Author Archives: Richard

Pronounced: PROSS-puh-roh, noun Notes: I know who this is, but not what the word means Yesterday’s word The word declivity means First usage Our word came into English in the early 1600s Background / Comments Our word (the main root) came from the Latin word clivus (slope; hill). There are three English words that comeContinue reading “Prospero”

Pronounced: dih-KLIH-vuh-tee, noun Notes: I had a vague sense of the meaning of this word Yesterday’s word The word Timon is “one who hates or distrusts humankind” First usage Our word came into English in the late 1500s Background / Comments This is another word that comes from a Shakespeare play — specifically, Timon ofContinue reading “declivity”

Pronounced: TIE-muhn, noun Notes: Another word I don’t know Yesterday’s word The word cap-a-pie means “head to foot” First usage Our word came into English in the early 1500s Background / Comments Our word goes back to medieval times, when knights were completely encased in armor (from head to foot). They were said to beContinue reading “Timon”

Pronounced: kah-puh-PEE, adv Notes: You may be able to work out the meaning (I didn’t) Yesterday’s word The word Portia is “a female lawyer” First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1800s Background / Comments As I’ve mentioned earlier, I don’t know many Shakespeare plays — our word came from The Merchant ofContinue reading “cap-a-pie”

Pronounced: POOR-shuh (alt: POOR-she-uh), noun Notes: I recognized the word, but didn’t know the meaning Yesterday’s word The word panoptic means “being or presenting a comprehensive or panoramic view” First usage Our word came into English in the early 1800s Background / Comments Our word brings back memories of the British science fiction show DoctorContinue reading “Portia”

Pronounced: pa-NAP-tick, adj Notes: I knew something of this word, but was somewhat influenced away Yesterday’s word The word Dogberry refers to “a pompous, incompetent, self-important official” First usage Our word came into English in the early 1800s Background / Comments Our word comes after a character in Shakespeare’s play Much Ado About Nothing. DobsberryContinue reading “panoptic”

Pronounced: DOG-ber-ee (alt DOG-buh-ree), noun Notes: I didn’t know this word – I blame it on a gap in my education Yesterday’s word The word touchstone is First usage Our word came into English in the late 1400s Background / Comments I was more familiar with the second definition; the first meaning was new toContinue reading “Dogberry”

Pronounced: TOUCH-stone, noun Notes: I had an idea of the meaning, but I was a little off Yesterday’s word The word viperine means “of or relating to a viper; venomous; malicious” First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1500s Background / Comments I thought that our word mean “snake-like”, but a viper isContinue reading “touchstone”

Pronounced: VIE-purr-in (alt: VIE-puh-rin), adj Notes: This may mean what you think Yesterday’s word The word ergogenic means “enhancing physical performance” First usage Our word came into English in the 1900s (meaning 1900-1910) Background / Comments Our word came from the Greek word ergon (work) combined with -genic (producing; causing).

Pronounced: uhr-guh-JEH-nick, adj Notes: You may be able to guess the definition, if you recognize the root parts of the word Yesterday’s word The word lazaretto is First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1500s Background / Comments Our word came from the Italian word lazzaretto, which is a blend of lazzaro andContinue reading “ergogenic”