persiflage (2009-08-20)

Part of Speech: noun

Pronunciation: ['pêr-sê-flahzh]

Definition: Light, sociable chatter or a superficial, sociable manner of speaking.

Usage: Here is the perfect substitute for the overly colloquial term "chit-chat": "I hate to take Earnest to any social event because he is so inept at persiflage, he inevitably ends up haranguing the company with his political opinions." Are there jobs for it at work? Of course, "Seth is such a mild manager I often confuse his orders with simple persiflage." How about a quiet evening of wine and persiflage on the verandah or by a crackling fire?

Suggested Usage: Today's word is yet another lexical orphan; no one takes "persiflate" seriously as a member of the English lexical family. It does not even have a plural.

Etymology: French persifler "to banter" comprising per- intensive prefix + siffler "to whistle. "Siffler" comes from Late Latin sifilare, alteration of Latin sibilare "to hiss."