Wednesday, April 3, 2013

A to Z Challenge 2013: C - Copacetic


Copacetic

co·pa·cet·ic or co·pa·set·ic [kōpəˈsetik] adj. - very satisfactory or acceptable; fine.

Synonyms: satisfactory, acceptable, fine.

Etymology: 1919, but it may have origins in 19c. U.S. Southern black speech. Origin unknown, suspects include Latin, Yiddish (e.g. Hebrew kol b'seder), Italian, Louisiana French (coupe-sétique), and Native American. None is considered convincing by linguists.

Now that's an interesting etymology!

38 comments:

Dani said...

It's also a great song by Local H! Another perfect word!

Sally said...

Another new word to learn, thank you.

Katie O'Sullivan said...

Great word - underutilized, too! Nice theme for A to Z!

S.A. Larsenッ said...

This is such a cool sounding word. It always makes me think of music. Not sure why.

Natalie Aguirre said...

Interesting word I've never heard of.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I think the first time I used that word, my wife gave me that deer in headlights look. Come to think of it, she still does.

Unknown said...

Matt! It is so funny you used this word! I work with a woman who uses it almost a dozen times a day.

farawayeyes said...

And it's so fun to say.

mshatch said...

This word I am familiar with :)

Anonymous said...

I like using this word at co-workers for the same reason Alex just described. 8^O

Misha Gerrick said...

So I think someone just made it up. :-D

Jeremy [Retro] said...

i remember using this in the 80's from one of those damn john hughes films...

Jeremy [Retro]
AtoZ Challenge Co-Host
Oh No, Let's Go... Crazy

Loralie Hall said...

I love the word copacetic. There's something about it that just rolls off the tongue. Which seems appropriate given its meaning.

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Amanda - The Southern UnBelle said...

Every time I hear this word, I immediately think of "sympathetic," even though I know they're not the same thing. Then I get confused and can't remember the actual meaning of "copacetic."

Bevimus said...

It certainly is! What a comination, too! Yiddish, Louisiana french and/or Native American- that's quite a combination!

Kristen said...

I love learning the history of words, and how they evolve. Great choice for C!

Ida Thought said...

I never heard or seen it before - not even movies from the 80's - my dashboard dictionary didn't even believe it was a word - I had to google it - but that's copacetic :)

cleemckenzie said...

It's does seem to have traveled around a bit, doesn't it?

Laura S. said...

That's a great word. I'll have to try and use it in a conversation today!

Happy A to Z-ing! from Laura Marcella @ Wavy Lines

Steve MC said...

It's actually derived from the name of a drink that the early settlers would make from Coca Cola and Alka Seltzer.

Anonymous said...

So, now that summer is on it's way, life seems copacetic. Hope that works...had to try it.

Christina Lee said...

Your C should be for all the awesome pics I'm spying on FB of Hogwart's CASTLE!

Andrew Leon said...

Now, see, this is actually a word that I don't like very much. It's like choosing a long word to say something instead of the short word that would work just as well.
And it reminds me of medicine.

Su-sieee! Mac said...

I didn't realize it was such a "young" word and an American one at that. It always had a musical sound to it. I wonder if it might be based in music.

I've entered both my blogs into the A to Z Challenge. Yeah, crazy, man. :-)
Take 25 to Hollister
Don't be a Hippie

Anonymous said...

I like your theme this year. Wish I had thought of it. MM

Marta Szemik said...

The word makes me think of a Greek goddess and I don't know why?

Samantha May said...

What a cool word! I'm loving this theme!! I'm going to find a way to use copacetic for sure.

CommonWeeder said...

I love your words. It is so fascinating the way words gather meaning.

Melissa Sugar said...

One of my favorite words. Well, it was until my husband informed me that it was also my most overused word.

Faye North said...

I've heard the word many times, but never knew anything about it. Thanks for enlightening me!

Faye North said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Lyre said...

This is a word I use all the time and I had no idea it's etymology was so mysterious. How cool!

Rick Daley said...

Now I have that song running through my head.

Just don't get it, keep it copasetic...

Joe Lunievicz said...

This is a word that needs to make a come-back. Big in the 60's?

Kate OMara said...

I read the dictionary for little gems like this one. Thanks

Anonymous said...

I like this word. Now, to find an excuse to use it...

Cova said...

One of my very favorite words!

Jill said...

Welp. Now I'm going to have "Bound for the Floor" stuck in my head all day. lol