Author Archives: Richard

Pronounced: It’s obvious — “BOOT” and “less”, adj Notes: Not what I guessed Yesterday’s word The word shicker, as a noun, means “a drunkard; alcoholic liquor”. As an adjective, it means “drunk”, and as a verb, it means “to drink; to get drunk”. First usage Our word came into English in the late 1800s BackgroundContinue reading “bootless”

Pronounced: SHICK-uhr, noun/adj/verb Notes: I don’t think I’ve heard this word Yesterday’s word The word lucubration is “laborious or intensive study” (it can also mean, especially when used in plural, the product of such study). First usage Our word came into English in the late 1500s Background / Comments When I glanced at our word,Continue reading “shicker”

Pronounced: loo-kyuh-BRAY-shun, noun Notes: Not at all what I thought (especially at a quick glance) Yesterday’s word The word tummler is First usage Our word came into English in the 1930s Background / Comments The second definition of our word would indicate that a synonym is “rabble-rouser”. Our word came from the Yiddish word tumlerContinue reading “lucubration”

Pronounced: TOOM-luhr, noun Notes: A new word to me, and not pronounced how I thought (I though “tuhm-luhr”) Yesterday’s word The word obnubilate means “to make cloudy or obscure” First usage Our word came into English in the late 1500s Background / Comments Our word tends to be found in political circles (hmmm… I wonderContinue reading “tummler”

Pronounced: ahb-NEW-buh-late, verb Notes: I didn’t know this word, but I like it – it’s fun to say and can be used Yesterday’s word The word gunsel is First usage Our word came into English in the 1910s Background / Comments Every time I hear our word, it brings up memories of the classic filmContinue reading “obnubilate”

Pronounced: GUN-suhl, noun Notes: You may think you know this word, but… (see tomorrow) Yesterday’s word The word insuperable means “incapable of begin surmounted, overcome, passed over, or solved” First usage Our word came into English in the early to mid-1300s Background / Comments I have heard or read this word, but I think itContinue reading “gunsel”

Pronounced: in-SOO-pruh-bull (alt: in-SOO-puh-ruh-bull), adj Notes: A borderline word Yesterday’s word The word shadchan is “a matchmaker or a marriage-broker” First usage Our word came into English in the late 1800s Background / Comments I laughed… and then I wondered. If you looked at the pronunciation yesterday, our word sounds very much like “shotgun” …Continue reading “insuperable”

Pronounced: SHAHT-kuhn, noun Notes: Not a word I knew, but some people may know it Yesterday’s word The word presentiment is “a feeling that something will or is about to happen; premonition” First usage Our word came into English in the early 1700s Background / Comments I should have been able to get very close,Continue reading “shadchan”

Pronounced: prih-ZEN-tuh-muhnt, noun Notes: I didn’t know this word, but should have guessed better – it’s not that hard to work out Yesterday’s word The word futilitarian means, as an adjective It has similar meanings as a noun: First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1800s Background / Comments Our word sounded toContinue reading “presentiment”

Pronounced: fyoo-til-ih-TARE-ee-uhn, adj/noun Notes: I haven’t seen this word, but you may be able to guess the meaning Yesterday’s word The word xenial means “of, relating to, or constituting hospitality or relations between host and guest” First usage Our word came into English in the late 1700s Background / Comments Our word looked to meContinue reading “futilitarian”