Author Archives: Richard

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”

Pronounced: SAN-choh, noun Notes: You may know this word Yesterday’s word The word blowdown is First usage Our word came into English in the late 1800s Background / Comments After seeing the definition, I felt a little silly because it is rather obvious. Our word is merely a noun created from the verb phrase “blowContinue reading “Sancho”

Pronounced: BLOW-down, noun Notes: I haven’t heard the word, but I probably should have known this word Yesterday’s word The word holophrasm means First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1800s Background / Comments Our word comes from two Greek words: holos (whole) and phrasis (speech).

Pronounced: HOL-uh-fraz-um, noun Notes: An interesting word (new to me) Yesterday’s word The word junket means First usage Our word came into English in the mid- to late 1300s Background / Comments Our word has had an interesting journey. It was originally used to refer to various types of food, but then expanded to meanContinue reading “holophrasm”

Pronounced: JUNG-kuht, noun Notes: I knew one meaning, but not the other Yesterday’s word The word pochismo means First usage Our word came into English in the 1940s Background / Comments Our word comes from the Spanish word pocho (discolored; faded).