Pronounced: STRAYT-n, verb
Notes: I’ve run across this word and thought it was merely an old-fashioned spelling of “straighten” – but it is not
Yesterday’s word
The word sciolism means “a superficial show of learning”
First usage
This word came into English in the early 1800s
Background / Comments
The word comes from Late Latin sciolus (smatterer, or one who speaks with spotty or superficial knowledge). The Late Latin word is a diminutive of the Latin scius (knowing). In the course of my work, I have met a couple of people who bring this word immediately to mind. I won’t say anything more, except that neither person worked for the same company as I did — that is, neither of these people were co-workers of mine.
Richard's Vocabulary Word-of-the-Day 