Latest from the Blog
calliope
Pronounced: kuh-LIE-uh-pee (alt: KA-lee-ope), noun Notes: I did not know the alternate pronunciation, nor could I recall the meaning when it is capitalized Yesterday’s word The word marplot means “a meddlesome person who spoils a plan by interference” First usage Our word came into English in the early 1700s Background / Comments Our word came…
marplot
Pronounced: MAHR-plot, noun Notes: I have never run across this word Yesterday’s word The word pococurante means “indifferent; nonchalant” First usage Our word came into English in the early 1800s Background / Comments Our word started as a character in Voltaire’s work Candide, published in 1759. Many characters in that work were carefully named. Pococurante…
pococurante
Pronounced: POH-koh-kyu-RAN-tee, adj Notes: Looks Spanish, but I don’t it Yesterday’s word The word dinky means, in the US, “small; insignificant; undesirable”. In the UK, it means “attractively tiny; cute” First usage Our word came into English in the late 1700s Background / Comments I did not realize that the UK meaning was different. Our…
Get new content delivered directly to your inbox.
