Author Archives: Richard

Pronounced: PET-ee-fog-uhr, noun Notes: I have run across this word, but I could not define it Yesterday’s word The word fey means First usage Our word came into English before 900 Background / Comments When I read the definitions above, I was surprised because I thought that it meant the state of being in unnaturallyContinue reading “pettifogger”

Pronounced: FAY, adj Notes: I thought I knew the word and had a shock when I read the meaning Yesterday’s word The word rounceval means, as an adjective, “big; strong”. As a noun, it means “someone or something that is large”. First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1500s Background / Comments OurContinue reading “fey”

Pronounced: ROUN-sih-vuhl, adj/noun Notes: Also spelled rouncival; I don’t think I’ve run across this word Yesterday’s word The word cumshaw is a “present; gratuity – also bribe; payoff” First usage Our word came into English in the early 1800s Background / Comments It is thought that our word was first picked up by British sailorsContinue reading “rounceval”

Pronounced: KUHM-shaw, noun Notes: Not a word that I recognize Yesterday’s word The word damson is First usage Our word came into English in the late 1300s Background / Comments I have run across this in either the writing of Agatha Christie or Dorothy Sayers, and I think the latter one, in the phrase “damsonContinue reading “cumshaw”

Pronounced: DAM-zuhn (alt: DAM-suhn), noun Notes: I have run across this word in stories, but I actually didn’t know what it meant Yesterday’s word The word terreplein is “the level space behind a parapet of a rampart where guns are mounted” First usage Our word came into English in the late-1500s Background / Comments AsContinue reading “damson”

Pronounced: TER-uh-plane, noun Notes: I think I’ve heard this word, but I cannot recall where or when Yesterday’s word The word factitious means First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1600s Background / Comments For all that our word looks like it should be related to “fact”, it doesn’t – it came fromContinue reading “terreplein”

Pronounced: fak-TISH-us, adj Notes: I thought that this word may be somehow about facts (but no) Yesterday’s word The word vaticination means First usage Our word came into English in the late 1500s or early 1600s Background / Comments Our word came from the Latin word vates (prophet). Our word may not be well known,Continue reading “factitious”

Pronounced: vuh-tih-suh-NAY-shun, noun Notes: Another word I don’t think I’ve run across Yesterday’s word The word proem is “an introduction, preface, or preamble” First usage Our word came into English in the early 1400s Background / Comments Our word came from the Old French word proeme, which came from the Latin word prooemium, which cameContinue reading “vaticination”

Pronounced: PRO-uhm (alt: PRO-em), noun Notes: Not a misspelling of “poem”; I’ve never heard of this word Yesterday’s word The word asperse means First usage Our word came into English in the late 1400s Background / Comments I am familiar with the noun form, in the phrase “casting aspersions”, in which the noun form ofContinue reading “proem”

Pronounced: uh-SPUHRS, verb Notes: Yet another word I’ve not run across Yesterday’s word The word secretory means “relating to the release of a substance from a cell, gland, or an organ” First usage Our word came into English in the late 1600s Background / Comments Our word came from the Latin word secernere (to distinguish),Continue reading “asperse”