Author Archives: Richard

Pronounced: mih-thuh-MAY-nee-uh, noun Notes: Not quite what I thought Yesterday’s word The word verbigerate means “to obsessively repeat meaningless words and phrases” First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1600s Background / Comments Our word is a great word. There are people who don’t seem to be able to help verbigerating; I haveContinue reading “mythomania”

Pronounced: vuhr-BIJ-uh-rate, verb Notes: A great word to know Yesterday’s word The word twee means “affectedly or excessively dainty, delicate, cute, or quaint” First usage Our word came into English in the 1900s (1900-1909) Background / Comments When I saw the word, I thought that “twee” was a shortening of “tween” that can refer toContinue reading “verbigerate”

Pronounced: twee, adj Notes: Again, not what I thought Yesterday’s word The word votive means “relating to a vow, wish, desire, etc” First usage Our word came into English in the late 1500s Background / Comments Our word came from the Latin noun votum (vow), which came from the verb vovere (to vow). As aContinue reading “twee”

Pronounced: VOH-tihv, adj Notes: Not what I thought Yesterday’s word The word conundrum means First usage Our word came into English in the early 1600s Background / Comments According to my reference data, our word has been spelled “conimbrum”, “quonundrum”, “conucrum”, and “quadundrum.” I knew the first definition only. The origin of our word isContinue reading “votive”

Pronounced: kuh-NUN-drum, noun Notes: I know one definition for sure, but the others I didn’t know Yesterday’s word The word toxophily is “the practice of, love of, or addiction to, archery” First usage Our word came into English in the late 1800s Background / Comments Our word came from Greek; it is a combination ofContinue reading “conundrum”

Pronounced: tok-SAH-fuh-lee, noun Notes: Some people may know this word; I didn’t, but recognized part of the word Yesterday’s word The word nidus is First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1700s Background / Comments Our word came from the Latin word nidus (nest). Related words are “nidification” (the process of building aContinue reading “toxophily”

Pronounced: NIGH-duhs, noun Notes: I couldn’t think of the meaning, but when I saw it, it rang a bell in my memory Yesterday’s word The word griselda is “a meek and patient woman” First usage Our word came into English in the 1300s Background / Comments When I see our word, it reminds me ofContinue reading “nidus”

Pronounced: grih-ZEL-duh, noun Notes: I know a character named this in a book, but it didn’t help with the definition Yesterday’s word The word yegg means “safecracker; robber” First usage Our word came into English in the early 1800s Background / Comments I enjoy mystery stories – especially older ones – so I’m surprised thatContinue reading “griselda”

Pronounced: yehg, noun Notes: I’m a little surprised that I have never heard this word Yesterday’s word The word Juno is “a woman of stately bearing and beauty” First usage Our word came into English in the early 1600s Background / Comments I knew that Juno was a goddess in Roman mythology; she was theContinue reading “yegg”

Pronounced: JOO-noh, noun Notes: You may know this word Yesterday’s word The word nosocomial means “acquired or occurring in a hospital” First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1800s Background / Comments Our word is generally used of infections. It came from the Late Latin (or New Latin) word nosocomium (hospital); one partContinue reading “Juno”