Author Archives: Richard

Pronounced: ahk-LAHK-ruh-see, noun Notes: I keep seeing “och-” and thinking it has something to do with eight (but no) Yesterday’s word The word collimate means “to make parallel” (usually refers to light rays) First usage The word came into English in the early 1600s Background / Notes I have heard of this word relating toContinue reading “ochlocracy”

Pronounced: KAH-luh-mate, verb Notes: Nothing to do with collies… I have heard the word, but wasn’t sure of the meaning Yesterday’s word The word enantiodromia is “the tendency of things, beliefs, etc, to change into their opposites. First usage This isn’t that old; it came into English in the early 1900s Background / Notes IContinue reading “collimate”

Pronounced: ih-nan-tee-uh-DROH-mee-uh, noun Notes: I’m in a quandry about this word; I didn’t know the word, but I don’t believe the philosophy it describes (more tomorrow). Yesterday’s word The word splenetic means “marked by bad temper, malevolence, or spite” First usage This word came into English in the late-1300s Background / Comments I should haveContinue reading “enantiodromia”

Pronounced: splih-NEH-tick, adj Notes: This is a word I should have known, but didn’t Yesterday’s word The word cremnophobia is “a fear of precipices or cliffs” First usage This is a relatively recent word; it showed up in the early 1900s Background / Comments As I noted, this is not fear or cremation; the -phobiaContinue reading “splenetic”

Pronounced: krem-no-FOE-bee-uh, noun Notes: Fear of — what? Something… my (wrong) guess was being cremated. Yesterday’s word The word exoteric means suitable to be imparted to the public belonging to the outer or less initiate circle external First usage This word showed up in the mid-1600s Background / Comments This word’s relationship with esoteric isContinue reading “cremnophobia”

Pronounced: ek-suh-TER-ick, adj Notes: This word has a relationship to the better-known esoteric (more tomorrow) Yesterday’s word The word metanoia means “a profound transformation in one’s outlook” First usage This word showed up in English in the late 1500s Background / Comments The word comes from Greek metanoia (a change of mind), which comes fromContinue reading “exoteric”

Pronounced: met-uh-NOY-uh, noun Notes: Another word I could find a use for – I’m more familiar with a different way to express this meaning Yesterday’s word The word probity means “adherence to the highest principles and ideals : uprightness” First usage This word dates back to the early 1500s Background / Comments As I noted,Continue reading “metanoia”

Pronounced: PRO-buh-tee, noun Notes: This is kind of a “cheating” entry; I know this word, but I don’t know how well-known it it. I’ve run across it in some older English reading. Yesterday’s word The word Marinism means “a literary style marked by extravagant imagery, elaborate metaphors, etc.” First usage This word showed up inContinue reading “probity”

Pronounced: muh-REE-nih-zuhm, noun Notes: I had not heard of this word before Yesterday’s word The word lorn means “desolate; forsaken” First usage Another old word, going back to the late 1200s Background / Comments If you are thinking that this word means the same as “forlorn”, you’re right; they are synonyms. Our word comes fromContinue reading “Marinism”

Pronounced: lorn, adj Notes: A good word to know! Yesterday’s word A wen is a benign tumor of the skin a large overcrowded city First usage Very old; it goes back to the year 1000. Background / Comments It comes from the Old English word wen (tumor, wart). This is the same source for theContinue reading “lorn”