Xactly, what the hell do you do with X?? It is the third least common letter in the alphabet and is the first most irritating. I see X as a symbol really, not a word starter. X marks the spot, put an X in the box, designate exit routes with an X, XOXOXOX, etc. If these words below truly represent all the words in our language that start with X, I now care even less about it. I cannot even tell you the last time I have written a real word beginning with X. X is good for X-rated and XXX and Super Bowl numbering and not much else.
Can we all agree to boycott X and chop it from the dictionary for next year's challenge? Because quite frankly if you don't, you are going to see this same post again. X is dead to me.
Enjoy the following list of totally useless X words...except for the one I find funny. Please tell me if anyone has ever actaully suffered from this. You'll know which one it is when you get there.
| Word | Definition |
| xanthareel | yellow eel formerly used in medicinal foods |
| xanthic | yellow; yellowish |
| xanthippe | ill-tempered woman |
| xanthocarpous | having yellow fruit |
| xanthochroia | yellowness of the skin |
| xanthochroic | having yellow skin |
| xanthocomic | yellow-haired |
| xanthocyanopsy | form of colour-blindness in which only blue and yellow can be distinguished |
| xanthoderm | yellow-skinned person |
| xanthodont | one with yellow teeth |
| xanthoma | disease characterized by yellow patches on the skin |
| xanthometer | instrument for measuring colour of sea or lake water |
| xanthophyll | substance causing yellow colour of autumn leaves |
| xanthopsia | a visual condition where things appear yellow |
| xanthospermous | having yellow seeds |
| xanthous | yellow or red-haired |
| xebec | small three-masted pirate ship |
| xeme | fork-tailed gull |
| xenagogue | guide; someone who conducts strangers |
| xenial | of or concerning hospitality towards guests |
| xenium | gift made to a guest or ambassador; any compulsory gift |
| xenobiotic | indicating a substance or item foreign to the body |
| xenocracy | government by a body of foreigners |
| xenodiagnosis | diagnosis of disease by allowing laboratory-bred diseases to affect material |
| xenodocheionology | love of hotels |
| xenodochial | hospitable; kindly to strangers |
| xenodochium | building for the reception of strangers |
| xenogamy | cross-fertilization |
| xenogeneic | of a disease, derived from an individual of a different species |
| xenogenesis | generation of offspring entirely unlike the parent |
| xenogenous | due to an outside cause |
| xenoglossia | person's knowledge of a language never studied |
| xenolalia | person's knowledge of a language never studied |
| xenolith | fragment of extraneous rock embedded in magma or another rock |
| xenomancy | divination using strangers |
| xenomania | inordinate attachment to foreign things |
| xenomenia | menstruation from abnormal orifices |
| xenomorphic | having a form not its own |
| xenophilia | love of foreigners |
| xenophobia | fear of foreigners |
| xenops | a small tropical rainforest bird |
| xenurine | species of armadillo |
| xeransis | drying up |
| xerarch | growing in dry places |
| xerasia | abnormal dryness of the hair |
| xeric | dry; lacking in moisture |
| xerocopy | photocopy |
| xerodermia | abnormal dryness of the skin |
| xerography | photocopying |
| xerophagy | eating of dry food; fast of dry food in the week preceding Easter |
| xerophily | adaptation to very dry conditions |
| xerophobous | unable to survive drought |
| xerophthalmia | dryness and soreness of the eyes |
| xerophytic | able to withstand drought |
| xeroradiography | process for taking permanent pictures of X-ray images |
| xerosis | abnormal dryness of body parts |
| xerostomia | excessive dryness of the mouth |
| xerothermic | dry and hot |
| xerotic | dry |
| xerotripsis | dry friction |
| xesturgy | process of polishing |
| xilinous | of, like or pertaining to cotton |
| xiphias | swordfish |
| xiphoid | sword-shaped |
| xiphopagus | conjoined twins joined by a band of flesh on the torso |
| xiphophyllous | having sword-shaped leaves |
| xiphosuran | horseshoe crab |
| xoanon | primitive wooden statue overlaid with ivory and gold |
| xography | photographic process for producing three-dimensional images |
| xu | former monetary unit of Vietnam |
| xylan | gelatinous compound found in wood |
| xylary | of, like or pertaining to xylem |
| xylem | woody portion of a plant |
| xylocarp | hard and woody fruit |
| xylogenous | growing on wood |
| xyloglyphy | wood-carving |
| xylography | art of engraving on wood |
| xyloid | woody; ligneous |
| xylology | study of wood |
| xylomancy | divination by examining wood found in one's path |
| xylometer | instrument measuring specific gravity of wood |
| xylophagous | wood-eating |
| xylophilous | fond of wood; living in or on wood |
| xylophory | wood-carrying |
| xylopolist | one who sells wood |
| xylopyrography | engraving designs on wood with hot poker |
| xylorimba | combination of xylophone and marimba |
| xylotherapy | use of certain sorts of wood in treating disease |
| xylotomous | wood-cutting; wood-boring |
| xylotypographic | printed from wooden blocks |
| xystarch | ancient Greek officer in charge of gymnastic exercises |
| xyster | surgeon's instrument for scraping bones |
| xyston | short pike used by Greek heavy cavalry |
| xystus | covered walkway for exercises |
7 comments:
Thanks, I'm bookmarking this for the next time I play Scrabble.
Alex: Anything to help you get the points!
Yep, this sure is an irritating list. But I do like "xenurine." Wonder what that looks like and if it would come out of an orifice.
XoRobyn
Wow! That is some display of Xs.
Robyn: It's a species of armadillo. If that came out of an orifice the world would surely be ending :)
Copyboy: Use them as you will in future posts on your uber-interesting blog! I know they are giving you some ideas to google.
Alex said what I was going to say. Heck, I'm going to say it anyway!
I'm going to used this list the next time I play scrabble!
Pat: That may be the only use for X that is positive!
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