Category Archives: word

Pronounced: KROOM-holts, noun Notes: I’ve seen these, but didn’t know the name for it Yesterday’s word The word eolian means “of, caused, affected, or related to, wind” First usage The word showed up in English in the early 1600s Background / Comments Our word has an alternate spelling (aeolian), which is a clue to itsContinue reading “krummholz”

Pronounced: ee-OH-lee-uhn, adj Notes: Another new word for me Yesterday’s word The word gesellschaft means “social relations based on impersonal ties, such as obligations to an institution or society” First usage This word came about in the 1960s Background / Comments Our word comes from the German word Gesellschaft (society; company; party), which is madeContinue reading “eolian”

Pronounced: guh-ZEL-shaft, noun Notes: There is a tie-in with Sherlock Holmes (who knows it?); I missed the tie-in at first, but even had I remembered it immediately, it wouldn’t have helped me with the meaning Yesterday’s word The word melliferous means “of, or relating to, that which gives or produces honey” First usage The wordContinue reading “gesellschaft”

Pronounced: muh-LIFF-er-uhs, adj Notes: I thought this word was a synonym for melodious, but it’s not Yesterday’s word The word anschauung means intuition outlook, attitude, opinion, etc First usage The word came into English in the early 1800s Background / Comments As you probably guessed, our word is Germanic in origin. It comes from theContinue reading “melliferous”

Pronounced: AHN-shou-uhng, noun Notes: I think this is another word that I confused with another one Yesterday’s word The word allochthonous means “not formed in the region of locate where something ultimately is located” – it is normally used of rocks or minerals. First usage This word came into English in the 1910s Background /Continue reading “anschauung”

Pronounced: uh-LOCK-thuh-nuhs, adj Notes: Quite a mouthful; I didn’t know that there was a word that meant what this word means Yesterday’s word The word gemutlich means “cozy; comfortable; pleasant; friendly” First usage This word came into English in the mid-1800s Background / Comments If you thought that this word looked German, you were right:Continue reading “allochthonous”

Pronounced: guh-MOOT-lick (alt: guh-MUTT-likh), adj Notes: Even if you don’t know the meaning, you can guess at the language this came from Yesterday’s word The word provenience means “origin; source” First usage This word came into usage in the late 1800s Background / Comments Our word has been quite a roller-coaster of emotions for me.Continue reading “gemutlich”

Pronounced: pruh-VEE-nyuhn(t)s, noun Notes: This word gave me a bit of an emotional roller-coaster ride (more in the comments tomorrow) Yesterday’s word The word motser means “a large sum of money or winnings from a wager or from gambling” First usage This word came into English in the 1940s Background / Comments I don’t mindContinue reading “provenience”

Pronounced: MOT-ser Notes: I’m not sure about using this word. It is also spelled “motzer” and “motsa” Yesterday’s word The word lust-house is a country house or a summer house a tavern with a beer garden First usage This word came into English in the late 1500s Background / Comments I would have never guessedContinue reading “motser”

Pronounced: LUST-house, noun Notes: This is a tricky (or trick) word — it doesn’t mean what you might think it does Yesterday’s word The word darg is a day’s work a quota of work First usage This word came into usage in the late 1300s or early 1400s Background / Comments I don’t mind soContinue reading “lust-house”