Author Archives: Richard

Pronounced: BEE-zhoo, noun Notes: I have come across this word is reading, but didn’t quite know it Yesterday’s word The word fungible means “interchangeable” First usage Our word first came into English in the mid-1700s Background / Comments Our word came from the Latin word fungi (to perform in place).

Pronounced: FUN-juh-bull, adj Notes: Another word I have run across, but wasn’t sure of the meaning Yesterday’s word The word styptic means “tending to contract or bind; astringent – especially tending to check bleeding” First usage Our word came into English in the late 1300s Background / Comments I have a distinct memory of readingContinue reading “fungible”

Pronounced: STIP-tik, adj Notes: I have run across this word, but wasn’t sure of the definition Yesterday’s word The word inveigle means “to get something or to persuade someone to do something by deception or flattery” First usage Our word came into English in the early 1500s Background / Comments As I noted yesterday, IContinue reading “styptic”

Pronounced: in-VAY-gull (alt: in-VEE-gull), verb Notes: I knew part of the meaning, but not the entire meaning Yesterday’s word The word pogonip is “a dense winter fog containing frozen particles that is formed in deep mountain valleys of the western US” First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1800s Background / Comments ThisContinue reading “inveigle”

Pronounced: PAH-guh-nip, noun Notes: I don’t know this word, but people with certain experiences may Yesterday’s word The word pettifogger is a petty, unscrupulous lawyer one who quibbles over trivial matters First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1500s Background / Comments I ran across our word in some English author – probablyContinue reading “pogonip”

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 fated to die (chiefly used in Scotland) marked by a foreboding of death or calamity excessively refined; precious quaintly unconventional; campy First usage Our word came into English before 900 Background / CommentsContinue 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 a variety of small plum or its fruit a dark purple color 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 orContinue 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”