Author Archives: Richard

Pronounced: huh-BIH-luh-muhnts, noun Notes: This words looks familiar, but I could not define it Yesterday’s word The word philocynic means, as a noun, “a dog lover”. As an adjective, is means “fond of dogs” First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1800s Background / Comments You probably recognized the Greek word philo- (loving)Continue reading “habiliments”

Pronounced: fil-oh-SIN-ick, noun/adj Notes: I thought our word meant someone who either was fond of being a cynic or else enjoyed the company of cynics Yesterday’s word The word risorgimento is the 19th-century movement for Italian political unity (often capitalized) a time of renewal or renaissance; revival First usage Our word came into English inContinue reading “philocynic”

Pronounced: ree-ZAHR-jih-MEN-toe, noun Notes: Another new word to me (note that this word may be capitalized) Yesterday’s word The word dobber means an informer (in cricket) a bowler, especially a slow bowler a float for a fishing line a large marble First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1800s Background / Comments OurContinue reading “risogimento”

Pronounced: DOB-uhr, noun Notes: A new word for me, as far as I can remember Yesterday’s word The word duckboard is “a boardwalk or slatted flooring laid on a wet, muddy, or cold surface” (usually used in the plural form) First usage Our word came into English in the 1910s Background / Comments Our wordContinue reading “dobber”

Pronounced: DUCK-board, noun Notes: I think I’ve heard the word, but could not define it properly Yesterday’s phrase The phrase Hawthorne effect means “an improvement in workers’ performance attributed to the special attention they received when singled out for a study” First usage Our phrase came into English in the 1950s Background / Comments TheContinue reading “duckboard”

Pronounced: HAW-thorn ih-FEKT, noun Notes: I had not heard of this word Yesterday’s word The word threnody is “a song of lamentation for the dead; elegy” First usage Our word came into English in the early 1600s Background / Comments I said yesterday that the word stirred a faint memory, but that I couldn’t rememberContinue reading “Hawthorne effect”

Pronounced: THREH-nuh-dee, noun Notes: This word seems vaguely familiar, but I couldn’t place it or define it Yesterday’s word The word sough means, as a verb, “to make a moaning, sighing, whistling, murmuring, or rustling sound” As a noun it means a sound as defined by the verb above a rumor First usage Our wordContinue reading “threnody”

Pronounced: suhf (alt: sau), verb/noun Notes: Another word that seems simple, but I don’t think I’ve ever heard our word Yesterday’s word The word ennead is “a group of nine” First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1600s Background / Comments Apparently, since ancient times, certain groups considered nine to be a sacredContinue reading “sough”

Pronounced: EH-nee-ad, noun Notes: I don’t think I have ever run across this word Yesterday’s word The word pooh-bah is a person who holds a high office or has great influence a pompous, self-important person a person holding many offices or positions of power First usage Our word came into English in the late 1800sContinue reading “ennead”

Pronounced: POO-bah, noun Notes: You probably know this word, but do you know the origin? Yesterday’s word The word pilgarlic means a bald heard; or a bald-headed man a man looked upon with humorous contempt or mock pity First usage Our word came into English in the early to mid-1500s Background / Comments The firstContinue reading “pooh-bah”