lamechas

Portuguese

FWOTD – 25 July 2023

Alternative forms

• lamecha

Etymology

From lamecha +‎ -s, further origin unknown, possibly from Spanish lamer (“to lick”).

Pronunciation

 

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /laˈmɛ.ʃɐs/

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /laˈmɛ.ʃɐs/
  • (Rio de Janeiro) IPA^(key): /laˈmɛ.ʃɐʃ/
  • (Southern Brazil) IPA^(key): /laˈmɛ.ʃas/

 

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /lɐˈmɛ.ʃɐʃ/

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /lɐˈmɛ.ʃɐʃ/
  • (Northern Portugal) IPA^(key): /lɐˈmɛ.t͡ʃɐʃ/

• Hyphenation: la‧me‧chas

Adjective

lamechas (invariable)

1. overly sentimental

   Synonym: piegas

   • 1887, Eça de Queirós, “IV”, in A Relíquia:

     Decidi segredar-lhe logo ali: "Oh minha irmãzinha, estou todo lamecha por si!"

     I decided to whisper to her right there: "Oh my little sister, I'm wholly sentimental for you!"

Further reading

• “lamechas” in Dicionário infopédia da Língua Portuguesa. Porto: Porto Editora, 2003–2024.