Author Archives: Richard

Pronounced: THIM-bull-rig, verb Notes: I’ve run across this word somewhere, but wasn’t sure of the meaning Yesterday’s word The word prorogue means to discontinue a session of something (such as a parliament) to defer to to postpone First usage Our word came into English in the early 1400s Background / Comments Our word came fromContinue reading “thimblerig”

Pronounced: pro-ROHG, verb Notes: Looks like being for a thief Yesterday’s phrase The phrase tabula rasa means the mind in its hypothetical primary blank or empty state before receiving outside impressions something existing in its original pristine state First usage Our phrase came into English in the mid-1500s Background / Comments There is an ancientContinue reading “prorogue”

Pronounced: ta-byoo-luh-RAH-zuh, noun Notes: Not a phrase I recognize Yesterday’s word The word deportment is “the manner in which one conducts oneself in public” First usage Our word came into English in the early 1600s Background / Comments As I noted, which I first came across this word, I didn’t really know the definition, butContinue reading “tabula rasa”

Pronounced: dih-PORT-ment, noun Notes: I didn’t know this word when I first saw it, but I have learned it by now – I’m including it nevertheless Yesterday’s word The word debouch means to cause to emerge; discharge to march out into open ground emerge; issue First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1600sContinue reading “deportment”

Pronounced: di-BOWCH, verb Notes: This word I have read, but could not well define Yesterday’s phrase The phrase a fortiori means “for an even stronger reason; even more so” First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1500s Background / Comments Our word came from Latin, where is literally means “from the stronger”.

Pronounced: ah-fort-tee-OR-ee (alt: ay-for-shee-OR-eye), adv Notes: Not a phrase I recognize Yesterday’s word The word erne means “eagle; especially a long-winged sea eagle witha short white wedge-shaped tail (Häliaetus albicilla)” First usage Our word came into English before 1000 Background / Comments Our word came from the Middle English word ern/arn, which came from theContinue reading “a fortiori”

Pronounced: urn, noun Notes: A nice simple word, but I didn’t know it Yesterday’s word The word vouchsafe means (transitive) to grant or give something as if as a favor (intransitive) to condescend First usage Our word came into English in the early 1300s Background / Comments I think I was lead astray by theContinue reading “erne”

Pronounced: vouch-SAFE, verb Notes: This word doesn’t mean what I thought it meant Yesterday’s word The word empyreal means of or relating to the firmament; celestial sublime First usage Our word came into English in the late 1400s Background / Comments When our word first came into English, it referred to things related to theContinue reading “vouchsafe”

Pronounced: em-pie-REE-uhl, adj Notes: The pronunciation reminds me of sidereal Yesterday’s word The word disaffect means “to alienate the support of loyalty of someone” First usage Our word came into English in the early 1600s Background / Comments As I noted, I was exactly on the fence as to whether or not to use ourContinue reading “empyreal”

Pronounced: dis-uh-FEKT, verb Notes: This word was exactly on the border Yesterday’s word The word aperçu is a brief survey or sketch; outline an immediate impression; insight First usage Our word came into English in the early 1800s Background / Comments Our word was borrowed in its entirety from French – in French, the wordContinue reading “disaffect”