boodler

Pronounced: BOOD-ler, noun

Notes: This word seems vaguely familiar; I think I’ve run across it in reading, but I’ve no idea where

Yesterday’s word

The word mythomane, as a noun, is “a person with a strong or irresistible habit for fantasizing, lying, or exaggerating”. As an adjective, it means “of, or pertaining to, characteristics of such a person” [a mythomane].

First usage

Our word is a relatively recent one; coming into English in the 1950s

Background / Comments

Most people probably probably don’t know this word, so it may fun to use it on those that deserve it — I think we all know someone who fits the definition of our word. It is thought that our word came from the psychiatric term mythomania (lying or exaggerating to an abnormal degree). That word is composed of myth (an invented story; an imaginary thing) plus mania (excessive enthusiasm or craze).

mythomane

Pronounced: MITH-uh-main, noun/adj

Notes: A useful word to know

Yesterday’s word

The word ambisinistrous means “clumsy with both hands”

First usage

Our word came into English in the mid-1800s

Background / Comments

If you split this word into ‘ambi’ and ‘sinistrous’, and then saw “sinister” in ‘sinistrous’, and then remembered that ‘sinister’ originally meant ‘left’, and then thought of the word ‘ambidextrous’, and then finally thought of the phrase “two left feet” (meaning to be clumsy with feet; especially in reference to dancing), you would would have reasoned your way to the meaning. Our word does come from the Latin words ambi- (both) and sinister (left). It was modeled after ‘ambidextrous’ (literally, two right hands). It seems a little unfair to left-handed people that people with two right hands are skillful, and and people with two left hands are clumsy. However, 75%-90% of people are right-handed, and are therefore clumsy when trying to do things with their left hand. Oddly enough, there is a another word, also from Latin with the same meaning: ‘ambilevous’.

ambisinistrous

Pronounced: am-bih-SIN-uh-struss, adj

Notes: You might be able to correctly guess the meaning of this word

Yesterday’s word

The word hypogeum means

  • an underground burial chamber
  • the underground part of a building, as in a vault
First usage

Our word came into English in the early 1700s

Background / Comments

The second definition above is only used when discussing ancient architecture. Our word comes to us from the Latin word hypogēum, which came from the Greek word hypógeion (underground chamber), which comes from hypo- (under) and gê (earth) and -ion [the neuter adjectival suffix].

hypogeum

Pronounced: high-puh-JEE-uhm (alt: hip-uh-JEE-uhm), noun

Notes: I don’t think I’ve ever run across this word

Yesterday’s word

The word degustation is “tasting samples of a variety of similar foods or drinks”

First usage

Our word came into English in the mid-1600s

Background / Comments

I saw in this word “gust”, which reminds me of the sense of taste (think “gustatory”)… but I also thought of “disgust”, so my guess was some food that was repellent to the taste. I was clearly wrong, but not quite as wrong as I thought: our word comes from the Latin word degustare (to taste), which is made up of de- (completely) and gustare (to taste). This latter word comes from a root word that also gave us “disgust”.

degustation

Pronounced: dee-guh-STAY-shuhn, noun

Notes: This word does not mean what I thought it might

Yesterday’s word

The word crinose means “hairy”

First usage

I cannot find when this word showed up in English; I’ve tried several web sites, but no one has this information.

Background / Comments

I like having alternate words for common things; I hope I find some occasion to introduce our word into conversation. Our word comes from the Latin word crīnis (hair) with -ose (full of; abounding in).

crinose

Pronounced: CRY-nohs (alt: KRIN-ohs), adj

Notes: A great word to know

Yesterday’s word

The word marmorean means “resembling marble or a marble statue, for example, in smoothness, whiteness, hardness, coldness, or aloofness”

First usage

Our word came into English in the mid-1600s

Background / Comments

Our word comes from the Latin word marmor (marble)

marmorean

Pronounced: mahr-MORE-ee-uhn, adj

Notes: Also spelled marmoreal; I think I’ve seen this word somewhere, but I didn’t know the definition

Yesterday’s word

The word favonian means

  • of, or pertaining to, the west wind
  • mild or favorable; propitious
First usage

Our word came into English in the mid-1600s

Background / Comments

Our word came from the Latin word Favōniānus (Favonius, the Roman personification of the west wind).

favonian

Pronounced: fuh-VOH-nee-uhn, adj

Notes: I think I’ve run across this word, but I didn’t know the meaning

Yesterday’s word

The word afflatus is “a creative impulse or inspiration”

First usage

Our word came into English in the mid-1600s

Background / Comments

Our word comes from the Latin word afflatus (a breathing on), from ad- (to) and flare (to blow).

afflatus

Pronounced: uh-FLAY-tuhs, noun

Notes: I don’t think I’ve ever run across this word

Yesterday’s word

The word panegyric means “a lofty oration or writing in praise of a person or thing; eulogy; formal or elaborate praise”

First usage

Our word came into English in the late 1500s

Background / Comments

I am pretty sure that I’ve run across this word in reading, but no definite book or character comes to mind. Rex Stout had quite a vocabulary and sprinkles his works (the Nero Wolfe novels) with interesting words, so it may have been him. However, it may have been Dorothy Sayers in the Lord Peter Wimsey books; it seems like the kind of word she might use. Our word comes from the Latin word panēgyricus (of or belonging to a public assembly), which came from the Greek word panēgyrikós, from pan- (all) and ēgyris (gathering)

panegyric

Pronounced: pan-ih-JIR-ick (alt: pan-ih-JAYE-rick), noun

Notes: I’ve run across this word, but couldn’t define it well

Yesterday’s word

The word chunter means “to mutter, grumble, or chatter”

First usage

Our word came into English in the late 1500s

Background / Comments

Our word is considered an imitative word – saying “chunter” several times run together in a low voice can sound like muttering.