Author Archives: Richard

Pronounced: HEH-buh-tude, noun Notes: I wondered if it was related to ‘herbivore’ (nope!) Yesterday’s word The word ilka simply means “each; every” (Still not sure why this would be preferred over “each”) Background It comes from ilk (each), which is from Old English ylc + the indefinite article a First usage This word showed upContinue reading “hebetude”

Pronounced: ILL-kuh, adj Notes: A handy word to know, but I’m not sure what advantage this has over the other words that could be chosen Yesterday’s word The word inspissate means “to make or become thick or thicker” Background This is a somewhat rare verb… it is derived from the Latin spissus (slow, dense), andContinue reading “ilka”

Pronounced: in-SPIH-sate, verb Notes: Another word that leads me to exclaim: There’s a word for that?! Yesterday’s word The word yclept means “called or named” Background The word comes from Old English geclypod. First usage This word goes back a long way; it showed up in the mid-900s

Pronounced: ih-KLEPT Notes: I ran across this word in one of my sources and didn’t know it… I remembered it because of the unusual spelling. A few months later, I ran across this word in my reading. Yesterday’s word The word eclogue is “a poem in which shepherds converse” Background The word comes from LatinContinue reading “yclept”

Pronounced: EHK-log, noun Notes: Really? There is a word for this? Yesterday’s word I assume most, if not all, readers know jinx means “to bring bad luck upon”, but I was unaware that it also meant “to cast a spell on”. Background The origin is not known for sure… it is thought it may comeContinue reading “eclogue”

Pronounced: jinks, verb Notes: OK, we know the usual meaning, but this word also has a meaning of which I was unaware. Yesterday’s word The word alopecia means “baldness; specifically, the loss of hair, wool or feathers” Background Oddly enough, the root word from which the word comes is the Greek word alōpēx (fox)! TheContinue reading “jinx”

Pronounced: a-luh-PEA-shuh, or a-luh-PEA-shee-uh, noun Notes: This word doesn’t conform to my usual rules for selection: I only happen to know this word because of a British radio comedy show from the 1960s, so I don’t know how well know it is. Yesterday’s word The word appurtenance means “an accessory or other item associated withContinue reading “alopecia”

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”