Author Archives: Richard

Pronounced: yuhrk, verb/noun Notes: I don’t think I’ve run across this word Yesterday’s word The word hackle means the hair or feathers on the back of an animal’s neck temper, dander First usage Our word came into English in the first half of the 1400s Background / Comments Like you, I was aware of theContinue reading “yerk”

Pronounced: HAH-kuhl, noun Notes: I knew one definition (you probably do, too), but one was not known to me Yesterday’s word The word bacchant means “a boisterous reveler” First usage Our word came into English in the very late 1600 Background / Comments Even though it was the third pronunciation, it is how I wouldContinue reading “hackle”

Pronounced: buh-KANT (alt-1: buh-KAHNT; alt-2: BAK-uhnt) Notes: I didn’t quite define this word properly, but I was a bit close Yesterday’s word The word picaresque means “of or relating to rogues, rascals, or roguish protagonists” First usage Our word came into English in the early 1800s Background / Comments Our word comes from the SpanishContinue reading “bacchant”

Pronounced: pih-kuh-RESK, adj Notes: A neat word, unknown to me Yesterday’s word The word autolycan means “characterized by thievery or trickery” First usage Our word came into English in the late 1800s Background / Comments The reason I said that I was surprised that I didn’t know our word was that while in school, IContinue reading “picaresque”

Pronounced: ah-TAHL-uh-kuhn, adj Notes: I’m a little surprised that this word was new to me Yesterday’s word The word misbegotten means unlawfully conceived; illegitimate having a disreputable or improper origin not worthy of respect or approval First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1500s Background / Comments The only definition I knew wasContinue reading “autolycan”

Pronounced: miss-bih-GAH-tuhn, adj Notes: I knew one of the definitions, but not all of them Yesterday’s word The word welter, as a noun, means a confused mass; a jumble a state of upheaval As a verb, it means to roll, writhe, or toss to lie soaked in something, such as blood First usage Our wordContinue reading “misbegotten”

Pronounced: WELL-tuhr, noun/verb Notes: I was thinking of “welt” (and that was incorrect) Yesterday’s word The word bumbershoot means “umbrella” (as you may know) First usage Our word came into English in the very late 1800s Background / Comments When I saw this word, the UK came to mind; possibly because they have several nicknamesContinue reading “welter”

Pronounced: BUM-ber-shoot, noun Notes: I knew this word, but it has an interesting background. Do you know the word? Yesterday’s word The word megrim can mean low spirits (when pluralized) whim migraine First usage Our word is quite old; coming into English in the mid-1400s Background / Comments Our word is another one that wasContinue reading “bumbershoot”

Pronounced: ME-grim, noun Notes: Not a word I’ve heard Yesterday’s word The word Argus is a hundred-eyed creature of Greek mythology watchful guardian First usage I could not find information about when this word came into English Background / Comments As I noted yesterday, our word was a marginal case. I was aware of theContinue reading “megrim”

Pronounced: ARE-gus, noun Notes: This was a close one; you may know this word. I was close Yesterday’s word The word lutestring is “a glossy silk fabric” First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1600s Background / Comments Our word has nothing to do with strings for the instrument called a lute. ItContinue reading “Argus”