Jazz Up Your Lesson
ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE
Want to know more and more precise names for people around you?
Then let’s play a guessing game!
Here you will find lots of different names for various categories of people.
Try to guess who these people might possibly be by amusing storylets.
Then check your guess with the help of the glossary.
Michael could not help but notice Richard’s suit, and he remarked to Paul, “My, Richard is quite the fashmite.” “Pshaw!” spat Paul. “The man is a mere stalko, not in our league. I do not know why they even let him into this party.” “Nevertheless,” sighed Michael, “he does wear that suit well.” | Linda and Jeff may have seemed like an odd couple to people who did not know them well. Jeff was a philocubist (which is why they planned to honeymoon in Las Vegas), while Linda was a philologist – but she could nurture her passion anywhere. | The king was a philodespot, and most people hated him. But he was able to fill his castle with myrmidons, who aided him in squelching any opposition. | Maggie needed help, so she put this ad in the local newspaper: “Wanted: a tranter and a fettler, or one person who can be both. Assist in upkeep of three-bedroom house, 1984 truck, and lawn mower; two acres of land. |
“Kevin, you mumpsimus, how many times must I tell you to stop chewing with your mouth open?” chided Beatrice, Kevin’s great aunt. “I was not! I was not! I was not! I never do!!!” protested Kevin. “Aha! You are a mythomane as well!” | Bella and Gerald were an odd couple. She was such a franion that she favoured spending her leisure time – even in the daytime – at the hippest places downtown. But Gerald, a professed heliolater, always opted for an afternoon at the beach. |
The twins could not have been more different in their behaviour at family reunions. Charlie was a tumbler who kept everyone vastly entertained. Richie, on the other hand, an exoduster, usually skipped dessert. | “Get out of my sight, you conceited, over-the-top, insufferable, smug blatherskite!” roared Geraldine. “You should tlk!” yelled Bred. “Or rather, you should not! You are such a blatteroon!” |
GLOSSARY:
blatherskite an obnoxious, loudmouthed braggart / boaster
blatteroon a constant talker; a person who won’t shut up
exoduster a person who beats a hasty retreat
fashmite a slave to fashion
fettler one who puts things in order; a person skilled at cleaning and repairing tools, equipment, or machinery
franion a pleasure seeker, hedonist (male and female)
heliolater a sun worshiper
mumpsimus someone who obstinately clings to an error, bad habit, or prejudice, even after the foible has been exposed and the person humiliated; also, any error, bad habit, or prejudice clung to in this fashion
mythomane someone abnormally prone to lie, exaggerate, or believe something is true when it is not
myrmidon a devoted follower or servant who obeys commands without question or scruple
(The Myrmidons were actually bellicose people of ancient Thessaly who accompanied the Greek warrior Achilles to Troy and fought under his command. Because of their reputation and unquestioning obedience, the word “myrmidon” came to designate an unscrupulous follower, especially a roughneck or goon.)
philocubist a lover of dice games
philodespot a lover of tyranny
philologist a lover of literature and languages
stalko a poor person who puts on airs or pretends to be rich
tranter a person who does odd jobs, for example delivering something
tumbler a merrymaker, the life of the party