Dictionary

vocabulist en · NOUN

Etymology

From Latin vocābulum (“vocable”) + -ist. In sense 3, probably after Middle French vocabuliste or its etymon New Latin vocābulista (“vocabulary”). With sense 1, compare French vocabuliste with the same meaning.

Meanings

1. The writer or maker of a vocabulary (dictionary or glossary); a lexicographer.
2. One who cultivates a large or impressive vocabulary.
   • Some words remain for me elusive and are probably jokes I’m not getting or neologisms of Wallace’s: contuded, hulpil, egregulous , ascapartic, gumlet. This is a virtuoso vocabulist at work, performing busily, somewhat aggressively demonstrating his skill. 2000 May, Frank Louis Cioffi, “‘An Anguish Become Thing’: Narrative as Performance in David Foster Wallace’s Infinite Jest”, in James Phelan, editor, Narrative, volume 8, number 2, Columbus, Oh.: Ohio State University Press, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 168:
   • Truth […] is easily discerned in the most floreate verbal fabric of the most prodigal vocabulist. 1911 June 17, Musical Standard, London, →OCLC, page 373, column 2:
   • There is not the least mystery about the meaning of the name of this river, the greenest vocabulist in the Algonquin tongue knows its meaning. 1853 April 23, The Daily Scioto Gazette, Chillicothe, Oh., →ISSN, →OCLC:
3. (obsolete) A dictionary or glossary.

Forms

Synonyms

vocabularian