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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…

Grand Guignol

Pronounced: grahn gee-NYOL, noun/adj Notes: This is new to me (the word Grand is pronounced nasally) Yesterday’s word The lamia is a female demon; vampire First usage Our word came into English in the mid- to late 1300s Background / Comments Our word came from Greek mythology; Lamia was a queen of Libya – one…

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