Words I Learned from Doctor Who.

List #137

This list was started in March of 1985. By that time I had been watching Doctor Who for eleven years, from when I was nine years old. Thank you, TVOntario, for being the first North American network to show Doctor Who, the greatest tv show ever made!

Without checking a very fat dictionary it was sometimes difficult to know whether a new word on Doctor Who was indeed a real word or one invented by the writers. Robert Holmes, in particular, invented new words which not only sounded like real words but could effortlessly be understood from context. These are so noted. I emphasize: these words I learned from the show; the show has always had lots of great words I might have learned, too, but even as a youngster I had a darn good vocabulary to start with.

Each word here is followed by the title of the Doctor Who serial I learned it from—assuming I can recall which one it was—and the name of the writer(s) credited with that script.

addled. crazy; scrambled. Masque of Mandragora. Louis Marks

adumbrate. ADD-um-brate. to present a slight representation of something. Trial of a Time Lord. Robert Holmes, Philip Martin, Pip & Jane Baker

anthropomorphic. an-throh-poh-MOR-fik. having the qualities of a human; for example, something that “walks and talks and thinks.” Robot. Terrance Dicks

apotheosis. ah-poth-ee-OH-sis. the elevation of a mortal to godhood. Armageddon Factor. Bob Baker & Dave Martin

archimandrite. ark-ee-MAN-drite. a leader in the Orthodox Eastern Church. (On DW, a high priest on Tara, a planet at a medieval-culture stage of development but with highly sophisticated android technology.) Androids of Tara. David Fisher

attrition. gradual diminution or wearing down. Genesis of the Daleks. Terry Nation

bafflegab. nonsense.

bouillabaisse. BWEE-ya-base. (French) a type of soup. City of Death. David Agnew (BBC house name: pseudonym for Graham Williams and Douglas Adams, based on a script by David Fisher)

brinkmanship. the political art of pushing a situation as close to war as possible, without actually going to war. Sontaran Experiment. Bob Baker & Dave Martin

Cailleach. CAL-ee-ack. a Druid deity. Stones of Blood. David Fisher

castellan. CAS-tell-an. an official in charge of castle security. (On DW, the head of security for the citadel of Gallifrey, the Doctor's home planet.) Deadly Assassin. Robert Holmes

chav. lower-class person with gaudy fashion sense. English slang. New Earth. Russell T Davies

circumspection. great care.

cloister. covered walkway, a common architectural feature of monasteries. (On DW, the “cloister bell” in the Tardis rings in a dire emergency.) Logopolis. Christopher H. Bidmead

collusion. conspiracy.

condine action. harsh punishment; execution. (Not a real word.) Ark in Space. Robert Holmes

creeping barrage. a technique of warfare. Genesis of the Daleks. Terry Nation

crinoid / crynoid. KRIN-oyd. an extinct form of early plant life, commonly found in fossils. (On DW, the Krynoid is a giant, hostile, meat-eating plant that can send its pods into space.) Seeds of Doom. Robert Banks Stewart

cutaneous. cue-TANE-ee-us. of the skin or outer crust. Seeds of Doom. Robert Banks Stewart

cyanogen. sy-AN-oh-jin. a deadly gas composed mainly of cyanide. Brain of Morbius. Robin Bland (pseudonym of Terrance Dicks)

dawn-timer. member of a low-tech or early-established offworld human colony. (Not a real word.) Ark in Space. Robert Holmes

efficacy. EFF-ik-a-see. being a good imitation. Invisible Enemy. Bob Baker & Dave Martin

elixir. ee-LICK-sir. a magical substance that imparts special powers, usually immortality, when one drinks it. Brain of Morbius. Robin Bland (pseudonym of Terrance Dicks)

enervated. drained of energy. from a piece of fan fiction by Cecile Mermelstein

epistopic. ep-ih-STOP-ik. either means germane or chronological. (Not a real word.) Trial of a Time Lord. Robert Holmes, Philip Martin, Pip & Jane Baker

eugenics. you-JEN-iks. selective breeding of humans by humans, usually proposed in order to create a superior breed or master race, and to be carried out by ethnic segregation, sterilization, or genocide of those deemed sub-human. Face of Evil. Chris Boucher

evoe / evohe. EV-oh-ay. invocation used in demonic worship or Bacchanalian revelry. Daemons. Guy Leopold (pseudonym of Barry Letts)

flapdoodle. nonsense. Face of Evil. Chris Boucher

furore. fyoo-ROAR-ay. furor; huge hubbub; public outcry. City of Death. David Agnew (BBC house name: script written by Graham Williams and Douglas Adams, based on a script by David Fisher)

gelignite. JELL-ig-nite. a type of explosive. Pyramids of Mars. Stephen Harris, based on a script by Louis Griefer, with much rewriting by Robert Holmes

gestalt. GESS-talt. a great mind composed of many individuals minds linked together. Image of the Fendahl. Chris Boucher

Goth. a barbaric tribe of central Europe. (On DW, the character name of a Time Lord who happens to be Chancellor of Gallifrey during the "gothic" era of the show.) Deadly Assassin. Robert Holmes

grass (n. and v.). snitch; two-timer. British slang. Remembrance of the Daleks. Ben Aaronovitch

hirsute. HEER-soot. hairy. Creature from the Pit. David Fisher

horse brass. a decorative metal disk displayed on the bridle or harness of one’s horse; now seen primarily as decorations on the walls of local pubs. Android Invasion. Terry Nation

hubris. HYOO-bris. false pride. Trial of a Time Lord. Robert Holmes

hypoid. (sounds like “high-point”). to study or to be an expert in a particular topic. (Not a real word.) Ark in Space. Robert Holmes

imago. IM-a-go. the adult form of an insect. Ark in Space. Robert Holmes

inimical. in-IM-ik-al. tending to cause a negative effect. Seeds of Doom. Robert Banks Stewart

kedgeree. KEJ-er-ee. a dish made of fish, boiled rice, and eggs. Ghost Light. Marc Platt

kraal. an African village built in a circle; origin of the word corral. (On DW, it is the name of a technologically advanced rhinoceros-looking race from the planet Oseidon.) Android Invasion. Terry Nation

lolly sticks. lollipop or ice lolly (Popsicle) sticks. Sontaran Experiment. Bob Baker & Dave Martin

mandragora. man-DRAG-oh-ra. mandrake; a plant whose root is prized for its magical healing properties. (On DW, it is the name of a hostile alien energy-being bent on taking over the Earth.) Masque of Mandragora. Louis Marks

magneto. mag-NEE-toh. a small motor having a magnet inside a rotating copper coil. Pyramids of Mars. Stephen Harris, based on a script by Louis Griefer, with much rewriting by Robert Holmes

mastaba. MASS-ta-ba. an ancient Egyptian underground burial chamber. Pyramids of Mars. Stephen Harris, based on a script by Louis Griefer, with much rewriting by Robert Holmes

naff. boring; lame; stupid. English slang. “Well naff” means very boring. Dragonfire. Ian Briggs

neutron star. an ancient star that has collapsed after spending all its fuel. Creature from the Pit. David Fisher

noetic. no-ET-ik. said of symptoms or characteristics only detectable during consciousness. Invisible Enemy. Bob Baker & Dave Martin

Om. the universe; the divine; the all; also a syllable chanted during meditation. Planet of the Spiders. Robert Sloman

Om mani padme hum. OHM mah-nee pahd-may hom. a mantra or prayer chanted during meditation. Planet of the Spiders. Robert Sloman

palare. pa-LAH-ray. carnival jargon. Alternate spellings include polari, parlaree, parlari, parlary, parlarey, parlyaree. Carnival of Monsters. Robert Holmes (The episode includes a brief conversation in palare but you will need the DVD extras to understand it.)

panopticon. pan-OP-tik-on. a type of circular prison in which guards can observe all prisoners at all times. (On DW, it is the name of the citadel of Gallifrey, the Doctor’s home planet.) Deadly Assassin. Robert Holmes

pedantic. peh-DAN-tik. being overbearing in teaching or describing something. Pyramids of Mars. Stephen Harris, based on a script by Louis Griefer, with much rewriting by Robert Holmes

Pharos. FAIR-os. an ancient Greek lighthouse. (On DW, the name of a UK radio telescope project.) Logopolis. Christopher H. Bidmead

physiognomy. fizz-ee-ON-oh-mee. physical appearance; external anatomy. Robot. Terrance Dicks

pike. an infantry weapon consisting of a metal blade at the end of a long wooden pole, used like a sword, not like a javelin. Masque of Mandragora. Louis Marks

poleax. POLE-aks. to render unconscious. Invisible Enemy. Bob Baker & Dave Martin

Popocatepetl. pop-a-cat-a-PET-ull. a famous volcano in Mexico. Brain of Morbius. Robin Bland (pseudonym of Terrance Dicks)

portreeve. PORT-reev. a city official; a port official. Castrovalva. Christopher H. Bidmead

priest hole. a secret room built into a mansion for hiding the local priest from the authorities. (From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly; wealthy Catholics built these hiding places into their homes for hiding their priests from the law.) Pyramids of Mars. Stephen Harris, based on a script by Louis Griefer, with much rewriting by Robert Holmes

punt. a long, narrow, small boat, driven by a pole, mainly used for river boating. Shada. Douglas Adams (The word is heard in a clip from Shada used in the Five Doctors.)

rani. RAH-nee. an East Indian princess. (On DW, it is the title of the villain of the episode; she is called the Rani in the same way that the Doctor and the Master have titles instead of names.) Mark of the Rani. Pip & Jane Baker

Roundheads. soldiers of Oliver Cromwell; English Revolution era. Time Monster. Robert Sloman

Saint Elmo’s fire. images of flashing lights sometimes seen around the masts of ships at sea. Invisible Enemy. Bob Baker & Dave Martin

Satsuma. sat-SOO-ma. a type of tangerine. Christmas Invasion. Russell T Davies

serendipity. sair-en-DIP-ih-tee. a happy accident; a useful discovery made by accident. Green Death. Robert Sloman

spanner. monkey wrench. Pirate Planet. Douglas Adams

a spanner in the works. a problem; something that gums up the works; literally “a wrench in the machine.” Pirate Planet. Robert Sloman

subsidence. sub-SY-dense. low area in the ground caused by a settling or sliding away of the underlying soil. Sontaran Experiment. Bob Baker & Dave Martin

symbiotic. sim-bee-OTT-ik. said of a relationship between a parasite and its host that is beneficial to both organisms. Ark in Space. Robert Holmes

symbiotic atavism. sim-bee-OTT-ik AT-ih-viz-um. a symbiotic relationship which results in long-dormant traits re-emerging. Ark in Space. Robert Holmes

tachyon. TACK-ee-on. a subatomic particle. Leisure Hive. David Fisher

twaddle. nonsense. Terror of the Zygons. Robert Banks Stewart

valeyard. VAL-ee-ard. a court official; a prosecutor. Trial of a Time Lord. Robert Holmes, Philip Martin, Pip & Jane Baker

a Victorian Gothic folly. a mansion built in the Victorian era (mid to late 1800s) in imitation of the Gothic era, but with far too much ornamentation. Pyramids of Mars. Stephen Harris, based on a script by Louis Griefer, with much rewriting by Robert Holmes

volatilized. voh-LAT-ill-eyezd. evaporated. Sun Makers. Robert Holmes

waffle. nonsense. Seeds of Doom. Robert Banks Stewart

whacked. exhausted. English slang.

Whovian. HOO-vee-an. fan of Doctor Who.

Xoanon. zoh-AN-on. an African deity; a small wooden statue of same. (On DW, it is the name of the local deity on a distant planet.) Face of Evil. Chris Boucher

A Short List of Important Universalists.

I compiled this list a while back when someone asked for a few examples of Universalists in history. Being the obsessive-compulsive collector that I am, I was able to whip up a list in no time flat.

These noteworthy individuals are listed here in roughly chronological order. All are American (USian) unless otherwise noted.

Biogs have been extracted from A Who's Who of UUs : A Concise Biographical Compendium of Prominent and Famous Universalists and Unitarians, http://www.tomfolio.com/bookdetailssu.asp?b=444&m=518

Universalism was an historically heretical Christian belief, later a denomination, which held the doctrine that God is Love and that all will be saved. In 1850 it was the fifth largest denomination in the United States.

The radical foundation of Universalism led many adherents to formulate and adopt other radical and liberal beliefs such as equality for women and African Amercians, the evil of slavery and capital punishment, and other impressive movements of social reform. Since its peak in the 19th century, its primary beliefs have gradually moved into many mainstream Protestant denominations.

Origen of Alexandria (185-254) (OR-ih-jen), Egyptian. theologian, educator, author, scholar; compiled Hexapla and Octapla (first parallel-text bibles); created Origenism (belief that all people will attain heaven, not just a select few); first Christian universalist

Rev. Jacobus Arminius (1560-1609), Dutch. D.D., theologian, scholar; chair of theology University of Leiden 1595-1609; credited as first philosophical universalist since Origen; educated as Calvinist, came to doubt Calvinist doctrines of free will, predestination and grace 1591 and created Arminianism (belief that Christ died for all, not some)

Rev. James Relly (1722-78), Welsh. theologian, author; wrote Union: or a Treatise on the Consanguinity and Affinity between Christ and His Church 1759 (first important modern work on universal salvation, London; reprinted Boston, 1779); credited with converting John Murray; ordained Methodist, defrocked, became Universalist

Rev. John Murray (1741-1815), English-American. religious pioneer, reformer, hymn-writer; 'Father of American Universalism;' credited as first minister to preach Universalism in North America 1770 although others preceded him; appt by George Washington chaplain to Rhode Island Brigade 1775; founding minister Independent Church of Christ 1779 (credited as first avowedly Universalist church, Gloucester MA) and other Universalist congregations; raised Anglican, ordained Methodist, excommunicated, became Universalist—husband of Judith

Judith Sargent Murray (1751-1820), author, poet, playwright, women's rights activist; wrote first American Universalist catechism 1782; wrote On the Equality of the Sexes 1790 (first modern essay on women's rights; predating Mary Wollstonecraft); wrote The Gleaner 1792-94 (essays, 3 vols); Universalist—wife of John

Rev. Caleb Rich (1750-1821), evangelist, organizer; founded first Universalist church in US 1773 (Warwick MA; see John Murray); founded congregations in Richmond NH and Jaffery NH 1780; credited with converting Hosea Ballou I and many others; excluded from Baptist church and became Universalist 1773, ordained by his own congregation 1780

Rev. Hosea Ballou I (1771-1852), author, theologian, anti-trinitarian; wrote Treatise on Atonement 1805 (first American book espousing Universalism, setting out complete Universalist theology, landmark for its era), founding editor 'Universalist Magazine' 1819-28, 'Universalist Expositor' 1830-44 and many other periodicals; credited as greatest theologian of Universalism; raised Baptist, ordained Universalist

Benjamin Rush (1745-1813), M.D., physician, statesman, medical pioneer, signer of Declaration of Independence; professor of medicine and chemistry University of PA 1769-1813; founded PA Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery 1774 (first US anti-slavery society); persuaded Thomas Paine to write Common Sense and chose title 1776; wrote Medical Inquiries and Observations 1789-93 (landmark work, 4 vols); drafted Universalist resolution against slavery 1790 (first statement by any US denomination against slavery); helped establish first African church in Philadelphia 1791-93; treasurer US mint 1797-1813; wrote Diseases of the Mind 1812 (first US book on psychiatry); raised Presbyterian, held seats in many churches including Armenian (Methodist) 1780, Episcopal 1788, and Universalist 1790

Rev. Thomas Whittemore (1800-61), editor, historian, financier; founding editor 'Trumpet and Universalist Magazine' 1828-61 (major denominational weekly); legislator MA 1831-36; wrote Plain Guide to Universalism 1838, Life of Rev. Hosea Ballou 1854-55 (4 vols) and other books; helped found Universalist Historical Society 1834

Rev. Charles Spear (1801-63), prison and criminal justice reformer; wrote Essays on the Punishment of Death 1844; helped found Socioety for the Abolition of Capital Punishment 1844; publisher 'Prisoner's Friend' 1846-61 (first prison periodical, devoted to criminal justice, philosophy, and other subjects); Universalist

Rev. Adin Ballou (1803-90), peace activist, reformer; editor 'Independent Messenger' 1831-39; wrote Non-Resistance in Relation to Human Government 1839 and Christian Non-Resistance 1846 (both early works advocating nonviolence, basis of Henry David Thoreau's famous essay which influenced M. K. Gandhi and M. L. King); founded Hopedale Community 1841-68 (utopian, Milford MA); raised Christian Connexion, ordained Universalist

Harriet K. Hunt (1805-75), physician, women's rights advocate, abolitionist, lay preacher; first woman to practice medicine in US c.1834 (without degree; earned honorary M.D. 1853); pioneered holistic treatments combining nursing, diet, bathing, exercise, rest, and sanitation; created preventive health measures for women and children; founded Ladies' Physiological Society 1843; Universalist, later became Swedenborgian

P. T. Barnum (1810-91), impresario, publicist, social activist; helped found Tufts College 1852-54, endowed Barnum Museum Natural History there; legislator CT 1865-69; mayor Bridgeport CT 1875-76; credited with inventing circus parade, press conference, rain check, ringmaster and grandstands; built Madison Square Garden (originally named Barnum's Hippodrome); founded first three-ring circus 1871 ('Greatest Show on Earth,' joined by James Bailey 1881 to become 'Barnum and Bailey'); wrote Why I Am a Universalist 1890 and helped finance translation (first Universalist literature translated into Japanese)

Horace Greeley (1811-72), printer, publisher, journalist, statesman, social reformer; advocated temperance, woman suffrage, abolition and civil rights; founded 'New-Yorker' 1834-40, from it founded NY 'Weekly Tribune' 1840-72; only newspaper editor to print serious, respectful reports on women's rights events such as Seneca Falls (NY) convention 1848; congressman 1848-49; helped found Republican Party 1854 and elect Lincoln 1860; unsuccessful presidential candidate 1872; Universalist

Israel Washburn, Jr. (1813-83), LL.D., statesman, abolitionist, author; congressman ME 1851-61; instrumental in founding Republican Party and credited with choosing party name 1854 (Jackson MI); governor of ME 1861-63; port collector 1863-78 (Portland ME); Universalist

Mary Livermore (1820-1905), suffragist, women's rights advocate, lay preacher; 'Queen of the Platform'; associate editor 'New Covenant' 1858-69 (Universalist periodical, Chicago); as director of Chicago Sanitary Commission 1861-65 organized over 2,000 soldier's aid societies, conducted fairs, raised money for relief work and assigned women to hospital posts as nurses; organized first Women's Sanitary Fair 1863 (raising money for relief work, prototype of many similar fairs); founding president Association for the Advancement of Women 1873; president American Woman Suffrage Assn 1875-78; with Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Julia Ward Howe organized International Women's Rights Congress (Paris, 1876); raised and confirmed Baptist, became Universalist

Clara Barton (1821-1912), nurse, educator, peace activist, women's rights advocate; 'Angel of the Battlefield'; first woman clerk in federal government 1856-58, 1860 (US patent office); organized care for Civil War wounded, donations of food and medical supplies and distribution to battlefields; superintendent of nurses Army of the James 1864; nurse in Franco-Prussian War 1869 (Switzerland); founding director American Red Cross 1881-1904; persuaded US to ratify First Geneva Convention 1882; Universalist

Rev. Thomas Starr King (1824-64), political activist, abolitionist, naturalist; wrote White Hills 1859 (recognizing priceless beauty of Yosemite area); credited with convincing CA to remain part of US at outbreak of Civil War 1860; Mount Starr King in Yosemite National Park named in his honor; statue placed by CA in National Statuary Hall; 'The First UU'; raised and ordained Universalist 1846, dually fellowshipped Unitarian 1848. Famous quote: 'The difference between Unitarians and Universalists is that Universalists believe that God is too good to damn men, and Unitarians believe that Man is too good to be damned.'

Rev. Caroline Soule (1824-1903) (pronounced 'sole'), denominational leader, women's rights advocate, editor, essayist; editorial staff 'Ladies Repository' 1856-65 (Universalist women's magazine); founding editor 'Guiding Star' 1867-78 (denominational Sunday school paper); founding pres Women's Centenary Association 1869-80 (world's first independent group of organized church women); first woman Universalist foreign missionary 1875; as missionary to Scotland 1875, 1878-82, 1886-1903 helped found Scottish Universalist Convention; first woman ordained in Europe 1880 (Glasgow)

Rev. Lydia Ann Jenkins (1824-74), M.D., women's rights advocate, educator; first woman ordained 1858 (fellowshipped by committee of ministers of regional Universalist association, Fairport NY); first woman to hold dual full-time pastorate with husband 1860 (Clinton NY); first woman invited to give commencement address; credited with convincing many that women could be effective preachers; physician and teacher Hygienic Institute 1866-74 (Binghamton NY); raised Baptist, ordained Universalist

Rev. Olympia Brown (1835-1926), women's rights advocate, orator, suffragist; usually credited as first woman ordained 1863 (see Lydia Jenkins); kept own name when married 1873; president WI Woman's Suffrage Assn 1887-1917; publisher Racine (WI) 'Times' 1893-1900; pres Federal Suffrage Assn 1903-20; Universalist

Rev. Augusta Jane Chapin (1836-1905), educator, lecturer, women's rights activist; founding member executive committee Association for the Advancement of Women 1873; first woman member (Universalist) General Convention council of ministers 1870; first woman marriage officiant on west coast 1874 (San Francisco); first woman to receive honorary doctor of divinity 1893 (Lombard College, Galesburg IL); helped organize World Parliament of Religions 1893 (Chicago); raised nominally Congregationalist, became Universalist

Rev. Joseph Fletcher Jordan (1863-1929), educator, attorney; pioneered education by African Americans; third African American Universalist ordained; principal Jordan School 1904-29 (also known as Suffolk Normal Training School, one of VA's first schools for black children; later known as Jordan Neighborhood House); ordained African Methodist Episcopal, became Universalist 1903

Arthur Nash (1870-1927), businessman; as founding pres Nash Company 1916 had profit sharing and employee advisory group; encouraged workers to organize; during massive clothing workers strike 1919 (Cincinnati) had only factory at which workers did not strike; wrote Golden Rule in Business 1923; contributed to strike fund for Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America 1925; Seventh Day Adventist then Universalist