Author Archives: Richard

Pronounced: PLAW-dit, noun Notes: I’ve run across this word, but wasn’t sure of the meaning Yesterday’s word The word canicular means “related to the dog days” First usage Our word came into English in the late 1300s Background / Comments Our word came from the Latin word canicularis (relating to the dog star – Sirius),Continue reading “plaudit”

Pronounced: kuh-NICK-yuh-luhr, adj Notes: I’ve not run across this word Yesterday’s word The word bathetic means “characterized by triteness or sentimentalism” First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1800s Background / Comments Our word is the noun-to-adjective ending -etic combined with the noun bathos (a ludicrous descent from the exalted to the commonplace;Continue reading “canicular”

Pronounced: buh-THEH-tick, adj Notes: Sounds like, and is spelled like, “pathetic”, but with an initial “b” instead of “p” Yesterday’s word The word scrooch means First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1800s Background / Comments I was surprised when our word turned up; I have memories of it from a Rocky andContinue reading “bathetic”

Pronounced: skrooch, verb Notes: I didn’t know that this was a real word Yesterday’s word The word deracinate means First usage Our word came into English in the late 1500s Background / Comments Our word came from middle French word deraciner, made up of de- and raciner (root), which came from the Late Latin wordContinue reading “scrooch”

Pronounced: dee-RA-suh-nate, verb Notes: An interesting word Yesterday’s word The word altricial means “born in an undeveloped and helpless condition and requiring parental care and feeding for some time” First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1800s Background / Comments Our word came from the Latin word altrix (foster mother; wet nurse), whichContinue reading “deracinate”

Pronounced: al-TRISH-uhl, adj Notes: Another word that is new to me Yesterday’s word The word berceuse is First usage Our word came into English in the late 1800s Background / Comments Our word came from the French word bercer (to rock), which came from the Old French word bers (cradle). Brahams lullaby is probably theContinue reading “altricial”

Pronounced: ber-SOOZ, noun Notes: Another potentially useful word that I’ve not run across Yesterday’s word The word philargyry is “the love of money; greed” First usage Our word came into English in the late 1500s Background / Comments There is a fairly well-known phrase from the Bible: For the love of money is the rootContinue reading “berceuse”

Pronounced: fill-ARJ-uh-ree, noun Notes: A good word that I’ve not heard of Yesterday’s word The word tantara is “the blare of a trumpet or horn” First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1500s Background / Comments I like this word because I have a friend that plays the trumpet… so it’s nice toContinue reading “philargyry”

Pronounced: tan-TER-uh, noun Notes: I should try to use this word Yesterday’s word The word juberous means “doubtful; undecided; hestitating” First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1800s Background / Comments Our word is merely an altered form of dubious.

Pronounced: JOOB-ur-us, adj Notes: Not a word I’ve run across Yesterday’s word The word slimsy means “flimsy; frail” First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1800s Background / Comments We don’t really know why some words stick around and others don’t. Our word, a blending of slim and flimsy, reached peak popularity inContinue reading “juberous”