ratty

Pronounced: RAT-ee, adj

Notes: Do you know all of the definitions?

Yesterday’s word

The word undulant means

  • rising an falling in waves
  • having a wavy form, outline, or surface
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 an adjective in the early to mid-1600s, but it isn’t used much today; our word is used instead. I was aware of the first definition (due to my familiarity with the verb form), but the second definition was unknown to me.

undulant

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 me – it came from the name of Don Quixote’s horse: Rocinante. The name comes from the Spanish word rocin (an old horse; nag or hack) combined with ante (before; in front of).

Rosinate

Pronounced: roz-uh-NAN-tee

Notes: Literary types may know this word (I didn’t)

Yesterday’s word

The word fissile means

  • capable of being split or divided in the direction of the grain or along natural planes of cleavage
  • capable of undergoing fission
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 – they could not be split. When nuclear fission became a reality in the 1930s, the definition of this word expanded to the second definition. The word goes back to the Latin word findere (to split).

fissile

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 The Fair Penitent, in which Lothario was a character. The play was first performed in 1703. However, I was surprised to learn that Lothario first appeared in Don Quixote.

Lothario

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 the 1950s. It is not clear if poutine originally came with gravy, or if the gravy was added later. In addition, the origin of our word is uncertain; we know that the English word came from the French Canadian word. It it theorized that our word comes from the English word “pudding”. Another theory is that is came from a Quebec slang word meaning “mess”. The dish has begun to spread into the United States.

poutine

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 Quixote was by Miguel de Cervantes, and it was publish in two parts in the early 1600s. Our word comes from the name of the squire (Sancho Panza) of the title character. Don Quixote is an idealist, and Sancho’s common sense makes a good balance to this. I did not know Sancho’s surname, nor was I aware of how early Don Quixote was published.

Sancho

Pronounced: SAN-choh, noun

Notes: You may know this word

Yesterday’s word

The word blowdown is

  • an instance of trees being blown down by the wind
  • a tree blown down; an area of such trees
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 “blow down”. The word can refer to the wind that blows trees down. Sometimes, the word is used figuratively for blowing off steam.

blowdown

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

  • a one-word sentence (such as “Leave.”)
  • A complex idea conveyed in a single word (as an example, “Howdy” to “How do you do?”)
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).

holophrasm

Pronounced: HOL-uh-fraz-um, noun

Notes: An interesting word (new to me)

Yesterday’s word

The word junket means

  • a festive social affair
  • a trip made by an official at public expense
  • a promotional trip made at another’s expense
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 mean “banquet”. Finally, the word came to refer to pleasure outings or trips (regardless of whether food was involved or not). Its most common meaning these days are the second and third meanings above; the first one is new to me. Our word comes from the Middle English word jonket, which came from the Old French word jonquette (a reed basket), which came from the Latin word juncus (reed).

junket

Pronounced: JUNG-kuht, noun

Notes: I knew one meaning, but not the other

Yesterday’s word

The word pochismo means

  • an English word borrowed into Spanish, often given a Spanish form or spelling (for example, using “mopear” [to mop] instead of “limpiar” or “trapear”)
  • American customs, attitudes, etc, adopted by a Hispanic in the US and perceived pejoratively by his compatriots
First usage

Our word came into English in the 1940s

Background / Comments

Our word comes from the Spanish word pocho (discolored; faded).