Verboticism: Hangxiety
DEFINITION: n. The weird feelings that rise up when you notice that you are being followed by a police officer, or a cop car, or the Special Forces Anti-Terrorist Unit. v. To feel nervous, self-conscious and guilty whenever you see a police officer.
Voted For: Hangxiety
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Created by: doseydotes
Pronunciation: ˈhaŋ-ˈzī-ə-tē
Sentence: Mildred tried to fight it, she really did, but she found herself sweaty with hangxiety every time she passed Ralph, Woolworth's security guard. It had been 55 years since she'd filched that tube of lipstick - she'd been too scared to ever use it, and she ended up throwing it in a drainage ditch - but she was certain that all Ralph had to do was look at her closely enough and he'd KNOW.
Etymology: From the British root, hang, meaning to stand about waiting for the trouble to start so one can get in on it early; and the Finnish (the Fins are such good finishers), xiety, meaning a group that collectively ducks its head in a guilty manner.
Points: 815
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Comments: Hangxiety
silveryaspen - 2008-03-20: 15:45:00
Interesting etymology! When I think of hanging ... I think gallows! Your word is frighteningly good!
silveryaspen - 2008-03-20: 15:47:00
One way to generate true hangziety would be to ask a cop "How's it haning?"
silveryaspen - 2008-03-20: 15:48:00
Such a clever pun ... and incorporating hang with all it's meanings was absolutely brilliant!
stache - 2008-03-20: 16:53:00
Comprehensive and learned etymology. Saturday night's alright for fighting....