Pronounced: TAHN-teen, noun
Notes: I do happen to know this word (more tomorrow), but I don’t think it is generally known
Yesterday’s word
The word pensum is “a task given, especially as punishment”
First usage
Our word came into English in the mid-1600s
Background / Comments
Our word came from the Latin word pensum, which came from the Latin verb pendere (to hang; to weigh). Originally, a pensum was an amount of wool to be spun. Over time, the usage of the word shifted to a more generic meaning of any piece of work or task. It then changed again to refer to a task given as punishment – especially in schools.
Richard's Vocabulary Word-of-the-Day 