Words and Neophily and Neoplasticism and Mondrian and Meossology and Neossoptile

As I was driving through the Neo-neighborhood, I was in a hurry and only noted three or four of the more striking homes as I passed through. You enter into this neighborhood by passing through an arch with "neophily" written above it in glittering letters. Neophily is the love of all things new, and this neighborhood brims with newness. Like the depiction of Athens in Acts 17, where the philosophers sat around doing nothing all day but talking about whatever was new, so the people in this neighborhood are all neophilists of one sort of another. You have to be one to move in; there is a homeowners association that makes sure your neophilogical credentials are in order before they let you in. They think that neophilia is far superior to other kinds of "philias" you might fall for.

Neonomian

There is always a really religious person in every neighborhood, and the "neo" neighborhood is no exception. The arresting lawn signs and bumper stickers concerning moral subjects made me notice Mr. Neonomian's home. A "neonomian" is one who believes in the "new law," or, more specifically, is a Christian who believes that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is really a replacement of the Mosaic Law, and is replete with commandments and rules requiring all kinds of duties for the Christian. It actually is a Christian heresy, but that has never stopped people from believing that religion is nothing but a bunch of rules. In any case, Mr. Neonomian shouted at me to slow down. Didn't I know that there were kids in the neighborhood and didn't I like to abide by rules and didn't I see the signs about engine noise levels? I drove on.

Neoplasticism

There was a really artsy-home in the neighborhood, that almost didn't exist because of its abstractness, but I saw that the name on the mailbox, written in stark primary colors, said "The Neoplastics." I knew that the Neoplastics had emigrated from Holland in the mid-20th century, and that they were fans of the Dutch artist Piet Mondrian (1872-1944). Indeed, Mondrian invented Neoplasticism by writing a book called the same in 1920 and saying that this was what his painting represented. I think that is a great idea. How better to break into the world than to invent a new term and then say that that is precisely what you are doing? So, the OED defines "Neoplasticism," as "a movement...originated by...Mondrian...characterized by the use of primary colours and abstract forms." Don't you just love his chutzpah? I learned that Neoplasticism is derived from "neoplasm," meaning a new growth or tissue. Its more macabre definition can be a "tumor," but thankfully all the Neoplastics are in good health. I knew you were anxious.

Neossology and Neossoptile

But it was growing late and I hastened on but could not help seeing the neossology home, surrounded as it was by all kinds of bird houses. Neossology is a branch of ornithology which deals with the hatching and rearing of the young, a "neossos" being Greek for "young bird." I think it is cool that the young birds even have a name for themselves, and that they are just not all called "birds." Ah, we can even go into more detail. Some of the young birds were flitting around and several soft down feathers lay on the ground. A neossoptile is one of the downy-soft feathers of such a newly-hatched bird, taken from the Greek words for "young bird" and "feather" (ptilon). I stopped the car and gathered up a few neossoptiles. I knew I would be late arriving home and my girlfriend would be mad. But I knew also that she loved soft things, and a gift of a few neossoptiles would also win her heart again. It was a great afternoon drive.