frankenstein
/ˈfɹæŋ.kən.staɪn/
frankenstein means various small towns in Germany. Lexicurio rates it Rare gem — a strength score of 80 out of 100.
frankenstein is pronounced /ˈfɹæŋ.kən.staɪn/.
Why “frankenstein” is a great word
A creation, especially a monster or destructive agency, that ultimately ruins or harms its creator. From the German surname and placename Frankenstein, from Franken ("Franks, Frankish") + Stein ("stone"). The modern metaphorical sense derives from Mary Shelley's 1818 novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus, with the specific reference to the monster itself being an ellipsis of "Frankenstein's monster," popularized by the 1931 film adaptation. Unlike a golem, animated from inert clay to obey, or an automaton, assembled from clockwork to perform, a Frankenstein is an organic assemblage forcibly reanimated through science, granted a consciousness it never asked for. It is the stitched flesh moving under laboratory lightning, the coarse twine pulling at pallid skin, and the inarticulate roar of a creature confronting its own reflection—the irrevocable testament that our most animate ambitions can acquire a lonely will of their own.
Etymology
From German Frankenstein, various places named for Franken (“Franks, Frankish”) + Stein (“stone”). The use of referencing mad scientists derives from Mary Shelley's 1818 novel Frankenstein, or, The Modern Prometheus, where Victor Frankenstein assembles a man from pieces of various corpses and brings him to life with electricity. Use of the reference to the monster itself is an ellipsis of the earlier Frankenstein's monster, with the monster's usual modern appearance derived from Boris Karloff's performance in the 1931 film Frankenstein.
name
- Various small towns in Germany.
- Former name of Ząbkowice Śląskie: a town in Lower Silesian Voivodeship, Poland.“In the same year, a kiln of the same size was built in Frankenstein in the Silesian region, but the purpose of this kiln was to treat low-grade nickel ore, and it had a capacity for treating 80,000 tons a year.”
- A surname from German.
- Victor Frankenstein, a fictional character and the main protagonist and title character in Mary Shelley's 1818 novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus.
- The unnamed monster created by Victor Frankenstein: a fictional character who first appeared in Mary Shelley's 1818 novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus as the main antagonist.“Now, another fella told me he had a sister who looked just fine
Instead of being my deliverance, she had a strange resemblance
To a cat named Frankenstein.”
noun
- A monster composed of body parts from various corpses attached and brought back to life by a mad scientist, typically strong, unable to speak clearly, and misunderstood.“"Such loveliness as I possess can only truly shine In Hollywood!" Aunt Sponge declared. "Oh, wouldn't that be fine! I'd capture all the nations' hearts! They'd give me all the leading parts! The stars would all resign!" "I think you'd make," Aunt Spiker said, "a lovely Frankenstein."”
- Synonym of mad scientist.
- A stretch in which one walks forward with their arms extended while kicking their legs forward to touch their hands.
verb
- To combine two or more similar elements into a consistent entity, or a cohesive idea.“In the middle of the Formica-topped table, on the other side of Kimball's oatmeal but still at arm's length, was an approximation of a laptop Kimball had Frankensteined from computers so obsolete that cash-strapped schools wouldn't even accept them as donations.”
- To perform the frankenstein stretch.