assize

Pronounced: uh-SIZE, noun

Notes: From my reading, I see this word capitalized and pluralized (Assizes), but I only had a general idea of the meaning. Research into this word provided good insight (more tomorrow)

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Yesterday’s word

A toxophilite is “a person fond of or expert at archery”

Background / Comments

This word is a bit rare these days; it comes from two Greek words: toxon (referring to both a bow and arrow) and philos (loving). If you thought that this word might be someone who enjoyed poison, you are very clever at seeing the part of a word – give yourself a pat on the back! The word toxic comes from Latin toxicum (poison), but the Latin word originally meant “poison for arrows” and derives from the first part of today’s word.

First usage

This word came into English in the late 1700s.