facetious fə-ˈsē-shəs adjective
: inappropriately clever or amusing in tone
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The word facetious has appeared in 23 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year, including on March 12 in “Your Environment Is Cleaner. Your Immune System Has Never Been So Unprepared” by Matt Richtel:
“I tell people, when they drop food on the floor, please pick it up and eat it,” said Dr. Meg Lemon, a dermatologist in Denver who treats people with allergies and autoimmune disorders.
… Dr. Lemon’s prescription for a better immune system doesn’t end there. “You should not only pick your nose, you should eat it,” she said.
She’s referring, with a facetious touch, to the fact our immune system can become disrupted if it doesn’t have regular interactions with the natural world.
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