Pronounced: myoo, noun/verb

Notes: I was sure I knew this word, but it had eight definitions; I knew three of them

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Yesterday’s word

The word bandbox is

• a usually cylindrical box for holding light articles of attire
• a structure (such as a baseball park) having relatively small interior dimensions

First usage

Our word came into English in the mid-1600s

Background / Comments

In the 1600s, a “band” could refer to ruffs – the large round collars of pleated muslin or linen worn by men and women of the time; the bandbox was the item that held these bands. The box had a flimsy cardboard structure, and people began using bandbox for any flimsy object — especially a small and insubstantial one. However, people also appreciated the neat, sharp appearance of ruffs just taken from a bandbox and used the word in a complimentary way: one phrase was “she looked as if she came out of a bandbox” (and this phrase is one that I’m virtually certain I’ve run across in reading). These days, that sense of our word can be used as an adjective meaning “exquisitely neat, clean, or ordered”.

Pronounced: BAN(d)-box, noun

Notes: I think I’ve run across the word, but I didn’t know what it is

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Yesterday’s word

The word quiff means

• a tuft of hair brushed up above the forehead
• a woman considered to be promiscuous

First usage

The first definition came into English in the late 1800s; the second definition came into English in the 1920s

Background / Comments

It is thought that the first definition might be related to the word coif (short for coiffure). If you are familiar with TinTin, he has a quiff (a bit of hair brushed up above his head). The origin of the second definition is unknown.

Pronounced: kwif, noun

Notes: I didn’t know either of the definitions of this word

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Yesterday’s word

The word cathexis is “investment of mental or emotional energy in a person, object, or idea”

First usage

Our word came into English in the 1920s

Background / Comments

I confused our word with “catharsis”, which is a purging of emotions through art. The origin for our word is different — it came from New Latin, which came from the Greek word kethexis (holding), which came from katechein (to hold fast; occupy), which came from the verb echein (to have; to hold).

Pronounced: kuh-THEK-suhs, noun

Notes: I confused this word with another word

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Yesterday’s word

The word Hamlet means

• an apprehensive, indecisive person
• (lowercase) a small villiage (but see the Comments below)

First usage

The first definition came into English in the 1900s (1900-1910); the second definition came into English in the mid-1300s

Background / Comments

I knew the origin of the first definition (after the main character in Shakespeare’s play Hamlet), but I didn’t think of an indecisive person. There is an expression Hamlet without the Prince, which refers to an event taking place without its main character. In a reversal for the second definition, I knew what it meant, but not the origin: it came from the Old French word hamelet, which is a diminutive of hamel (village), which itself is a diminutive of ham (village). Note that in British English, hamlet has a more traditional, specific meaning – but variously described as “a settlement that does not have both a church and a pub”; or “a settlement that does not have a church”; or “a settlement that does not have both a church and a meeting place, such as a town hall or pub”. The next size up (a village) must have both of these.

Pronounced: HAM-lit, noun

Notes: There are a couple of meanings; one is pretty well known, but the other one is surely related to the Shakespeare play

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Yesterday’s word

The word consigliere is “counselor; advisor”

First usage

Our word came into English in the 1600s (but see Comments below)

Background / Comments

Our word came from the Italian word consigliere (someone who served on a council in Italy). The word came into more common usage in the 1960s due to The Godfather series of films. Our word still commonly refers to advisers to the Mafia, but the meaning has expanded over time to be any trusted adviser.

Pronounced: cone-sill-YEH-reh, noun

Notes: The word looks Italian to me, but I didn’t know the definition

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Yesterday’s word

The word Bardolphian means “have a red complexion, especially a red nose”

First usage

Our word came into English in the mid-1700s

Background / Comments

I was way off on my guess at the meaning of our word; I saw the “Bard” part and thought of Shakespeare — perhaps a devoted fan of the Bard? The only thing I had right is the Shakespeare reference — Bardoph was a character in the plays Henry IV, Henry V, and The Merry Wives of Windsor. He was noted for his red nose, and thus our word.

Pronounced: bar-DOL-fee-uhn, adj

Notes: I’ve not run across this word

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Yesterday’s phrase

The phrase warp speed is “the highest possible speed”

First usage

Our phrase came into English in the 1960s (possibly the 1970s)

Background / Comments

If you thought that warp speed was related to the speed of light, you probably enjoy science fiction. Our phrase existed before it was used in the 1960s television show Star Trek. The show rapidly gained a devoted following that discussed many aspects of the show, including warp speed. The phrase found its way into public usage, but lost the technical meaning, taking on the definition above.

Pronounced: warp speed, noun

Notes: How one defines this depends upon how much of a science fiction aficionado one is

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Yesterday’s word

The word benedict is “a newly married man; especially one who was previously thought to be a confirmed bachelor”

First usage

Our word came into English in the early 1800s

Background / Comments

As noted yesterday, our word has nothing to do with “benediction” – it comes from Shakespeare; specifically, an alteration of the character Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing.

Pronounced: BEN-ih-dict, noun

Notes: I know “benediction”, but not this word

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Yesterday’s word

The word epenthesis is “the insertion or development of a sound or letter in the body of a word”

First usage

Our word came into English in the mid-1600s

Background / Comments

There are lots of examples of this – one of the ones I’ve heard is pronouncing “wash” as “warsh”. Other examples of epenthesis are “film” pronounced “FILL-um”. A slightly less known one is pronouncing cummerbund as “CUM-ber-bund”. Perhaps you have run across some of your own? Our word came from the late Latin word epenthesis (inserting a letter), which came from the Greek word epenthesis, which is made up of epi- (upon; before; after) and en- (within; in) and thesis (placing).

Pronounced: ih-PEN-thuh-sus (alt: ih-PENT-thus-sus), noun

Notes: A technical term that many of us have experience with

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Yesterday’s word

The word Ophelian means “displaying madness, suicidal tendencies, and similar characteristics”

First usage

Our word came into English in the first decade of the 1900s

Background / Comments

You probably recognized (as I did) “Ophelia”, a character in William Shakespeare Hamlet. However, I wasn’t quite sure of the meaning, because my recollection of Ophelia’s story wasn’t terribly accurate. In the story, she was driven to insanity and killed herself.