frabjousadj.
/ˈfrabdʒəs/, U.S. /ˈfræbdʒəs/ A nonsense-word invented by ‘Lewis Carroll’ (C. L. Dodgson), apparently intended to suggest ‘fair’ and ‘joyous’; used vaguely by others in various contextual senses.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > joy, gladness, or delight > [adjective] > fair and joyous
frabjous1871
1871 ‘L. Carroll’ Through Looking-glass i. 24 O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!
1899 R. Kipling Stalky & Co. 144 Oh, you frabjous asses!
1937 D. L. Sayers Busman's Honeymoon iv. 96 Oh, frabjous day!.. All my life I have waited to hear those exquisite words, Peter darling, The sweep's come.
1970 New Yorker 10 Jan. 6/1 A frabjous sort of place in a somewhat vorpal neighborhood.
Derivatives
ˈfrabjously adv.
ΚΠ
1899 R. Kipling Stalky & Co. 244 You're a dirty little schoolboy. Besides bein' frabjously immoral.
1935 ‘D. Smith’ in Famous Plays 1935–6 171 I'm frabjously late.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1933; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
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adj.1871