Author Archives: Richard

Pronounced: WING-kuhl, verb Notes: This word is more common in the UK; it was a borderline case for me Yesterday’s word The word opisthograph is “a text written on both front and back” (can refer to paper, stone, parchment, etc). First usage Our word came into English in the early 1600s Background / Comments TheContinue reading “winkle”

Pronounced: o-PISS-thuh-graf, noun Notes: I didn’t know this word, but I really like it and hope I get to use it soon! Yesterday’s word The word raffish means marked by or suggestive of flashy vulgarity or crudeness marked by a careless unconventionality First usage Our word came into English in either the very late 1700sContinue reading “opisthograph”

Pronounced: RAH-fish, adj Notes: I think I’ve run across this word in reading Yesterday’s word The word codex is “a manuscript volume (as opposed to a scroll), especially of an anicent text” First usage Our word came into English in the late 1500s Background / Comments As noted, I get our word confused with anotherContinue reading “raffish”

Pronounced: KOH-decks, noun Notes: I keep getting this word and another one confused Yesterday’s word The word jawboning is “the use of public appeals to influence the actions especially of business and labor leaders” – such an appeal is often made by a political leader such as a president. First usage Our word came intoContinue reading “codex”

Pronounced: JAW-boh-ning Notes: I had two different thoughts about the meaning; neither were correct Yesterday’s word The word bibligony is “the art of producing or publishing books” First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1800s Background / Comments An alternative word to our word is “bibliogenesis” (of which I would have been ableContinue reading “jawboning”

Pronounced: bib-lee-OG-uh-nee, noun Notes: I saw “biblio-” at the start of the word and thought that I would know it, but I didn’t Yesterday’s word The word pleonasm is “the use of more words than those necessary to denote mere sense; redundancy” First usage Our word came into English in the late 1500s. Background /Continue reading “bibliogony”

Pronounced: PLEE-uh-nah-zuhm, noun Notes: A great word to know and use – it was unknown to me Yesterday’s word The word hauteur means “haughtiness” First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1600s Background / Comments Our word kind of looks like “haughty” (if you take a quick glance). It came from the FrenchContinue reading “pleonasm”

Pronounced: hoe-TURR, noun Notes: You may know, or be able to guess, the meaning Yesterday’s word The word inanition is exhaustion from lack of food and water the absence of social, moral, or intellectual vitality or vigor First usage Our word came into English in the second half of 1300s Background / Comments Our wordContinue reading “hauteur”

Pronounced: ih-nuh-NIH-shun, noun Notes: I haven’t run across this word, and I’m a bit surprised that I haven’t Yesterday’s word The word astringent, as a noun, is “a substance that constricts body tissues”. As an adjective, it means contracting or constricting caustic; pungent stern; austere First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1500sContinue reading “inanition”

Pronounced: uh-STRIN-juhnt, adj/noun Notes: This doesn’t mean what I thought it did Yesterday’s word The word comix refers to comic books or comic strips (but see comments below). First usage Our word came into English in the 1960s Background / Comments Some people make a distinction between our word and “comics” by saying that ourContinue reading “astringent”