De defenestratione

So you've probably run across the word defenestrate /dəˈfɛn.ɛˌstɹeɪt/ v.tr. 1. to throw [sth.] out a window 2. to remove windows from [a building, schematic, etc.]. 3. to remove (Microsoft) Windows from [a computer]. I'm not actually convinced that it is a word, except in sense 2: it seems that virtually all uses of the term, this one included, give its definition in the reference — it is scarcely ever used unexplained. Often — as here — it is accompanied by a comment that exfenestrate /ɛksˈfɛn.ɛˌstɹeɪt/ seems to be the proper word for that (sense 1 only).

Allegedly there is also a parallel word transfenestrate /tɹænsˈfɛn.ɛˌstɹeɪt/ v.tr. to throw [sth.] out a closed window, although it only gets 25 unique Google hits (well, 26 now), each and every one of which explains its meaning. (It seems to have been invented by Thomas Pynchon for use in his novel Vineland, whose protagonist apparently self-transfenestrates annually.) It, too, seems incorrect — it should really be perfenestrate /pɝˈfɛn.ɛˌstɹeɪt/, and perhaps this time we can catch the mistake before it spreads too far. (Of course perfenestrate could also mean, unqualified, to throw [sth.] out a window; but given that we seem to need two words anyway, it is not such a stretch.)

That got me to thinking, though: the (etymologically similar) term transfenestrate /ˈtɹæns.fɛnˌɛ.stɹət/ adj. 1. across a window 2. beyond a window — although note the stress and pronunciation changes! — is perfectly acceptable.

Some similar forms include:

affenestrate /ˈæf.fɛnˌɛ.stɹət/

adj. 1. toward a window

antefenestrate /ˈæn.tə.fɛnˌɛ.stɹət/

adj. 1. before a window (usu. 'before' of spatial position)

circumfenestrate /ˈsɹ̩.km̩.fɛnˌɛ.stɹət/

adj. 1. around a window

extrafenestrate /ˈɛks.tɹə.fɛnˌɛ.stɹət/

adj. 1. beyond anything pertaining to windows

intrafenestrate /ˈɪntɹə.fɛnˌɛ.stɹət/

adj. 1. within a window; within windows

interfenestrate /ˈɪntɝ.fɛnˌɛ.stɹət/

adj. 1. between windows

postfenestrate /ˈpoʊst.fɛnˌɛ.stɹət/

adj. 1. after a window

prefenestrate /ˈpɹi.fɛnˌɛ.stɹət/

adj. 1. before a window (usu. 'before' of temporal position)

subfenestrate /ˈsʌb.fɛnˌɛ.stɹət/

adj. 1. below a window

superfenestrate /ˈsupɝ.fɛnˌɛ.stɹət/

adj. 1. above a window