Author Archives: Richard

Pronounced: KLAY-mant (alt: KLAM-uhnt), adj Notes: Looks like “claimant” with a letter missing Yesterday’s word The word evanescent means “tending to vanish like vapor” First usage Our word came into English in the 1700s Background / Comments I think I’ve run across our word in reading, but I could properly define it. Also, the firstContinue reading “clamant”

Pronounced: eh-vuh-NEH-s(uh)nt (the “uh” in the final syllable is lightly pronounced), adj Notes: I’ve run across this word, but did not have the definition exactly correct Yesterday’s word The word raffish means vulgar; tawdry Unconventional; carefree; rakish First usage Our word came into English in the late 1700s Background / Comments Our word came fromContinue reading “evanescent”

Pronounced: RAF-ish, adj Notes: Another new one to me Yesterday’s word The word opusculum is “a minor work (such as literature) – the word is usually used in the plural First usage Our word came into English in the early 1600s Background / Comments Our word is usually used in the plural form (opuscula); itContinue reading “raffish”

Pronounced: oh-PUH-skyuh-lum, noun Notes: Another of many words I’ve not run across Yesterday’s phrase The phrase Roman holiday is “an entertainment event where pleasure is derived from watching gore and barbarism” First usage Our word came into English in the early 1800s Background / Comments Our word came from the gladiatorial contests held in ancientContinue reading “opusculum”

Pronounced: ROH-muhn HOL-ih-day, noun Notes: Not what I thought it meant Yesterday’s phrase The phrase viva voce means “by word of mouth; orally” First usage Our phrase came into English in the mid-1500s Background / Comments Our phrase came from the Medieval Latin phrase viva voce, which literally means “with the living voice”. I’ve justContinue reading “Roman Holiday”

Pronounced: vaye-vuh-VOH-see (alt: vee-vuh-VOH-chay), adverb Notes: I happen to know this word, but I don’t think it is well-known Yesterday’s word The word aquabib means a water-drinker a teetotaller First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1700s Background / Comments Our word came from the Latin words aqua (water) and bibere (to drink).Continue reading “viva voce”

Pronounced: AK-wuh-bib, noun Notes: I didn’t know the word, but it made sense after seeing the definition Yesterday’s word The word syllabub is “milk or cream that is curdled with a acid beverage (like cider or wine) – usually sweetened and served as a drink or dessert” First usage Our word came into English inContinue reading “aquabib”

Pronounced: SIH-luh-buhb, noun Notes: Our word differs from syllabus by one letter, but the meaning are not related Yesterday’s word The word contrafactum is “a composition that makes use of an existing piece of music with different lyrics” First usage Our word came into English in the 1940s Background / Comments I have said “sameContinue reading “syllabub”

Pronounced: KON-truh-fak-tuhm, noun Notes: I incorrectly thought it was something against the facts Yesterday’s word The word catchpole means “a sheriff’s deputy – especially one who makes an arrest for failure to pay a debt” First usage Our word came into English before the mid-1000s Background / Comments Our word came from the Middle EnglishContinue reading “contrafactum”

Pronounced: KACH-pole, noun Notes: Another new word to me Yesterday’s phrase The phrase Grand Guignol as a noun, is “an event, entertainment, etc of a sensational or horrific nature”. As an adjective, it means “gruesome, grotesque, or horrifying”. First usage Our phrase came into English in the 1900s (1900-1909) Background / Comments If the nasalContinue reading “catchpole”