transmogrify
/tɹænzˈmɒɡɹɪfaɪ/
transmogrify means to substantially or completely alter the form of. It carries an Arena rating of 2001, earned across 13 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, transmogrify ranks #14 of 17,126 for Most Satisfying to Say, #24 of 42,747 for Qualifying, #90 of 17,140 for Most Whimsical Words, #111 of 17,163 for Funniest Words.
transmogrify is pronounced /tɹænzˈmɒɡɹɪfaɪ/.
Why “transmogrify” is a great word
To change or alter something's form or appearance completely, often in a strange, grotesque, or humorous way. A word of uncertain, mid-17th-century origin, it is a whimsical and possibly bastard union—a humorous blend of 'transfigure' and 'modify', or a murky alchemy of 'transmigrate' and 'maugre', an old word for ill will. Unlike "metamorphose" (which implies a natural, often beautiful progression) or "transmute" (which concerns a fundamental change in substance or essence), to transmogrify is to subject form to a kind of capricious, aesthetic violence. It is the act of a carnival mirror warping a familiar face, of a respectable armchair sprouting antlers and a sardonic grin, of a bureaucrat being turned into a peculiarly officious filing cabinet—a reminder that the universe’s sense of humor is both absurd and slightly cruel.
Etymology
17th century; origin uncertain, but possibly from transmigure, transmigrate. It is also possible that this word is a formation derived from maugre, hence it originally signified the "evil eye", but under the influence of the former etymologies shifted its meaning to its sense of "transformation". Another possibility is a humorous blending of transfigure and modify.
verb
- To substantially or completely alter the form of.e.g.“Our present Governors (who have transmografide Monarchy into a Free State) ...” — 1652, n.a. [Isabel Yeamans], The Year of Wonders, London: George Horton, page 10:
- To completely alter one's form.e.g.“"Just set the dial to "Calvin", and I'll transmogrify back to a boy."” — 1987 April 2, Bill Watterson, Calvin and Hobbes (comic):
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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