The book itself was great, my use of it in the first 30 seconds after opening the gift was questionable. I was about 10 years old and liked to learn unusual words and obscure vocabulary. A sibling bought me some book for Christmas, the title was something like DICTIONARY OF UNUSUAL WORDS AND OBSCURE VOCABULARY. The extended family (other siblings, aunts, uncles, my parents) were gathered around and someone said, “Go ahead, teach us a new word!”
So I opened the book at random, saw a word I didn’t know, and (after looking carefully at the pronunciation key), announced, loudly:
“COITUS.”
Evidently, I was not the only person who didn’t know the word, because someone said, “Huh? What’s the definition?” Which I then read aloud. During the immediate and profoundly awkward silence, my mom suggested it was time for cookies and egg nog for everyone!
This book was quickly set aside on the shelf and not consulted publicly again, that I can recall.
Thanks.