Pronounced: FOR-mih-kate, verb
Notes: I didn’t know the meaning of the word, but after I saw the definition, it was obvious
Yesterday’s word
The word luftmensch is “an impractical contemplative person having no definite business or income”
First usage
Our word came into English in the 1900s (meaning 1900-1910)
Background / Comments
If you thought that our word looks Yiddish, you are correct. Our word is an adaptation of the Yiddish word luftmentsh, which is composed of luft (air) and mentsh (human being). It has the idea of someone who always seems to have his head in the clouds. Note that we get the words “loft” and “lofty” from luft.
Richard's Vocabulary Word-of-the-Day 