English

Adjective

fictionary ‎(not comparable)

1. Fictional.
   • 1853, Mary Anna Needell, Ada Gresham, page 53,

     I used to spend my mornings in the large, deserted drawing-room, whose charm was not yet broken, inditing ardent letters, into which my whole soul undisguised, was breathed to an imaginary friend; or writing some fragmentary sketches of the life of some fictionary favourite of fortune, in whose fate I always foreshadowed my own.

   • 1869, The Cornhill Magazine, Volume XIX: January to June, 1869, page 37,

     Lastly, there were not a few scholars who, discarding the idea that myths were purely fictionary, and admitting a basis of reality, yet found that basis not in historical occurrence but in natural phenomena.

   • 1882, Journal of the British Archaeological Association, Volume 38, page 53,

     Omitting, for the occasion, all thought of Anglo-Saxon literary remains, histories, chronicles, theological, fictionary, and scientific works, the entire number of documentary evidences, such as charters, wills, etc., of the Saxon period in England is very limited.

   • 1907, Kemp Plummer Battle, History of the University of North Carolina: From its beginning to the death of President Swain, 1789-1868, Volume 1, page 574,

     Showing a lady into a library in which were alcoves, the books being arranged by subjects, he said, "Now, Miss Mary, I will show you the concave^[sic] of fictionary novels."'

Etymology 2

Blend of fiction +‎ dictionary.

Alternative forms

• Fictionary

Noun

fictionary ‎(uncountable)

1. A parlor game in which participants invent definitions for an unfamiliar word found in a dictionary, and as one person reads them out, the others try to guess which one is the correct definition.
   • 2001, Susannah Seton, 365 Simple Pleasures, page 14,

     I generally hate playing games, but recently I was introduced to one that I think is actually fun: fictionary.

   • 2007, David Elkind, The Power of Play: Learning What Comes Naturally, page 190,

     One of our favorites is Fictionary, which we play on holidays or during storms.

   • 2010, Wanda Urbanska, The Heart of Simple Living: 7 Paths to a Better Life, page 223,

     Turns out, it's reminiscent of the game of Fictionary that was the hit of a recent Thanksgiving at my home (see below).