Author Archives: Richard

Pronounced: par-uh-PRAK-sis, noun Notes: There is a more common phrase for this word Yesterday’s word The word quaggy means “marshy; flabby; spongy” First usage This word goes back to the late 1500s Background / Comments The word comes from quag (marsh); thus, marsh-like and its related attributes – spongy or flabby.

Pronounced: KWAG-ee, adj Notes: I’m surprised at the age of this word Yesterday’s word The word auspicate means “to arrange auspicious ceremonies or rituals planned to bring good luck” First usage This word goes back to the late 1500s Background / Comments Our word comes from the Latin word auspicātus (consecrated by auguries), which isContinue reading “quaggy”

Pronounced: AW-spih-kate, verb Notes: Another interesting word, but I could not define it Yesterday’s word The word gastronome means “a connoisseur of good food” First usage The word started being used in the early 1800s Background / Comments I have mentioned before that I enjoy mystery stories, and the Nero Wolfe stories by Rex StoutContinue reading “auspicate”

Pronounced: GAS-truh-nome, noun Notes: I was pretty close to this definition Yesterday’s word The word premiate means “to grant a prize or give an award to” First usage This word came into English in the mid-1500s Background / Comments This word comes from the medieval Latin word praemiātus, which is the past participle of praemiāreContinue reading “gastronome”

Pronounced: PREE-mee-ate, verb Notes: Not a word I know Yesterday’s word The word chatoyant means, as an adjective, “having a changeable luster like that of a cat’s eye at night”. As a noun, it is “a chatoyant gemstone, such as a cat’s eye”. First usage This word came into English in the early 1800s BackgroundContinue reading “premiate”

Pronounced: shuh-TOY-uhnt, adj/noun Notes: I had no idea of the definition until I read the background; then I realized I should have had a pretty good guess. Yesterday’s word The word habiliment means “the clothes worn by those of a certain profession” First usage This word goes back to the late 1300s or early 1400sContinue reading “chatoyant”

Pronounced: huh-BILL-uh-muhnt, noun Notes: Not a word that can used as much in modern times Yesterday’s word The word campanile means “a bell tower; especially one detached from a main building such as a church” First usage The word came into English in the mid-1600s Background / Comments Personally, I would tend to use theContinue reading “habiliment”

Pronounced: kam-puh-NEE-lee (alternative kam-puh-NEEL) Notes: I don’t know how well this word is known Yesterday’s word The word isonomy means “the equality of political rights” First usage This word came into English in the late 1500s Background / Comments The word comes from the Greek word isonomia, which comes from iso- (equal; same) and nomiaContinue reading “campanile”

Pronounced: aye-SON-uh-mee, noun Notes: I recognized parts of the word, but I couldn’t define it Yesterday’s word The word breviloquence means “speaking briefly and concisely” First usage This word came into English in the mid-1600s Background / Comments Our word comes from the Latin word breviloquentia, which comes from brevis (short) and loquentia (speaking). YouContinue reading “isonomy”

Pronounced: brih-VILL-uh-kwens, noun Notes: You might be able to guess this word’s meaning Yesterday’s phrase The phrase Garrison finish is “a finish in which the winner comes from behind at the end” First usage I have conflicting reports; one said that this phrase came into being in the late 1800s or early 1900s. However, anotherContinue reading “breviloquence”