Category Archives: word

Pronounced: LOO-dik, adj Notes: Not a word I know (or could have deduced) Yesterday’s word The word freemium means, as a noun, “a pricing model in which the basic product or service is free, but extra features must be paid for”. As an adjective, it means “relating to such a model”. First usage A fairlyContinue reading “ludic”

Pronounced: FREE-mih-uhn, noun/adj Notes: You can probably guess this one, but I was off too far to not include it Yesterday’s word The word eonian means “something lasting an eon; eternal or everlasting” First usage This word showed up in the mid-1700s Background / Comments The word is the word eon with the adjectival formContinue reading “freemium”

Pronounced: ee-OH-nee-uhn, adj Notes: Like so many of the recent words, I didn’t know this word, but after I saw the definition, I realized I should have been able to figure it out Yesterday’s word The word wegotism is “the habit of using ‘we’ when referring to oneself” First usage Although this sounds new, theContinue reading “eonian”

Pronounced: WE-guh-tiz-uhm, noun Notes: I didn’t know this word, but after seeing the definition, it makes sense Yesterday’s word The word presenteeism means “the habit of coming to work despite illness or a hangover, resulting in low productivity” First usage This word showed up in the 1930s Background / Comments Our word in modeled onContinue reading “wegotism”

Pronounced: prez-uhn-TEE-iz-uhn, noun Notes: Another word I should have known (using hindsight, after I saw the definition) Yesterday’s word The word bafflegab means “obscure, pompous, or incomprehensible language, such as bureaucratic jargon” First usage This word came into English in the 1950s Background / Comments I heard this word in the Doctor Who show –Continue reading “presenteeism”

Pronounced: BAH-full-gab, noun Notes: This is a word I pretty much know, but I think it is obscure enough to use here Yesterday’s word The word amative means “ready for, disposed to, or welcoming of love; amorous First usage This word showed up in the mid-1600s Background / Comments You may have recognized the wordContinue reading “bafflegab”

Pronounced: AM-uh-tihv, adj Notes: I should have had this posted for Valentine’s Day Yesterday’s word The word muppet is “a stupid person; a fool” First usage This word came into being in the 1950s Background / Comments I’ve only heard muppet referring to Jim Henson’s puppets. The word was indeed coined by Jim Henson toContinue reading “amative”

Pronounced: MUHP-it, noun Notes: No, not the Sesame Street puppets (sorry about the very late post-RL) Yesterday’s word The word insouciant means “free of worry or anxiety; nonchalant” First usage This word came into English in the early 1800s Background / Comments I keep thinking that this word is a synonym for “insolent” (probably justContinue reading “muppet”

Pronounced: in-SOO-see-uhnt, adj Notes: Another word that I could have guessed if I spent a little longer with it. I’ve run across this word in reading, but could not define it properly Yesterday’s word The word proxemics is “the study of physical proximity between people”. For example, in Spanish cultures, people stand closer together whenContinue reading “insouciant”

Pronounced: prok-SEE-mix, noun Notes: I hadn’t heard of this word Yesterday’s word The word cryophilic means “preferring or thriving in the cold or at low temperatures” First usage This word came into English usage in the 1940s Background / Comments This is a word that I should have known, but I didn’t parse it properly.Continue reading “proxemics”