cryptolalia
/ˌkɹɪptəˈleɪliə/
cryptolalia means the use of obscure (or private) language. It carries an Arena rating of 1574, earned across 5 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, cryptolalia ranks #1,170 of 17,151 for The Improbable, #1,398 of 17,124 for Most Sublime Words, #2,707 of 17,126 for Most Satisfying to Say, #2,977 of 17,138 for Most Incisive Words.
cryptolalia is pronounced /ˌkɹɪptəˈleɪliə/.
Why “cryptolalia” is a great word
Cryptolalia is the deliberate use of obscure or private language as an active tool for concealment. From crypto- (from Ancient Greek κρυπτός (kruptós), meaning 'hidden, secret') + -lalia (from Ancient Greek λαλιά (laliá), meaning 'talk, chat'), it is the whispered craft of hidden speech. Unlike a cryptolect, which is the secret language system itself, or jargon, the specialized but often unintentionally opaque vocabulary of a trade, cryptolalia is the wilful performance of speaking in code. It is the hushed technicalities of conspirators wrapped in cigar smoke, the arcane terms of endearment whispered between lovers in a crowded room, and the murmured slang of thieves that transforms a marketplace into a map of targets—a small, shared fortress of sound built against the cold, eavesdropping world.
Etymology
From crypto- + -lalia.
noun
- The use of obscure (or private) language
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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