Words with Webster (Melanoailurophobia) and Friendly Fill-Ins

We have two features for you today on this Friday the 13th: a new word from Real Cat Webster, followed by Friendly Fill-Ins. Take it away, Webster!

Words with Webster

Hi, all! Webster here, bringing you another installment of Words with Me. Today’s word is a little bit or completely made up by me and Mommy. We were talking about superstitions (it being Friday the 13th and all), and we wondered if there was a specific word for the fear of black cats. So we asked the Internet in various ways and found nothing, zilch, nada. We did find “fear of cats” (ailurophobia) and “fear of black” (melanophobia), so we just put them together to make our word:

melanoailurophobia: The fear of black cats.

 This word is made from the Greek roots

melano, “black”;
ailuros, “cat”; and
phobos, “fear.”

 Here it is used in a sentence:

Mitch had suffered from melanoailurophobia ever since his sister’s black cat scratched him when he was mean to her.

If you're afraid of this cat, you might suffer from
melanoailurophobia: fear of black cats.
Photo by Luliie Lodia via Adobe Stock.

We think it’s a pretty good word, and we’re not sure why it’s not a “word” word (you know, in a dictionary and everything). We even checked the Oxford English Dictionary and didn’t find it. The only place we found it was on another blog, Dances with Dogs.

Whether melanoailurophobia is a “word” word or not, we think it’s too bad that some people might be afraid of black cats. I used to livewith a black cat, and he was really cool and nice, and he taught me a lot. So I sort of hope this word doesn’t catch on, but then you know how superstitious and all some people are.

Friendly Fill-Ins

And now to Friendly Fill-Ins, from 15andmeowing and McGuffy’s Reader. They are a fun way to

learn a little bit about the authors of the blogs you read. The first two questions, answered by old SoLT, are from Ellen of 15andmeowing, and the next two, answered this week by Real Cat Paisley, are from Annie of McGuffy’s Reader.

Old SoLT’s answers

1. My guiding word for 2017 is “now.”

2. I’ve never been to a class reunion, but this year will be my thirtieth high school class reunion. Still not going J

Real Cat Paisley’s answers
3. Truth be told I am superstitious about keeping a dog in the house. I’m sure this is very bad luck.

4. Lately, I have been sitting at the top of the steps and not letting the dog come up. She is afraid of me. Ha!