The Moonspeaker:
Where Some Ideas Are Stranger Than Others...

Webster's First New intergalactic WICKEDARY of the English Language

Conjured by Mary Daly in cahoots with Jane Caputi

With an Experimental Webbing by Alexiares

EXPLANATORY NOTES

Capitalization

Capitalization of words and phrases defined in the Wickedary is capitally irregular, conforming to meaning rather than standard usage.[*] Many entries Strangely begin with an uppercase letter. Words wear capital letters for a variety of reasons. First, this can indicate that they Name Background realities. Background-Naming Words are among those to be found in Word-Web One (for example, Metamemory), and all Word-Web Two words Name Background reality (for instance, Hag; Third Eye). Second, capitalization is sometimes intended to distinguish Wickedary words from standard english words and phrases. For example, Boredom (Word-Web Three) does not designate merely a feeling of ennui (boredom), but rather "the official/officious state produced by bores," that is, patriarchy. Again, State of Depression Names not merely a mood, but the society which generates this condition. Third, Websters sometimes even capitalize words Naming foreground fabrications simply for emphasis, for example, Terrible Taboo; Trinity, Most Unholy (Word-Web One). Fourth, words Naming inhabitants of the foreground and their products are sometimes capitalized to express Be-Laughing irony and humor. Some examples of this are Bearded Brother No-it-alls; Yahweh & Son; Stag-nation (Word-Web Three).

Many entries begin with a lowercase letter. Careful readers will note that most of these are in Word-Web Three of the Core, although some are found in Word-Web One.[*] Lowercase usually indicates that the words Name foreground inhabitants or their characteristics, activities, or products.

One unique exception is the verb be-ing, meaning "actual participation in the Ultimate/Intimate Reality – Be-ing, the Verb." The verb be-ing clearly designates Background reality. The purpose of the lowercase is to distinguish such finite participation from the Reality designated by Be-ing, the constantly Unfolding Verb of Verbs – the Verb from whom, in whom, and with whom all true movements move.

Pronouns and Nouns

The pronoun we usually does not refer only to the Wickedarians whose Names appear on the title page. It is a Wicked we, including Other Inhabitants of the Background who have been Present to the Weaving of this work. Similarly such nouns as Wickedarians, Websters, Journeyers, Be-Spellers expand to include many, many Boon Companions who are the Network of Elemental Presences who make this sort of Qualitative Leaping possible.

The Meta-etymologies of the Wickedary

As a Metadictionary, the Wickedary Dis-covers webs of words that are hidden in patriarchal dictionaries and other re-sources. Websters perceive that these derivative "sources," which are passed off in academentia as authoritative and original, contain fragments of and clues to our own stolen heritage.

Given this situation, it is Crone-logical that our etymologies – the bracketed material preceding some, but not all, definitions – must be meta-etymologies. They are meta-[*] in relation to ordinary etymologies in the following senses: (1) They are being Dis-closed by Websters after, or later than, patriarchal dictionary etymologies. That is, chronologically speaking, they occur later.[†] (2) Meta-etymologies are situated behind, or in the Background of, the ordinary etymologies. (3) They transform the meanings of these etymologies, wrenching them out of their old contexts and making them visible and audible in a New/Archaic context. Meta-etymologies move beyond and transcend the usual etymologies.

The meta-etymologies of the Wickedary are of various types. The first kind are those containing material that is presented in etymologies in ordinary patriarchal dictionaries.[‡] In selecting such material, Websters strive for precision and accuracy, while carefully choosing information that is most enlightening. What makes such a selected etymology a meta-etymology is the illuminating Crone-logical context in which it is presented in the Wickedary. An example is the meta-etymology of fool (in Word-Web Three), which is, in part: "[derived fr. L follis bellows, bag, akin to Gk phallos penis (found at blow) – Webster's ... ]." In order to Dis-cover the hidden connection between fool and phallos Websters were obliged to seek and find the connection between the Latin follis and the Greek phallos under the word blow. Both the Wickedary definition of fool and Appendicular Web Two (on Be-Laughing) provide a context in which this information can be appreciated.

The second type of meta-etymology is a common patriarchal dictionary's standard english definition taken as a re-source for a Wickedary definition. An example is the meta-etymology of Glamour (in Word-Web Two), which is "['a magic spell: BEWITCHMENT' – Webster's]." This information provides a context for Websters weaving Wild definitions of Glamour, such as "an Archimagical Spell by which Nixing Nags dispel phallic pseudopresence/absence." A variation on the model of this second type occurs when a standard dictionary definition is taken over and awarded "Websters' Intergalactic Seal of Approval." For example, we find the Approved definition/meta-etymology of Virago taken from Webster's: "['a loud overbearing woman: SHREW, TERMAGANT...']." The words of Webster's definition, of course, take on New/Archaic meaning when Heard within the context of Websters' First New Intergalactic Wickedary of the English Language.

The third type of meta-etymology is a combination of one or more patriarchal dictionary etymologies with one or more patriarchal dictionary definitions. See Dragon (Word-Web Two) or bull, papal (Word-Web Three).[*] Here it is the context provided by the Wickedary definitions as well as the general context of this Wicked Work that makes possible a transformation in the reader's understanding of this material.

The Wickedary contains a few meta-etymologies which have as their re-sources works which are not dictionaries. Two stunning examles of such re-sources are Thomas Aquinas, Summa theologiae (see Passion, Pyrogenetic in Word-Web Two), and Marabel Morgan, The Total Woman (see totaled woman in Word-Web Three).

In meta-etymologies, the Wickedary conforms to the style (abbreviations, capitalizations, punctuation, etc.) of the dictionaries or other works cited.

Throughout this work, the following abbreviations are used to refer to the most commonly cited dictionaries: American Heritage, for The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language; O.E.D., for The Oxford English Dictionary; Skeat's, for Walter W. Skeat A Concise Etymological Dictionary of the English Language; Webster's, for Webster's Third New International Dictionary of the English Language; Webster's Collegoate, for Webster's new Collegiate Dictionary.

Cross-referencing

For purposes of cross-referencing within the Core, the abbreviations W-W 1, W-W 2, and W-W 3 are employed to refer to Word-Web One, Word-Web Two, and Word-Web Three of the Core. At the end of a definition, readers are often invited to "See" or "Compare" another Wickedary word. See generally refers the reader to synonyms or to words which give further relevant information. Compare refers the Searcher to antonyms. In cases where cross-referenced words are to be found in the same Word-Web, these are always noted first.

System of Symbols ( 🌑 🌒 🌗 🌕 )

The system of symbols employed in the Word-Webs to signify the works by Mary Daly in which Wickedary words first appeared is explained at the beginning of Word-Web One.

Conclusion

Just about enough has been said now concerning matters of "style." Canny readers will be quick to comprehend the Crone-logical arrangement of the Wickedary. Wicked Searchers of this work will find its Wicked system Sylph-explanatory.

AUTHOR'S IN-TEXT FOOTNOTES

[*] Even this general rule is irregularly followed, for proper names (e.g., geographical names) and proper adjectives are usually capitalized according to convention. This apparent conventionality is due to the unconventional unwillingness of unruly Websters to bore ourSelves with unnecessary rule-making. It should be noted, however, that there are exceptions to such conventionality in the matter of proper names. See, for example, tom, dick, and harry (Word-Web Three).

[*] As we have seen in the Preface, the Race of Wild Words naturally gathers in tribes. Some of those that weave their way into Word-Web One (which consists of key words) Name Background reality and some Name foreground counterfeits of that Wild reality, viewed from the perspective of the Background. Thus some of the words in Word-Web One are more closely allied to the words of Word-Web Two (which introduces Background Inhabitants), while others are more closely related to those inhabiting Word-Web Three (which Names foreground inhabitants). The fact that most Wickedary words are not in Word-Web One does not mean that they are second-class citizens. Such a foreground perspective is alien to their ways of be-ing. From a Wicked perspective it is clear that words flock together Crone-logically. All Wicked Words are Guide words, acting as Guides for Searchers on Wild word chases. All lead to Other words, opening doors to further magic meanings. They all have their own Ways, some of which can be glimpsed by word-chasing Searchers.

[*] The meanings of the prefix meta-, all applicable here, are, according to Webster's, "occurring later," "situated behind," "change in, transformation of," and "beyond, transcending."

[†] This chronological order pertains to time constricted by the barriers of patriarchal limitations. Crone-logically speaking, and in the Realms of Archaic Time/Tidal Time, meta-etymologies have priority.

[‡] Sometimes this etymological material is drawn from more than one dictionary. In such cases all of the re-sources are carefully acknowledged.

[*] In these cases, the entire meta-etymology is contained within brackets. The part which is a citation of ordinary dictionary etymologies is contained within parentheses, in order to distinguish and separate this from the dictionary definition.