One of my favorite words is obfuscate. This word is rare enough that most people don’t know the meaning of this word.
obfuscate: make obscure or unclear
This word often “does what it means” (if the hearer doesn’t know the meaning of the word then using it obscures the meaning of the passage) which is why I find it so amusing.
Onomatopoeia is the use of words which sound like what they describe. Obfuscate is, perhaps, noetic onomatopoeia. Words that “do” what they mean. Are there any other examples of word which do what they mean? A word meaning nausea which induces nausea might be an example. Or a word meaning to anger that angers some? Any suggestions for more noetic onomatopoeia?
sesquipedalian: having many syllables, or using long words.
Jim,
That’s cool. I’m going to have to remember that.