Author Archives: Richard

Pronounced: GRAM-uh-ree, noun Notes: Some people may know this; it has a pretty specific meaning Yesterday’s word The word flack means “to provide publicity: engage in press-agentry” First usage Our word didn’t come into English until the 1960s Background / Comments After seeing the definition, I recalled hearing or reading the phrase “to flack forContinue reading “gramarye”

Pronounced: FLAK, verb Notes: I know the noun, but do you know the verb? Yesterday’s word The word bibulous means excessively fond of drinking highly absorbent First usage Our word came into English in the late 1600s Background / Comments As I noted, I was close to the definition because the word made me thinkContinue reading “flack”

Pronounced: BIB-yuh-luhs, adj Notes: I was close to the definition Yesterday’s word The word quidnunc is “a person who seeks to know all the latest news or gossip; busybody” First usage Our word came into English in the early 1700s Background / Comments While the word “busybody” is very descriptive, our word is a goodContinue reading “bibulous”

Pronounced: KWID-nunk, noun Notes: I didn’t know this word, but I like it a lot Yesterday’s word The word fastuous means haughty; arrogant pretentious First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1600s Background / Comments As I noted, I know the word fatuous”, but that’s not related. A word that is related toContinue reading “quidnunc”

Pronounced: FAS-choo-us, adj Notes: I know a similar word (fatuous), but not this one Yesterday’s word The word benison means “blessing; benediction” First usage Our word is old; it came into English in the early 1300s Background / Comments Our word shares the same background as “benediction”: it comes form the Latin word benedicere (toContinue reading “fastuous”

Pronounced: BEH-nuh-suhn, noun Notes: I’ve never run across this word, but I hope to remember it and use it on occasion Yesterday’s word The word torpid means sluggish or inactive apathetic dormant as when hibernating First usage Our word came into English in the early 1600s Background / Comments Once again, I am familiar withContinue reading “benison”

Pronounced: TORE-pid, adj Notes: I was somewhat familiar with the word, but not completely Yesterday’s word The word visceral means felt in or as if in the internal organs of the body not intellectual; instinctive located on or among the internal organs of the body First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1500sContinue reading “torpid”

Pronounced: VIH-suh-ruhl, adj Notes: I’ve certainly run across this word, but found that I could not define it to my satisfaction Yesterday’s word The word bathos means “an abrupt descent from lofty or sublime to the commonplace; anticlimax” First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1600s Background / Comments Our word looks likeContinue reading “visceral”

Pronounced: BAY-thas (alt: BAY-thos), noun Notes: I think I’ve heard or read this word, but did not know the meaning Yesterday’s word The word subreption is “the act of obtaining something (such as a prize or reward) by concealing pertinent facts” First usage Our word came into English in the late 1500s Background / CommentsContinue reading “bathos”

Pronounced: sub-REP-shun, noun Notes: This word comes from my reading Yesterday’s word The word farrago means “a confused mixture” First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1600s Background / Comments As I noted yesterday, I’ve been mispronouncing this word; I thought it was “FAIR-uh-go”. I have read the word and had an ideaContinue reading “subreption”