Balderdash with C.S. Lewis

You know the game Balderdash, don't you?

If not, you are given random words and everyone has to come up with the meaning of that word. It can be a best guess or a creative absurdity. The definitions are given to the judge who reads off all the meanings including the actual definition. Then everyone guesses which is the correct definition and points are awarded accordingly.

So on that note, let's play! No cheating...choose your best guess!

First word: Dyspeptic

1. Feelings accompanying disorganization and chaos
2. Gloomy, pessimistic and irritable
3. Weak, manipulative
4. Injuries resulting in bitterness

Second word: Laconic

1. A way of measuring gravitation force
2. Rural lifestyle typified by slowness
3. The use of a few words to express much
4. Business that comes through forceful expectation

Third word: Cheroot

1. A cigar with untapered ends
2. Tobacco including calamus roots
3. Seeds anciently used to curtail nicotine addiction
4. A leaf used to roll cigars

Fourth word: Epiphenomena

1. A medical phenomenon
2. The sudden recall of a dream
3. A secondary reaction to tragedy
4. A secondary symptom to a disease

Fifth word: Etiolated

1. The causing of becoming weakened or sickly
2. The causing of becoming disoriented
3. The feeling of immense energy and vigor
4. The feeling of immense pain

Do you have your guesses?
Here are the answers:




Dyspeptic: Gloomy, pessimistic, irritable (2)
Laconic: The use of a few words to express much (3)
Cheroot: A cigar with untapered ends (1)
Epiphenomena: A secondary symptom to a disease (4)
Etiolated: The causing of becoming weakened or sickly (1)

How did you do?
I am reading through C.S. Lewis' That Hideous Strength, which is where all these words came from. I'm pretty sure I've never seen these words before, let alone heard them. This book was written approximately 70 years ago...it makes me wonder how much of the English language has been "lost" over the years. Anyhow, it has been fun to learn a few new old words. Good times with literature!