Top definition
A word invented by James Joyce and used in his Ulysses. The word may be broken into parts to better understand its meaning:
con-trans-magnific-and-jew-bang-tantiality
The "-tantiality" is just a suffix for "con-" and "trans-". The "con-" refers to consubstantiation, the belief in Catholic theology that the father, the son and the holy spirit are all of the same substance but each presents in a different form. The "-trans-" refers to transubstantiation, the belief in Catholic theology that during communion the bread and wine literally become the body and blood of christ; the mundane is transformed into the divine. These two first parts of the word indicate that the word has to do with the intersection between the divine (god) and the mundane (humanity), or christ. The "magnific" refers to the magnificent, the divine. The "-and-" simply refers to the word "and" and the "-jew-" refers to a Jew, specifically Mary. The "-bang-" is where things get tricky and we see a bit of Joyce's (slightly blasphemous) humour: in one sense, "-bang-" refers to a collision between the divine and Mary (christ). It also refers to sex; Mary is impregnated by the divine and out of this tryst christ is born. Joyce intentionally juxtaposes sexuality and the virgin because he both believes that all human activities are beautiful and deserve to be represented in literature and because, in order for christ to have a human mother and a divine father, he must have blood from both.
con-trans-magnific-and-jew-bang-tantiality
The "-tantiality" is just a suffix for "con-" and "trans-". The "con-" refers to consubstantiation, the belief in Catholic theology that the father, the son and the holy spirit are all of the same substance but each presents in a different form. The "-trans-" refers to transubstantiation, the belief in Catholic theology that during communion the bread and wine literally become the body and blood of christ; the mundane is transformed into the divine. These two first parts of the word indicate that the word has to do with the intersection between the divine (god) and the mundane (humanity), or christ. The "magnific" refers to the magnificent, the divine. The "-and-" simply refers to the word "and" and the "-jew-" refers to a Jew, specifically Mary. The "-bang-" is where things get tricky and we see a bit of Joyce's (slightly blasphemous) humour: in one sense, "-bang-" refers to a collision between the divine and Mary (christ). It also refers to sex; Mary is impregnated by the divine and out of this tryst christ is born. Joyce intentionally juxtaposes sexuality and the virgin because he both believes that all human activities are beautiful and deserve to be represented in literature and because, in order for christ to have a human mother and a divine father, he must have blood from both.
You: Contransmagnificandjewbangtantiality.
English Professor: You get an "A," and you don't even have to come to class anymore.
You: Contransmagnificandjewbangtantiality.
Catholic Priest: STOP READING JAMES JOYCE WE NEED TO BURN THAT FILTHY BOOK BEFORE IT POISONS MORE MINDS AND DAMNS MORE SOULS!!!
Hot Girl: What does contransmagnificandjewbangtantiality mean?
You: I better come over and explain it to you. We may even need to act it out...
English Professor: You get an "A," and you don't even have to come to class anymore.
You: Contransmagnificandjewbangtantiality.
Catholic Priest: STOP READING JAMES JOYCE WE NEED TO BURN THAT FILTHY BOOK BEFORE IT POISONS MORE MINDS AND DAMNS MORE SOULS!!!
Hot Girl: What does contransmagnificandjewbangtantiality mean?
You: I better come over and explain it to you. We may even need to act it out...
by Avrilsbestguy October 02, 2011
Apr 27 Word of the Day
A horoscope so bad that it strikes fear into the heart of the reader, rendering them unable take action or make a decision on anything or to even leave the house. This is caused by a paralyzing fear that those actions or decisions may cause the predictions to come true.
After reading "There is a lot of uncertainty around financial transactions and investments right now, and the wrong decision could result in dire consequences" in his daily Horrorscope, Edward climbed back into bed, pulled the sheets over his head and remained there for the rest of the day.
Edward only had enough gas in his car to get to the gas station but was not sure if he had enough money in his account to pay for gas. His cell phone service had been cut off because his payments were in arrears, and since the only way he could be sure he had enough money (to pay for gas) would be to call the bank, he felt it best to hide in bed and hope his horoscope for tomorrow was more positive.
Edward only had enough gas in his car to get to the gas station but was not sure if he had enough money in his account to pay for gas. His cell phone service had been cut off because his payments were in arrears, and since the only way he could be sure he had enough money (to pay for gas) would be to call the bank, he felt it best to hide in bed and hope his horoscope for tomorrow was more positive.
by Edward Albee Deavers April 28, 2011