Richard Steele
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Tue Mar-13-07 02:11 PM
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Is there a specific word that means "personal superstitious ritual"? |
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For example, a Baseball player who insist on eating EXACTLY the same meal before every game, or a performer who refuses to go onstage without their "lucky underwear"... that sort of thing.
I was discussing this with my Sweetie the other day, and couldn't quite think of that word. Then 15 fruitless minutes with a thesaurus got me thinking that maybe there isn't one.
Is there?
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SteppingRazor
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Tue Mar-13-07 02:16 PM
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That may be a bit too mental disorder for ya, but that would describe it.
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skypilot
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Tue Mar-13-07 02:33 PM
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...I don't think that compulsion quite gets at the superstitious aspect of it, although I'm wracking my brain trying to think of something better. This is going to drive me nuts for the rest of the day. Dammit.
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idgiehkt
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Tue Mar-13-07 02:19 PM
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2. I think for OCD they are called 'rituals' |
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At least some of the OCD people I've seen on television call them that. I thought of fetish but that is kind of a sexual thing.
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ghostsofgiants
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Tue Mar-13-07 02:28 PM
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3. In skateboarding culture, it's called "madness"... |
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http://www.vbs.tv/player.php?bctid=607689594But I'm not sure about in normal everyday life.
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Hugin
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Tue Mar-13-07 02:40 PM
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zingaro
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Tue Mar-13-07 02:42 PM
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Impulsion.
"im·pul·sion (m-plshn) n.
An urge to perform certain actions without regard for internal or social constraints."
:D
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idgiehkt
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Tue Mar-13-07 02:45 PM
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7. there is a great movie starring Meg Tilly called "Impulse" |
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It's just like that, people in a town start acting out their impulses all at once.
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Richard Steele
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Tue Mar-13-07 02:50 PM
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9. That's the closest so far! But not quite it... |
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The thing is, I felt certain that I was just "drawing a blank" on a word I had used before, or at least SEEN.
You know, that "it's on the tip of my tongue" feeling.
So, I'm waiting for that "AHA!!!" moment when I find the exact word that I was trying to bring to mind.
And I'm starting to doubt that I'll ever have it, and wondering if it isn't finally time for a nice cranial CATscan.
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zingaro
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Tue Mar-13-07 02:56 PM
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10. Well please post it when you find it. |
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Edited on Tue Mar-13-07 02:56 PM by zingaro
Now I'm a more than a bit compelled to know this elusive word. :D
edited for clarity
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Richard Steele
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Tue Mar-13-07 02:57 PM
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11. If I ever find it, I certainly shall! nm |
Fran Kubelik
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Tue Mar-13-07 02:48 PM
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Richard Steele
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Tue Mar-13-07 03:50 PM
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12. Ooooh, you got me! I had my hopes up when I googled that! |
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It's extra funny, because that REALLY sounds like it could be a word that describes a behavior or psychological condition! :thumbsup:
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ChickMagic
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Tue Mar-13-07 03:55 PM
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unpossibles
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Tue Mar-13-07 04:10 PM
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not quite right though.
I think "ritual" is pretty close.
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Richard Steele
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Tue Mar-13-07 04:25 PM
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16. Yes, "ritual" is as close as I've gotten. |
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But I just can't get rid of the nagging feeling that there's a word for this particular TYPE of unique, personal ritual. A word I've seen before, but can't quite remember.
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Hand
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Tue Mar-13-07 04:23 PM
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Richard Steele
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Tue Mar-13-07 04:40 PM
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17. "Quirk" really has the proper FEEL, but it's not quite it. Likewise "eccentricity". |
Hand
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Tue Mar-13-07 04:47 PM
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Redbear
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Tue Mar-13-07 05:03 PM
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19. "Wont" is a good word |
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because it refers to a personal habit.
"He rose at dawn and counted his toes twice, as was his wont."
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Richard Steele
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Tue Mar-13-07 05:30 PM
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23. I enjoy using "wont" more than most, and more than I probably should.... |
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Especially so since I started prononouncing it "won't" as a deliberate affectation. (Because that gives me more opportunities to ENJOY using the word "affectation", as is my wont.)
But that's not it.
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wildhorses
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Tue Mar-13-07 05:10 PM
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Edited on Tue Mar-13-07 05:13 PM by wildhorses
mannerisms
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China_cat
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Tue Mar-13-07 05:12 PM
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Blue-Jay
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Tue Mar-13-07 05:13 PM
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22. There's probably a German word for it. |
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I'd bet that it's 50 letters long and hard to pronounce, however.
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zingaro
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Tue Mar-13-07 07:41 PM
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27. I was thinking the same thing. Some disallowed crossword puzzle word. |
Richard Steele
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Tue Mar-13-07 06:30 PM
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24. One last kick before I start a "help me invent a new word" thread. |
AzDar
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Tue Mar-13-07 06:47 PM
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25. I call mine my 'THANG'. n/t |
InvisibleTouch
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Tue Mar-13-07 07:41 PM
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That addresses the personal quirks and habits, anyway, but I'm not sure it really gets to the superstitious aspect of what you're asking.
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smoogatz
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Tue Mar-13-07 08:14 PM
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Edited on Tue Mar-13-07 08:14 PM by smoogatz
One step away from OCD.
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