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Transmogrify

Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2012 1:14 am
by Perry Lassiter
A most unusual word going back to the 17th century.
transmogrify (v.)
"to change completely," 1650s, apparently a perversion of transmigure, from transmigrate, perhaps influenced by modify. Related: Transmogrified; transmogrifying. (Online Etymological Dictionary)
A bit misterious, and I'd love to see Doc bring the heavy artillery on it.

Re: Transmogrify

Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2012 1:45 am
by Philip Hudson
I second Perry's suggestion of transmogrify as a Good Word. I first encountered this word in a graduate computer science class at SMU in the early 1960s. A lot of computer algorithms qualified as transmogrifications in those days. No doubt some do today, but the discipline has become better disciplined as it has matured.

Re: Transmogrify

Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2012 1:21 pm
by Slava
Your wish has already been fulfilled:

http://www.alphadictionary.com/goodword ... ansmogrify

Re: Transmogrify

Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2012 4:44 pm
by Perry Lassiter
Kathleen Parker used the word today in her column. All of a sudden it's all over place.