Author Archives: Richard

Pronounced: uh-PURR-tin-uhns, noun Notes: This is a word I came across in my reading (Death in the Clouds, by Agatha Christie). It is usually found as a plural Yesterday’s word The word diktat means a harsh settlement unilaterally imposed (as upon a defeated nation) decree, order Background If, like me, you saw dictate or dictatorContinue reading “appurtenance”

Pronounced: dik-TAHT, noun Notes: I couldn’t define this word properly, but I did recognize bits of it…do you? Yesterday’s word The word gyve means, as a noun: “a fetter of shackle”; as a verb: to restrain Background The origin is unknown; it may be from Middle English and somehow related to “give”. First usage ThisContinue reading “diktat”

Pronounced: jihv, noun/verb Notes: A great hangman word Yesterday’s phrase The phrase per contra means on the contrary; by way of context; on the other hand as an offset Background Well, the background is a bit confusing. One place just says tersely that it is from Latin per contrā. The more interesting one says thatContinue reading “gyve”

Pronounced: per-KAHN-truh, adv Notes: You may be able to guess this one; the history of the word was interesting Yesterday’s word The word transpicuious means “easily seen through or understood” Background The trans- part of the word is a clue to the origin; the word comes from Latin — trans- (across) plus specere (to look).Continue reading “per contra”

Pronounced: tran-SPICK-yoo-uhs, adj Notes: I was pretty close, but not quite right on this one Yesterday’s word The word opusculum means “a minor word (as of literature)”; a variant of it is opuscule. Background This word comes from Latin: many of us probably know opus (work). This word is the diminutive form of opus. InContinue reading “transpicuous”

Pronounced: oh-PUHS-kyuh-luhm, noun Notes: The word is frequently used in its plural form (opuscula). It’s a word that I should have been able to deduce the meaning of, but I didn’t Yesterday’s word The word xeric means “relating to very dry conditions” Background This word comes from the Greek word xeros (dry). First usage ThisContinue reading “opusculum”

Pronounced: ZER-ik or ZEER-ik, adj Notes: I should have been able to guess at the meaning Yesterday’s word The word waitron is a person who waits tables (as in a restaurant) : waiter/waitress/waitperson Background This word was created by blending waiter/waitress with the -tron suffix, which may be an allusion to the machine-like impersonality ofContinue reading “xeric”

Pronounced: WAY-trahn, noun Notes: I’m posting this word because it came up, and I didn’t know it, but I don’t like it (more about it tomorrow) Yesterdays’ word The word eldritch means “weird; supernatural; eerie” Background The origin is not certain. One theory is that is comes from Old English elf + rice (realm). FirstContinue reading “waitron”

Pronounced: EL-drich, adj Notes: I had some vague ideas about what this may mean — all wrong. Yesterday’s word The word interpellate means “to question (as a foreign minister) formally concerning an official action or policy or personal conduct”. It is a form of political challenge used in the congress or parliament of many nationsContinue reading “eldritch”