Author Archives: Richard

Pronounced: eh-sem-PLAS-tik, adj Notes: I thought this was a specialized type of plastic Yesterday’s word The word swidden is “an area of land cleared for farming by slashing and burning the vegetation” First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1800s Background / Comments As noted, people with knowledge of farming may know ourContinue reading “esemplastic”

Pronounced: SWID-n, noun Notes: You might need special knowledge to get this word Yesterday’s word The word oneiric means “of or relating to dreams; dreamy” First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1800s Background / Comments When I saw this word, I thought it might be related to wine (thinking of oenophile, IContinue reading “swidden”

Pronounced: oh-NIGH-rick, adj Notes: Not at all what I thought it meant Yesterday’s word The word turbid means First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1600s Background / Comments I think I was confused (turbid) because of the somewhat similar “turgid”, which has a different meaning. Our word came from the Latin wordContinue reading “oneiric”

Pronounced: TURR-bid, adj Notes: I’m pretty sure I’ve read this word, but I wasn’t sure of the meaning Yesterday’s word The word ketzenjammer means First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1800s Background / Comments Our word was originally used to describe hangovers or other distressing inner states. Over time, the idea ofContinue reading “turbid”

Pronounced: KAT-suhn-jah-muhr, noun Notes: A longish word, but I don’t know it Yesterday’s word The word tenebrous means “dark, gloomy, or obscure” First usage Our word came into English in the early 1400s Background / Comments It’s a nice word to use as a substitute. Our word came from the Old French tenebreus, which cameContinue reading “katzenjammer”

Pronounced: TEN-uh-bruss, adj Notes: A handy word, but not one I knew Yesterday’s word The word demiurge is “one that is an autonomous creative force or decisive power” First usage Our word came into English in the late 1500s Background / Comments In the Platonic school of philosophy, the Demiurge is a deity who fashionsContinue reading “tenebrous”

Pronounced: DEH-me-urge, noun Notes: Not what I thought Yesterday’s phrase The phrase Jerusalem syndrome is “a phenomenon in which a visitor to a holy place suffers from religious psychosis, such as believing himself or herself to be a messiah”. First usage Surprisingly, our phrase came into English in the 1980s Background / Comments The phenomenonContinue reading “demiurge”

Pronounced: jih-ROOS-uh-luhm SIN-drome, noun Notes: I have never heard this phrase Yesterday’s phrase The phrase vade mecum means First usage Our phrase came into English in the mid-1600s Background / Comments Our phrase came from the Latin phrase vade mecum (go with me). It has long been used to refer to manuals or guidebooks thatContinue reading “Jerusalem syndrome”

Pronounced: vay-dee-ME-kuhm, noun Notes: I’ve come across this word in reading and didn’t pronounce it correctly; in addition, I wasn’t sure of the meaning Yesterday’s word The word spaniel, of course, refers to the dog, but it also means “a submissive or fawning person” First usage Our word came into English in the late 1300sContinue reading “vade mecum”

Pronounced: SPAN-yull, noun Notes: This word has another meaning besides the dog breed – do you know it? Yesterday’s word The word antimacassar is “a piece of covering placed over the back or arms of a seat to protect from hair oil, dirt, etc” First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1800s BackgroundContinue reading “spaniel”