Category Archives: word

Pronounced: SHAM-bray, noun Notes: This word is one of those that I’ve seen and heard, but really could not properly define Yesterday’s word The word Barbados (the verb) means “to forcibly ship someone to another place to work” First usage Our word goes back to the mid-1600s Background / Comments Yes, this word comes fromContinue reading “chambray”

Pronounced: bar-BAY-doz (alt-1: -dos; alt-2: -duhs), verb Notes: I know the noun (the island), but I did not know the verb. Also, I tend to use the first alternate pronunciation – ending the word with an ‘s’ sound, not a ‘z’ sound. Yesterday’s word The word anfractuous means “something with winding twists and turns; sinuous;Continue reading “Barbados”

Pronounced: an-FRACK-choo-uhs, adj Notes: Another new word to me, but useful Yesterday’s word The word birminghamize means “to render artificial” First usage This word began to be used in the mid-1800s Background / Comments Yes, it comes from the UK city of Birmingham… but why the meaning? In the 1600s, counterfeit coins were made there.Continue reading “anfractuous”

Pronounced: BURR-ming-ham-ize, verb Notes: I’ve not heard this word, but it’s not hard to guess where it comes from – the trick is figuring out the meaning Yesterday’s word The word dissilient means “something bursting apart or open” First usage This word came into English in the mid-1600s Background / Comments I enjoy this background;Continue reading “birminghamize”

Pronounced: dih-SIL-ee-uhnt, adj Notes: A word that is new to me Yesterday’s word The word longlist means “a preliminary list of candidates, such as people, places, things, etc for a prize, job, etc from which a shortlist is compiled. First usage This word came into usage in the 1970s Background / Comments This word grewContinue reading “dissilient”

Pronounced: c’mon – like it looks, noun Notes: I didn’t know this was a word, but it makes sense Yesterday’s word The word fleer means, as a noun, “a sneer or mocking look”. As a verb it means “to grin or laugh coarsely and mockingly” First usage This came into English the late 1300s BackgroundContinue reading “longlist”

Pronounced: fleer, noun/verb Notes: My guess was one who runs away (the person who is pursued), but that isn’t correct Yesterday’s word The word deterge means “to wash, wipe, or cleanse” First usage Our word goes back to the early 1600s Background / Comments You probably guessed the word if you added an ‘n’ andContinue reading “fleer”

Pronounced: dih-TUHRG, verb Notes: You probably know this word, but I didn’t know it existed Yesterday’s word The word pilose means “covered with soft hairs or fur” First usage This word came into English in the mid-1700s Background / Comments As I wrote yesterday, our word rings a faint bell, so I think I’ve runContinue reading “deterge”

Pronounced: PIE-lohss, adj Notes: After reading the meaning, I think I’ve run across this word somewhere, but I wasn’t able to recall the meaning – do you know it? Yesterday’s word The word trangam means “a trinket, puzzle, or odd gadget” First usage This word goes back a long way; it came into English inContinue reading “pilose”

Pronounced: TRANG-uhm, noun Notes: I have several of these at home (you may, too), but I didn’t know this word Yesterday’s word The word sectile means “capable of being cut smoothly with a knife” First usage Our word came into English in the early 1700s Background / Comments As I noted yesterday, this word isContinue reading “trangam”