Category Archives: word

Pronounced: lay-ET, noun Notes: I’ve run across this word in reading, but couldn’t properly define it, but I’m sure some readers will know it Yesterday’s phrase The phrase pro se means “on one’s own behalf”; it tends to be used in law when referring to someone who represents himself in court First usage The phraseContinue reading “layette”

Pronounced: pro say Notes: I don’t know this phrase, but if I were better at languages, I could probably work it out Yesterday’s word The word boniface is “an innkeeper or landlord, usually of a kind nature” First usage The word goes back to the mid-1700s Background / Comments Despite the actual year it cameContinue reading “pro se”

Pronounced: BON-uh-face (alt: BON-uh-fiss), noun Notes: Maybe you know this word; I did not (depends on what you read, I think) Yesterday’s word The word depose means to remove from a high office or throne suddenly and forcefully to examine under oath to give testimony First usage The word goes back to around 1300 BackgroundContinue reading “boniface”

Pronounced: dih-POZE, verb Notes: You may know a meaning, but this word has a meaning that didn’t spring to my mind Yesterday’s word The word glom means “take hold or possession of; to steal, catch, or grab” – but see my comments below. First usage This word came into English in the late 1800s BackgroundContinue reading “depose”

Pronounced: glom, verb Notes: I was surprised when I looked at the definition; it wasn’t what I thought. I’ve run across this word and I thought I knew it… more in the comments tomorrow. Yesterday’s word The word surrebuttal is “the response to a rebuttal” First usage This word came into English in the lateContinue reading “glom”

Pronounced: suhr-rih-BUT-l, noun Note: This is a word I should have come across, but haven’t Yesterday’s word The word accrete means “to become fused together; to grow or merge together” First usage Our word goes back to the late 1700s Background / Comments I like this word. In my mind’s eye, I can see spotsContinue reading “surrebuttal”

Pronounced: uh-KREET, verb Notes: I didn’t know this word, but maybe you do (or can figure it out) Yesterday’s word The word ana means, as a noun “a collection of items, such as quotations, anecdotes, etc related to a person, place, etc”. As an adverb, it means “in equal quantities” (The adverbial usage can beContinue reading “accrete”

Pronounced: A-nuh, noun/adv Notes: This word has been around a long time, but I’ve not heard it Yesterday’s word The word ploce is “a rhetorical phrase with internal repetition, such as I mean what I mean“ First usage Our word came into English in the late 1500s Background / Comments Apparently, the word used toContinue reading “ana”

Pronounced: PLOH-see, noun Notes: Interesting word Yesterday’s word The word retral means located at the back backward First usage This word came into English in the early 1800s Background / Comments Our word comes from the Latin word retro (back). I suppose a “back door” would be a “retral entrance”.

Pronounced: REE-truhl (alt: REH-truhl), adj Notes: I haven’t heard this word, but it’s helpful Yesterday’s word The word rifacimento means “a re-making or complete reworking of a literary or musical piece” First usage This word came into English in the mid-1700s Background / Comments I enjoy the Agatha Christie mysteries, but I don’t care forContinue reading “retral”