January 19, 2018

Attempted coinage fails, as I discover "mactation" is an existing (though rare) word.

For some reason, we were discussing the topic of male lactation.

Anyway, "mactation" is "The action of killing, esp. the slaughtering of a sacrificial victim" (OED). To go back to 1563: "The Lambe of God..of whose mactation Isayas fore prophecieth." And in the 20th century, there's T.S. Eliot: "If the mactations, immolations, oblations, impetrations, Are now observed."

9 comments:

buwaya said...

Another thing you will rarely find in a US High School - the works of T.S.Eliot

Kevin said...

Confusing mactation and male lactation is like confusing masturbation and mastication.

Wince said...

For some reason, we were discussing the topic of male lactation.

Instead of the OED, you should have consulted the Dirty Hungarian Phrasebook.

Bob Boyd said...

"Confusing mactation and male lactation is like confusing masturbation and mastication."

I knew a guy who could do all four at once.

n.n said...

Elective abortion.

Ann Althouse said...

"Confusing mactation and male lactation is like confusing masturbation and mastication."

It was a humorous coinage, abandoned because it was already a word. I am surprised to find an English word (other than a technical word) that I don't know already.

tcrosse said...

There is a special manziere for those who are mactating.

Josephbleau said...

In my youth, a Mad Magazine segment had a politician say "My opponent's sister is a thespian!" Adults must realize that some words sound similar.

Kevin said...

"My opponent's sister is a thespian!"

Still funny.