rolled inwards at the edges.
3. Involved; entangled; intricate; hidden, obscure.
4. In Physiology: That has passed through the process of involution: the retrograde change which occurs in the body in old age, or in some organ when its permanent or temporary purpose has been fulfilled.

protonotary/prothonotary: (n) 1. A principal notary or chief clerk or recorder of a court of law.
2. The holder of this office in Roman Byzantium and later, by extension, in Rome.
3. In England: the chief clerk or registrar in the Courts of Chancery, of the Common Pleas, and of the King's or Queen's Bench.
4. In other countries: a (chief) clerk or administrative officer of a court of law, especially (U.S.) of a county court, or (Australia) of the Supreme Court of certain states.
5. In the Roman Catholic Church: More fully Prothonotary Apostolic (also Prothonotary Apostolical). Any of the seven prelates who form the college of notaries for the Roman Curia, signing papal documents, registering papal acts, etc. Formerly also: a title applied to certain papal envoys.
6. In the Greek Orthodox Church: The principal secretary of the Patriarch of Constantinople.
7. A chief secretary at the royal or imperial court in any of various countries.

condottiero/condottiere: (n) A professional military leader or captain, who raised a troop, and sold his service to states or princes at war; the leader of a troop of mercenaries. The name arose in Italy, but the system prevailed largely over Europe from the 14th to the 16th c.

iwis/iwisse: (adj) 1. Certain (subjectively and objectively). Only in Old English.
(adv) 2. Certainly, assuredly, indeed, truly. (Often with weakened sense as a metrical tag.)
(n) 3. Certainty; in phrase 'mid iwisse': with certainty, certainly (= preceding adverb); also 'to iwisse': for certain.

garboil: (n) Confusion, disturbance, tumult; an instance of this, a brawl, hubbub, hurlyburly.

exegete: (n) 1. An expounder, interpreter.
2. In Greek Antiquity: At Athens, one of those three members of the Eumolpidæ, whose province it was to interpret the religious and ceremonial law, the signs in the heavens, and oracles.
3. One who explains or interprets difficult passages; one skilled in exegesis; an expounder.

hypertrophy: (v) 1. To affect with hypertrophy.
2. To undergo hypertrophy.
(n) 3. In Physiology and Pathology: Enlargement of a part or organ of an animal or plant, produced by excessive nutrition; excessive growth or development. The opposite of atrophy.
4. Overgrowth.