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syllabub

Pronounced: SIH-luh-buhb, noun Notes: Our word differs from syllabus by one letter, but the meaning are not related Yesterday’s word The word contrafactum is “a composition that makes use of an existing piece of music with different lyrics” First usage Our word came into English in the 1940s Background / Comments I have said “same…

contrafactum

Pronounced: KON-truh-fak-tuhm, noun Notes: I incorrectly thought it was something against the facts Yesterday’s word The word catchpole means “a sheriff’s deputy – especially one who makes an arrest for failure to pay a debt” First usage Our word came into English before the mid-1000s Background / Comments Our word came from the Middle English…

catchpole

Pronounced: KACH-pole, noun Notes: Another new word to me Yesterday’s phrase The phrase Grand Guignol as a noun, is “an event, entertainment, etc of a sensational or horrific nature”. As an adjective, it means “gruesome, grotesque, or horrifying”. First usage Our phrase came into English in the 1900s (1900-1909) Background / Comments If the nasal…

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