Author Archives: Richard

Pronounced: FLOCK-see-NAH-see-NIL-ih-PILL-ee-fih-KAY-shun, noun Notes: I happen to know this from a radio show, but I wanted to share it Yesterday’s word The word solander is “a case for maps, plates, etc, made to resemble a book, having a front cover and hinged fore edge” First usage Our word came into being in the late 1700sContinue reading “floccinaucinihilipilification”

Pronounced: suh-LAN-der, noun Notes: When I saw the pronunciation, it reminded me of “slander” stretched to three syllables (more in comments). Yesterday’s word The word calumniate means “to make false statements about someone maliciously” First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1500s Background / Comments It is a total coincidence that our wordContinue reading “solander”

Pronounced: kuh-LUHM-nee-ate, verb Notes: This was another close one; I had a sense of the meaning, but was a bit off Yesterday’s word The word affinal means “related to or concerning marriage” First usage Our word came into English in the early 1600s Background / Comments After seeing the definition, I thought our word wasContinue reading “calumniate”

Pronounced: ah-FINE-l (alt: uh-FINE-l), adj Notes: This is a word that I thought I figured out “backwards” – meaning that after I saw the definition, I could see how the word could mean it. Yesterday’s word The word comport means “to conduct (oneself)” or “to agree with” First usage Our word came into English inContinue reading “affinal”

Pronounced: come-PORT, verb Notes: I was pretty close to the right definition Yesterday’s word The word sophrosyne is “moderation; discretion; prudence” First usage Our word is another one that didn’t have information about when it came into English Background / Comments Our word is a great one to sprinkle into conversation; with the idea ofContinue reading “comport”

Pronounced: suh-FROSS-uh-nee, noun Notes: I don’t think I’ve every run across this word, but it’s a good, usable word to know Yesterday’s word The word kakistocracy means “government by the least qualified or worst persons” First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1800s Background / Comments The only reason I figured out ourContinue reading “sophrosyne”

Pronounced: kak-ih-STOCK-ruh-see (alt: kah-kih-STOCK-ruh-see), noun Notes: This is a rare exception to my only posting words I don’t know; I was able to correctly guess the meaning of this word, but I think it is rare enough to post Yesterday’s word The word clowder is “a group or cluster of cats” First usage Our wordContinue reading “kakistocracy”

Pronounced: KLOW-der, noun Notes: All I can see is “chowder” misspelled. Yesterday’s word The word coulrophobia is “the fear of clowns” First usage Our word came into English in the 1980s Background / Comments I assume that our word came into English later because clowns were originally supposed to be funny; it was later thatContinue reading “clowder”

Pronounced: kool-ruh-FOE-bee-uh, noun Notes: You may know this phobia (especially if you have it) Yesterday’s word The word kickshaw means First usage Our word came back into English in the late 1500s Background / Comments At least with this word, one can see how the definition evolved (I’m assuming that the first definition above wasContinue reading “coulrophobia”

Pronounced: KICK-shaw, noun Notes: Interesting word; not sure how often I’d use it Yesterday’s word The word boodler is “someone involved in bribery or corruption” First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1800s Background / Comments Our word came to us from the Dutch word boedel (property). This is a neat word toContinue reading “kickshaw”