Author Archives: Richard

Pronounced: AIR-ling, noun Notes: Interesting word that I didn’t know Yesterday’s word The word qualm means a sudden attack of illness, faintness, or nausea a sudden feeling of doubt, fear, or uneasiness especially in not following one’s conscience or better judgment First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1500s Background / Comments LikeContinue reading “airling”

Pronounced: kwahm (alt: kwahm), noun Notes: I added this word because it had a meaning of which I was unaware Yesterday’s word The word propugnaculum is “a fortress; defense; protection” First usage Our word came into English in the mid 1700s Background / Comments A pretty fancy word for a fortress. It came from theContinue reading “qualm”

Pronounced: praw-pug-NAK-yuh-luhm, noun Notes: I don’t think I’ve ever run across this word Yesterday’s word The word eradicate means to do away with as completely as if pulling up by the roots to pull up by the roots First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1500s Background / Comments I always thought thisContinue reading “propugnaculum”

Pronounced: ih-RA-duh-kate, verb Notes: You probably know the meaning, but I found the origin interesting Yesterday’s word The word auricomous means “relating to golden hair” First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1800s Background / Comments As I noted yesterday, I was not aware that we had a word that means this. ItContinue reading “eradicate”

Pronounced: au-RI-kih-muss, adj Notes: I didn’t know we had a word for this Yesterday’s word The word louche means “not reputable or decent” First usage Our word came into English in the early 1800s Background / Comments Our word sounds just like “lush”; I wonder if some people have confused them in the past. ItContinue reading “auricomous”

Pronounced: lush, adj Notes: Interesting word Yesterday’s word The word adventitious means arising from an external source happening by chance appearing in an unusual place First usage Our word came into English in the early 1600s Background / Comments I thought that our word was related to “adventure”, thinking it may mean “adventurous”, but IContinue reading “louche”

Pronounced: ad-ven-TIH-shuhs, adj Notes: Not what I thought Yesterday’s word The word panoply is a full suit of armor; ceremonial attire something forming a protective covering a magnificent or impressive array; a display of all appropriate appurtenances First usage Our word came into English in the late 1500s Background / Comments Our word came fromContinue reading “adventitious”

Pronounced: PAH-nuh-plee, noun Notes: I seem to remember reading this word, but I didn’t really know the correct definition Yesterday’s word The word silvicolous means “living or growing in the woods” First usage Our word came into English in the first decade of the 1900s Background / Comments I should have worked out the meaningContinue reading “panoply”

Pronounced: sil-VIK-uh-luhs, adj Notes: I didn’t know the meaning, but I could have guessed it Yesterday’s word The word zibeline is “a soft lustrous wool fabric with mohair, alpaca, or camel’s hair” First usage Our word came into English in the late 1500s Background / Comments I wasn’t sure what “mohair” was; it turns outContinue reading “silvicolous”

Pronounced: ZIH-buh-leen, noun Notes: I didn’t have a clue about this word, but it’s not an area I know much about Yesterday’s word The word deontology is “the theory or study of duty and obligation, with a focus on the right action as determined by a set of rules, irrespective of the consequences of theContinue reading “zibeline”