Author Archives: Richard

Pronounced: pro RAY-tuh (alt: pro-RAH-tuh), adv/adj Notes: This is one of the words that I’ve run across, but wasn’t completely sure of the definition Yesterday’s word The word glom means First usage Our word came into English in the very late 1800s Background / Comments This entry was odd. I ran across our word inContinue reading “pro rata”

Pronounced: GLAHM, verb Notes: I’m puzzled by the definition I have for the word; it doesn’t match the usage I have run across Yesterday’s word The word doryphore is “a pedantic or persistent critic” First usage Our word came into English in the 1950s Background / Comments Frankly, I don’t quite understand the background ofContinue reading “glom”

Pronounced: DOR-uh-for, noun Notes: I don’t recall seeing this word before this Yesterday’s word The word euphony means “a harmonious succession of words or sounds” First usage Our word came into English in the early 1600s Background / Comments In college, I briefly studied Greek, so I recognized the two parts of our word: eu-Continue reading “doryphore”

Pronounced: YOU-fuh-nee, noun Notes: I could trace the etymology of our word, but I wasn’t quite right with the definition Yesterday’s word The word ratty means First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1800s Background / Comments The first definition is obvious; however, in the course of my reading, I’ve run across bothContinue reading “euphony”

Pronounced: RAT-ee, adj Notes: Do you know all of the definitions? Yesterday’s word The word undulant means First usage Our word came into English in the early 1800s Background / Comments I am familiar with the verb undulate (to form or move in waves). I did not know that it was also used as anContinue reading “ratty”

Pronounced: UN-juh-lunt, adj Notes: I knew one of the definitions Yesterday’s word The word Rosinate is “an old, worn-out horse” First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1600s Background / Comments Although I have not read Don Quixote, I have a general knowledge of the story, but our word was new to meContinue reading “undulant”

Pronounced: roz-uh-NAN-tee Notes: Literary types may know this word (I didn’t) Yesterday’s word The word fissile means First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1600s (but see below) Background / Comments The first definition above is the earlier one; in those days, atoms were thought to be the smallest particles of matter –Continue reading “Rosinate”

Pronounced: FIH-suhl, adj Notes: I knew one definition, but not the other Yesterday’s word The word Lothario refers to “a man who indiscriminately seduces women” First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1700s Background / Comments Although I knew the word, the origin surprised me. The word became popular from the play TheContinue reading “fissile”

Pronounced: low-THAR-ee-oh, noun Notes: I knew this word, but the background surprised me Yesterday’s word The word poutine is “a dish of French fries covered with brown gravy and cheese curds” (mostly found/used in Canada) First usage Our word came into English in the 1980s Background / Comments The dish was apparently created in theContinue reading “Lothario”

Pronounced: POO-teen, noun Notes: Some people may know this word Yesterday’s word The word Sancho is “a companion or sidekick, especially one who joins another in an adventure” First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1800s Background / Comments If you have are familiar with Don Quixote, you’ll know our word. Don QuixoteContinue reading “poutine”