Author Archives: Richard

Pronounced: pill-GAR-lick, noun Notes: An older word; it doesn’t stir any memories for me Yesterday’s word The word McDonaldization means standardization that focuses on efficiency, predictability, control, etc at the expense of individuality or creativity the spread of the influence of American culture First usage Our word came into English in the 1970s Background /Continue reading “pilgarlic”

Pronounced: muck-dah-nuhl-die-ZAY-shun (alt: muck-dah-nuhl-duh-ZAY-shun), noun Notes: You probably know the origin of this word, but do you know what it means? Yesterday’s word The word maquette is “a usually small preliminary model (as of a sculpture or a building)” First usage Our word came into English in the 1900s (1900-1910) Background / Comments A maquetteContinue reading “McDonaldization”

Pronounced: ma-KET, noun Notes: I don’t think I’ve ever run across this word Yesterday’s word The word Oakley is “a complimentary ticket or pass” First usage Our word came into English in the 1910s Background / Comments Our word is named after Annie Oakley, the famous sharpshooter. I think I’ve heard or read this wordContinue reading “maquette”

Pronounced: OAK-lee, noun Notes: I didn’t know the meaning, but after reading it, I think I’ve heard it used somewhere Yesterday’s word The word blandish means to coax with flattery; cajole to act or speak in a flattering or coaxing manner First usage Our word came into English in the middle to late 1300s BackgroundContinue reading “Oakley”

Pronounced: BLAN-dish, verb Notes: I didn’t quite know this word Yesterday’s word The word Arrow-collar means “conventionally attractive and suave” First usage Our word came into English in the 1910s Background / Comments In the early 1900s, a company called Cluett, Peabody & Co. sold detachable collars called “Arrow Collars” (I don’t know if itContinue reading “blandish”

Pronounced: AR-oh-kol-uhr, adj Notes: I did not now that this was a word Yesterday’s word The word theriac is a mixture of many drugs and honey formerly held to be an antidote to poison a remedy for all ills; cure-all; panacea First usage Our word came into English a long time ago (sometime before 1000Continue reading “Arrow-collar”

Pronounced: THIR-ee-ack, noun Notes: An interesting word to add to one’s vocabulary Yesterday’s word The word journeyman is “a worker, athlete, performer, etc who is competent and reliable, although undistinguished” First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1400s Background / Comments Our word came from the Old French word jornee (a day’s workContinue reading “theriac”

Pronounced: JUHR-nee-muhn, noun Notes: While I have heard the word, I could not properly define it Yesterday’s phrase The phrase fata morgana means “mirage” First usage Our phrase came into English in the early 1800s Background / Comments Our phrase is the Italian name for Morgan le Fay (literally, “Morgan the Fairy”); the sister ofContinue reading “journeyman”

Pronounced: fah-tuh more-GAH-nuh, noun Notes: I think I’ve run across this phrase in reading, but I could not define it Yesterday’s word The word bruit means, as a noun rumor report noise As a verb, the word means to report to repeat to spread a rumor First usage Our word came into English in theContinue reading “fata morgana”

Pronounced: broot, noun/verb Notes: Another word I think I’ve run across, but wasn’t sure of the meaning Yesterday’s word The word zoomorphic means having the form of an animal or, relating to, or being a deity conceived of in animal form or with animal attributes First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1800sContinue reading “bruit”