amphigory
[am-fi-gawr-ee, -gohr-ee]
- a meaningless or nonsensical piece of writing, especially one intended as a parody.
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Also amphigouri.
Origin of amphigory
1800–10; < French amphigouri, equivalent to amphi- amphi- + gouri; perhaps modeled on French equivalent of phantasmagoria
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
bunk, baloney, hooey, cant, rigmarole, drivel, rubbish, bull, balderdash, gibberish, amphigory, boshamphigory
amphigouri (ˈæmfɪˌɡʊərɪ)
- a piece of nonsensical writing in verse or, less commonly, prose
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Word Origin
C19: from French amphigouri, of unknown origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for amphigory
n.
1809, "burlesque nonsense writing or verse," from French amphigouri, of unknown origin, perhaps from Greek amphi- (see amphi-) + gyros "circle," thus "circle on both sides," or second element may be from Greek -agoria "speech" (cf. allegory, category). Related: Amphigoric.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper