Category Archives: word

Pronounced: buh-KANT (alt-1: buh-KAHNT; alt-2: BAK-uhnt) Notes: I didn’t quite define this word properly, but I was a bit close Yesterday’s word The word picaresque means “of or relating to rogues, rascals, or roguish protagonists” First usage Our word came into English in the early 1800s Background / Comments Our word comes from the SpanishContinue reading “bacchant”

Pronounced: pih-kuh-RESK, adj Notes: A neat word, unknown to me Yesterday’s word The word autolycan means “characterized by thievery or trickery” First usage Our word came into English in the late 1800s Background / Comments The reason I said that I was surprised that I didn’t know our word was that while in school, IContinue reading “picaresque”

Pronounced: ah-TAHL-uh-kuhn, adj Notes: I’m a little surprised that this word was new to me Yesterday’s word The word misbegotten means unlawfully conceived; illegitimate having a disreputable or improper origin not worthy of respect or approval First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1500s Background / Comments The only definition I knew wasContinue reading “autolycan”

Pronounced: miss-bih-GAH-tuhn, adj Notes: I knew one of the definitions, but not all of them Yesterday’s word The word welter, as a noun, means a confused mass; a jumble a state of upheaval As a verb, it means to roll, writhe, or toss to lie soaked in something, such as blood First usage Our wordContinue reading “misbegotten”

Pronounced: WELL-tuhr, noun/verb Notes: I was thinking of “welt” (and that was incorrect) Yesterday’s word The word bumbershoot means “umbrella” (as you may know) First usage Our word came into English in the very late 1800s Background / Comments When I saw this word, the UK came to mind; possibly because they have several nicknamesContinue reading “welter”

Pronounced: BUM-ber-shoot, noun Notes: I knew this word, but it has an interesting background. Do you know the word? Yesterday’s word The word megrim can mean low spirits (when pluralized) whim migraine First usage Our word is quite old; coming into English in the mid-1400s Background / Comments Our word is another one that wasContinue reading “bumbershoot”

Pronounced: ME-grim, noun Notes: Not a word I’ve heard Yesterday’s word The word Argus is a hundred-eyed creature of Greek mythology watchful guardian First usage I could not find information about when this word came into English Background / Comments As I noted yesterday, our word was a marginal case. I was aware of theContinue reading “megrim”

Pronounced: ARE-gus, noun Notes: This was a close one; you may know this word. I was close Yesterday’s word The word lutestring is “a glossy silk fabric” First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1600s Background / Comments Our word has nothing to do with strings for the instrument called a lute. ItContinue reading “Argus”

Pronounced: LOOT-string Notes: An interesting word; I’ve not heard it before Yesterday’s word The word tchotchke means “knickknack; trinket” First usage Our word came into English in the 1960s Background / Comments Our word is an Americanism; it came from the Yiddish word tshatshke, which came from an obsolete Polish word czaczko (knickknack). Our wordContinue reading “lutestring”

Pronounced: CHAHCH-kuh, noun Notes: I don’t think I’ve every run across this word Yesterday’s word The word Addisonian means “having clarity and elegance” First usage Our word came into English in the late 1700s Background / Comments Our word was named after Joseph Addison, an English essayist and poet.