Author Archives: Richard

Pronounced: KUHR-tuhl, noun/adj Notes: Looks like “curtail” with a letter missing Yesterday’s word The word rutilant means “having a reddish glow” First usage Our word came into English in the late 1400s Background / Comments In classic Doctor Who, there was an alien race called the Rutans, which were in a long-standing war between themContinue reading “curtal”

Pronounced: ROO-tuh-luhnt, adj Notes: This word made me think of classic Doctor Who Yesterday’s word The word niddering means “a coward or wretch” First usage Our word came into English in the late 1500s Background / Comments Our word came from an erroneous reading of the Middle English word nithing, which came from the OldContinue reading “rutilant”

Pronounced: NIHD-uhr-ing, noun Notes: Another good word to know Yesterday’s word The word hidebound means (of a domestic animal) having a dry skin lacking in pliancy and adhering closely to the underlying flesh having an inflexible or ultraconservative character First usage Our word came into English in the late 1500s Background / Comments As IContinue reading “niddering”

Pronounced: HIDE-bownd, adj Notes: I knew one of the two meanings, but not the other Yesterday’s phrase The phrase Canterbury tale means “a tale that is long, tedious, or absurdly implausible” First usage Our phrase came into English in the late 1500s Background / Comments Our phrase was taken, as you no doubt know, fromContinue reading “hidebound”

Pronounced: KAN-tuhr-ber-ee tail, noun Notes: I have heard of the Canterbury tales, but not our phrase Yesterday’s word The word interstice means a space that intervenes between things; especially the space between closely spaced things a short space of time between events First usage Our word came into English in the late 1500s Background /Continue reading “Canterbury tale”

Pronounced: in-TUHR-stuhs, noun Notes: I have heard a related word Yesterday’s word The word faitour means “a cheat or impostor” First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1300s Background / Comments It is great to have another word for a cheat! Our word came from the Latin word factor (maker; doer; perpetrator) whichContinue reading “interstice”

Pronounced: FAY-tuhr, noun Notes: A word I can use! Yesterday’s word The word macédoine means a confused mixture; medley a mixture of fruits or vegetables served as a salad or cocktail or in a jellied dessert or used in a sauce or as a garnish First usage Our word came into English in the earlyContinue reading “faitour”

Pronounced: ma-suh-DWAN, noun Notes: I didn’t know this word, but I had had what it described Yesterday’s word The word draggletailed means “dirty or untidy” First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1600s Background / Comments I thought of the word “bedraggled” when I saw the definition of our word. Our word cameContinue reading “macédoine”

Pronounced: DRAG-uhl-tailed, adj Notes: This is similar, I think, to a word I do know Yesterday’s word The word démarche means a course of action; maneuver a diplomatic or political initiative or maneuver a petition or protest presented through diplomatic channels First usage Our word came into English in the 1600s Background / Comments OnceContinue reading “draggletailed”

Pronounced: day-MARSH, noun Notes: I’ve not run across this word before Yesterday’s word The word clamant means loud demanding attention; urgent First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1600s Background / Comments Our word came from the Latin word clamere (to cry out)