Author Archives: Richard

Pronounced: buh-SIL-ick (alt: buh-ZIL-ick), adj Notes: I didn’t know the word, but I mostly know a root Yesterday’s word The word abyssal means unfathomable of or relating to the bottom waters of the ocean depths First usage Our word came into English in the early 1600s Background / Comments There is some strange things aboutContinue reading “basilic”

Pronounced: uh-BIH-suhl, adj Notes: When I first glanced at this word, I thought it was “abysmal” (which meaning I know) Yesterday’s word The word interregnum means “the period between the end of a reign and the beginning of the next; a time when there is no ruler” First usage Our word came into English inContinue reading “abyssal”

Pronounced: in-tuhr-REG-nuhm, noun Notes: I ran across this word in reading, but didn’t have the meaning quite right Yesterday’s word The word welter means write; toss; wallow to become deeply sunk, soaked, or involved to be in turmoil First usage Our word came into English in the late 1200s Background / Comments Our word canContinue reading “interregnum”

Pronounced: WELL-tuhr, verb Notes: I know what a “welt” is, but not our word Yesterday’s word The word vole, as a noun, means any of various rodents of the genus Microtus and related genera the winning of all the tricks in some card games As a verb, it means to risk everything in the hopeContinue reading “welter”

Pronounced: vohl, noun/verb Notes: There are definitions I didn’t know Yesterday’s word The word Barmedical means “providing only the illusion of abundance” First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1800s Background / Comments Well, our word does NOT come from Shakespeare (as I thought). It comes from a tale that is part ofContinue reading “vole”

Pronounced: bar-muh-SIGH-duhl, adj (the final syllable is the “d” and “l” with just a hint of the vowel) Notes: I thought this was another Shakespeare character, but it isn’t Yesterday’s word The word Prospero is “someone who is capable of influencing others’ behavior or perceptions without their being aware of it” First usage Our wordContinue reading “Barmecidal”

Pronounced: PROSS-puh-roh, noun Notes: I know who this is, but not what the word means Yesterday’s word The word declivity means downward inclination a descending slope 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 areContinue 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”