The obtention of words

[desperance]

So I was feeding the cats, which is a twice-daily activity around here; and I observed that we stood in need of more fudz, both crunchy and gushy. I observed this aloud, to Mac, who was just dipping his paw into the gushyfudz as I spooned it, to test the quality I assume; and I said, as near as I can remember, "We need more fudz. We do. I could go on my bike! That would justify everything. Sole purpose of vehicle, the obtention of cat--oh, wait..."

This is the point where I did actually stop talking to him, because he has small interest in philology and I don't want to bore the boy; but inside I was all "obtention? retain, retention; obtain, obviously I must've thought obtention would be the way to go. But I have never heard that. Does it even...?"

So I came to you, the internets: and yes. Obtention is indeed a word. But nobody ever uses it. Do they...?

In other news, you can type "bacon number [actor's name]" into Google and get that information instanter. It's a bit clever, and utterly contrary to the spirit of the game. It's about elaborate networks constructed within one's own knowledge, not ramrod-straight roads of data slammed out of a machine. Not that I ever played myself, or was ever capable of it, but I know people who are.

Now I must leave you, o internets, for Mac has achieved obtention of the empty gushyfudz tin, which is a thing forbidden. Also, I lack coffee.

Comments

[hunningham]

Entrain and detrain are my favourites for "yes, this is a real word" You used to, very occasionally, hear them on railway announcements ("would passengers who are entraining..") and you could tell who was listening by the startled wtf expressions.