Author Archives: Richard

Pronounced: muh-LIFF-er-uhs, adj Notes: I thought this word was a synonym for melodious, but it’s not Yesterday’s word The word anschauung means intuition outlook, attitude, opinion, etc First usage The word came into English in the early 1800s Background / Comments As you probably guessed, our word is Germanic in origin. It comes from theContinue reading “melliferous”

Pronounced: AHN-shou-uhng, noun Notes: I think this is another word that I confused with another one Yesterday’s word The word allochthonous means “not formed in the region of locate where something ultimately is located” – it is normally used of rocks or minerals. First usage This word came into English in the 1910s Background /Continue reading “anschauung”

Pronounced: uh-LOCK-thuh-nuhs, adj Notes: Quite a mouthful; I didn’t know that there was a word that meant what this word means Yesterday’s word The word gemutlich means “cozy; comfortable; pleasant; friendly” First usage This word came into English in the mid-1800s Background / Comments If you thought that this word looked German, you were right:Continue reading “allochthonous”

Pronounced: guh-MOOT-lick (alt: guh-MUTT-likh), adj Notes: Even if you don’t know the meaning, you can guess at the language this came from Yesterday’s word The word provenience means “origin; source” First usage This word came into usage in the late 1800s Background / Comments Our word has been quite a roller-coaster of emotions for me.Continue reading “gemutlich”

Pronounced: pruh-VEE-nyuhn(t)s, noun Notes: This word gave me a bit of an emotional roller-coaster ride (more in the comments tomorrow) Yesterday’s word The word motser means “a large sum of money or winnings from a wager or from gambling” First usage This word came into English in the 1940s Background / Comments I don’t mindContinue reading “provenience”

Pronounced: MOT-ser Notes: I’m not sure about using this word. It is also spelled “motzer” and “motsa” Yesterday’s word The word lust-house is a country house or a summer house a tavern with a beer garden First usage This word came into English in the late 1500s Background / Comments I would have never guessedContinue reading “motser”

Pronounced: LUST-house, noun Notes: This is a tricky (or trick) word — it doesn’t mean what you might think it does Yesterday’s word The word darg is a day’s work a quota of work First usage This word came into usage in the late 1300s or early 1400s Background / Comments I don’t mind soContinue reading “lust-house”

Pronounced: darg, noun Notes: I’ve never run across this word, but it is considered “informal” Yesterday’s word The word adoral means “located toward the side or end where the mouth is located” (it usually used with animals which don’t have clear upper and lower sides) First usage This word came into English in the mid-1800sContinue reading “darg”

Pronounced: ad-OR-uhl, adj Notes: I was thinking of something adorable, but that’s not it Yesterday’s word The word pasquinade is “a satire or lampoon posted in a public place or space” First usage This word came into English in the mid-1600s Background / Comments I usually see pasquinades at work, usually posted on the outsideContinue reading “adoral”

Pronounced: pass-kwuh-NADE, noun Notes: I didn’t know this word, but I’ve seen several of them at work Yesterday’s word The word excursus means a detailed discussion about a particular point, especially when added an an appendix a digression First usage This word came into usage in the early 1800s Background / Comments I think we’veContinue reading “pasquinade”