I have become a compulsive reader of a blogsite called Language Log. Recently a linguist there named Geoffrey Pullum was lamenting his failure to realize the transparent etymology of the name of the Italian dessert tiramisu (tira-mi-su = pull-me-up). Who knew? I didn’t, either – I didn’t even realize the accent was supposed to fall on the last syllable.
Then he talked about other things that linguists (and/or regular people) notice (or don’t notice) about the language(s) they use, and then he shared a list. Although only mildly interested in the case of the tiramisu, I found the list utterly fascinating. It’s a list of “missing terms” among derivationally related words.
| candor | candify | candific | candid |
| fervor | fervify | fervific | fervid |
| horror | horrify | horrific | horrid |
| liquor | liquefy | liquific | liquid |
| livor | livify | livific | livid |
| lucor | lucify | lucific | lucid |
| pallor | pallify | pallific | pallid |
| rigor | rigify | rigific | rigid |
| stupor | stupefy | stupific | stupid |
| terror | terrify | terrific | terrid |
| torpor | torpify | torpific | torpid |
| vigor | vigify | vigific | vigid |
| tepor | tepify | tepific | tepid |
My immediate thought was, “oh, but we could use those missing words.” So I’m going to keep this list handy, and try to use each of the struck-out terms at some point in this here handy blog thingy. So watch out!
Lucify your life.