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slemslempike ([personal profile] slemslempike) wrote2004-09-03 03:46 pm
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Frabjous day

The university subscribes to the OED online! Oh, frabjous day!

A nonsense-word invented by ‘Lewis Carroll’ (C. L. Dodgson), app. intended to suggest ‘fair’ and ‘joyous’; used vaguely by others in various contextual senses. Hence {sm}frabjously adv.

1872 ‘L. CARROLL’ Through Looking-Glass i. 24 O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay! 1899 KIPLING Stalky 144 Oh, you frabjous asses! Ibid. 244 You're a dirty little schoolboy. Besides bein' frabjously immoral. 1935 ‘D. SMITH’ in Famous Plays 1935-36 171 I'm frabjously late. 1937 D. L. SAYERS Busman's Honeymoon iv. 96 Oh, frabjous day!.. All my life I have waited to hear those exquisite words, Peter darling, The sweep's come. 1970 New Yorker 10 Jan. 6/1 A frabjous sort of place in a somewhat vorpal neighborhood.

Re: Woohoo!

[identity profile] slemslempike.livejournal.com 2004-09-07 08:12 am (UTC)(link)
No, but I have got a note in my work papers to get hold of a copy! I'll have to move it to the head of the list.