Category Archives: word

Pronounced: too-MESS-uhnt (alt: tyoo-MESS-uhnt), adj Notes: An interesting, useful word Yesterday’s phrase The phrase chicken hawk not only refers to various hawks that are believed to prey upon chickens, but also is “a person who favors military action, yet has avoided military service” First usage Our phrase came into being the the mid-1800s Background /Continue reading “tumescent”

Pronounced: CHIK-en hawk, noun Notes: There is a second meaning of which I was unaware, so I added this word Yesterday’s word The word oneiric means “of, or related to, dreams” First usage This word came into English in the mid-1800s Background / Comments There is a similar word that has to do with wine,Continue reading “chicken hawk”

Pronounced: oh-NIGH-rik, adj Notes: I thought this was perhaps about wine, but no Yesterday’s word The word dastard is “a malicious, sneaking coward” First usage This word came into English in the mid-1400s Background / Comments Like me, you are probably more familiar with the adjective “dastardly”; I don’t think I’ve ever run across theContinue reading “oneiric”

Pronounced: DAS-tuhrd, noun Notes: Today’s entry may be easy; I’m adding it because I didn’t know this word existed Yesterday’s word The word dithyramb means wildly enthusiastic speech or writing, often irregular or unconventional in form an ancient choral chant or song that is excited and wild First usage This word came into English inContinue reading “dastard”

Pronounced: DITH-uh-ram (alt: DITH-uh-ramb), noun Notes: I don’t think I’ve run across this word in reading Yesterday’s word The word samfie means “a swindler or a con man” First usage Our word came into English in the 1920s Background / Comments It’s not entirely certain where this word hails from; it is thought to beContinue reading “dithyramb”

Pronounced: SAM-fee (alt: SAM-fie), noun Notes: Another word I have no recollection of ever seeing before Yesterday’s word The word kakistocracy means “a government made of the worst possible people in power” First usage Our word came into English in the early 1800s Background / Comments At any particular time, nearly half of the USContinue reading “samfie”

Pronounced: kak-uh-STOCK-ruh-see, noun Notes: You may be able to work out the meaning of this word; I couldn’t quite get there when I first ran across this word, but I can do it now Yesterday’s word The word otic means “relating to the ear” First usage This word came into English in the mid-1600s BackgroundContinue reading “kakistocracy”

Pronounced: OH-tik (alt: AHT-ik), adj Notes: A simple word, but I didn’t know it Yesterday’s word The word taphephobia means “the fear of being buried alive in a grave” First usage This word came into English in the late 1800s Background / Comments As with most of the “phobia” words, the origin is Greek. TheContinue reading “otic”

Pronounced: taf-uh-FOE-bee-uh, noun Notes: Clearly “a fear of” something — but what? Yesterday’s word The word rill means a small stream a narrow groove carved by erosion First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1500s Background / Comments As I mentioned yesterday, I’ve only run across this word in song. It is inContinue reading “taphephobia”

Pronounced: rihl, noun Notes: I’ve only heard this word in songs; teachers in school encouraged students to look up words they do not know, so I’ve tried to develop the habit. However, it turns out that this word has a meaning of which I was unaware. Yesterday’s phrase The phrase ignus fatuus means a mysteriousContinue reading “rill”