Category Archives: word

Pronounced: vih-SIS-ih-tood (alt -tyood), noun Notes: I had the wrong meaning for this word Yesterday’s word The word pernoctate means to stay up all night to pass the night somewhere First usage This word came into English in the early 1600s Background / Comments What a great word! This is another one I hope toContinue reading “vicissitude”

Pronounced: purr-NOCK-tate, verb Notes: What a useful word! Yesterday’s word The word fubsy means “short and stout; squat” First usage Our word into English in the late 1700s Background / Comments This word came from an obsolete word fubs or fub (chubby person)

Pronounced: FUHN-zee, adj Notes: A nice word to know Yesterday’s word The word slacktivism means “activism that requires minimal effort” (examples are forwarding a message, or clicking a “like” button). First usage This word came into English in the 1990s Background / Comments Our word is a blend of slack and activism. As I said,Continue reading “fubsy”

Pronounced: SLACK-tuh-viz-uhm, noun Notes: This seems like a word for the modern age, but I don’t think I’ve seen it Yesterday’s word The word encomium is “a formal expression of praise; a eulogy” First usage This word came into English in the late 1500s Background / Comments A eulogy is often associated with funerals, butContinue reading “slacktivism”

Pronounced: en-KOH-mee-uhm, noun Notes: I’ve not heard this word before Yesterday’s word The word faience means “glazed earthenware, especially decorated tin-glazed pottery” First usage This word came into English in the early 1700s Background / Comments This is kind of a specialized word; I’ve never done much with pottery, even though I have read aContinue reading “encomium”

Pronounced: fay-AHNS (alt: fie-AHNS), noun Notes: I don’t think I’ve every seen this word Yesterday’s word The word pinnate means “having the look of a feather, in shape or arrangement; botanical term for symmetrical, blade-like leaves” First usage This word came into English in the late 1600s Background / Comments Our word comes from theContinue reading “faience”

Pronounced: PIN-ate, adj Notes: Another word I wasn’t sure about, but it was familiar Yesterday’s word The word newgate, as a verb, means “to imprison”. As a noun, it means “a prison or a prison-like place or situation”. First usage This word came into English in the late 1500s Background / Comments Our word wasContinue reading “pinnate”

Pronounced: NOO-gate (alt: NYOO-gate), verb/noun Notes: This word is another one I didn’t know, but it made sense after I saw the origin Yesterday’s word The word rodomontade, as a noun, means “boasting, bragging or talking big”. As an adjective, it means “blustering and pretentious talk” First usage This word goes back to the earlyContinue reading “newgate”

Pronounced: rod-uh-mon-tayed (alt: -tahd), noun/adj Notes: I’ve run across this word in Rex Stout’s books with Nero Wolfe. Rex Stout had a very high IQ and often sprinkled the books with long words (such as this one) Yesterday’s word The word acerate means “needlelike” First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1800s BackgroundContinue reading “rodomontade”

Pronounced: AS-uh-rate, adj Notes: I don’t think I’ve every run across this useful word Yesterday’s word The word psittacism means “chattering; parroting or mimicking; mechanical, repetitive, and meaningless speech” First usage This word came into English in the late 1800s Background / Comments When I read the definition, a memory kicked in – a memoryContinue reading “acerate”