Author Archives: Richard

Pronounced: an-DROK-ruh-see, noun Notes: This was a borderline case; I worked out this meaning — you probably can, too Yesterday’s word The word williwaw means a sudden violent gust of cold land air common along mountainous coasts of high latitudes a violent commotion First usage The word showed up in the mid-1800s Background / CommentsContinue reading “androcracy”

Pronounced: WIH-lih-waw, noun Notes: I’ve run across the word in reading an had an idea of the meaning from the context, but I found the origin interesting Yesterday’s word The word ailurophobia is “a fear of cats” First usage This word showed up in the first decade of the 1900s Background / Comments As withContinue reading “williwaw”

Pronounced: aye-loor-uh-FOE-bee-uh (alternative: ay-loor-uh-FOE-bee-uh), noun Notes: A fear of something, but I could not figure out the word Yesterday’s word The word chautauqua is “any of various traveling lectures and performances that flourished in the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. First usage Came into usage in the mid-1800s Background /Continue reading “ailurophobia”

Pronounced: shuh-TAW-kwe, noun Notes: I think only US history buffs may get this one Yesterday’s word The word sitomania means “an abnormal craving for food” First usage The word came into English in the late 1800s Background / Comments This is another word from Greek: sito- (grain, food) plus -mania (excessive enthusiasm or craze). BecauseContinue reading “chautauqua”

Pronounced: sy-tuh-MAY-nee-uh, noun Notes: A word I didn’t know, but I is something we could use Yesterday’s word The word lickerish means “greedy; desirous” or “lecherous” First usage This word showed up in the mid-1600s Background / Comments This word came into English twice; the background is the Anglo-French word lecher (to lick; to liveContinue reading “sitomania”

Pronounced: LIH-krish (alt LIK-kuh-rish), adj Notes: Not what I thought Yesterday’s word The word monophobia means (as you may have figured out) “fear of being alone” First usage The word came into being in the late 1800s Background / Comments The word comes from two pretty well-known Greek words: mono- (one) and -phobia (fear). ThisContinue reading “lickerish”

Pronounced: mon-uh-FOE-bee-uh, noun Notes: I almost didn’t use this one; I think it’s guessable Yesterday’s word The word quantal means “of, relating to, or having only two experimental alternatives (such as dead or alive, all or none)”. It can also refer to something that relates to a quantum. First usage This word is relatively recent,Continue reading “monophobia”

Pronounced: KWAHN-tuhl, adj (the “uh” is barely pronounced) Notes: Interesting word Yesterday’s word The word segue means (as a verb) “to make a smooth transition from once section or topic to another, in conversation, music, film, etc. As a noun, it refers to such a transition. First usage This word came into English in theContinue reading “quantal”

Pronounced: SEG-way (alternatively, SAY-gway), verb/noun Notes: This is a word I know in pronunciation (you probably do, too), but I wasn’t aware of the correct spelling Yesterday’s word The word sprachgefühl means “an intuitive sense of what is linguistically appropriate” First usage This word came into English in the late 1800s Background / Comments AsContinue reading “segue”

Pronounced: SPRACK-guh-fuel, noun Notes: This is a great word to know Yesterday’s word The word sophrosyne means “soundness of mind, as expressed in moderation, self-control, and prudence First usage This word goes back to the late 1800s Background / Comments The word comes from the Greek word sophrosyne which comes from sophon (of sound mind,Continue reading “sprachgefühl”