Category Archives: word

Pronounced: teh-LOOR-ick, adj Notes: This is another word that I didn’t know, but after seeing the origin, it made sense Yesterday’s phrase The phrase scare quote refers to “the quotation marks around a word or phrase to indicate said phrase is incorrect, nonstandard, or ironic”. First usage This word came into English in the 1950sContinue reading “telluric”

Pronounced: (just like it sounds), noun Notes: I didn’t know this phrase, but it is common Yesterday’s word The word eudemonic means “pertaining to or conducive to happiness; related to theories of happiness” First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1800s Background / Comments The word comes from the Greek word eudaimonikós, whichContinue reading “scare quote”

Pronunciation: you-dih-MON-ick, adj Notes: When I attempted to parse this word, I saw eu- (good) parsed with “demonic”, so this didn’t make any sense Yesterday’s word The word endogenous means “originating from within” First usage This word came into English in the mid-1800s Background / Comments Our word comes from the Greek word endo- (inside;Continue reading “eudemonic”

Pronounced: en-DOJ-uh-nuhs, adj Notes: As is usual here, this is another word I didn’t know Yesterday’s word The word valediction means “the formal act of announcing one’s departure, one’s leave-taking, or bidding farewell” First usage Our word came into English in the early 1600s Background Well, the word looks like valedictorian, which we call theContinue reading “endogenous”

Pronounced: val-ih-DIK-shun, noun Notes: I didn’t know the meaning of this word; it reminded me of a word I do know Yesterday’s word The word stenophagous means “feeding on a limited variety of food” First usage The word came into English in the 1920s Background / Comments I am not sure how “limited” the foodContinue reading “valediction”

Pronounced: stuh-NOFF-uh-gus, adj Notes: Another really nifty, useful word Yesterday’s word The word besot means to inspire with admiration to the point of foolishness to make dull or stupid (as by drunkenness) First usage This word can be traced back to the mid-1500s Background / Comments I was so sure I was right on thisContinue reading “stenophagous”

Pronounced: bih-SAHT, verb Notes: I know the general meaning (you probably do, too), but I was a little off because I attempted to parse the word… and I was wrong Yesterday’s word The word irenic means “tending to promote peace and reconciliation” First usage This word came into English in the mid-1800s Background / CommentsContinue reading “besot”

Pronounced: aye-ren-ick (alt: aye-ree-nick), adj Notes: The “aye” above is supposed to be the long “i” sound (as in “time”). At one time, I worked for someone named “Irene”, and I just saw her name and could not guess the meaning Yesterday’s word The word zetetic means, as an adjective, “proceeding by inquiry, search, orContinue reading “irenic”

Pronounced: zuh-TET-ick, adj/noun Notes: An interesting word; I don’t think I’ve run across it Yesterday’s word The word stelliferous means “abounding or full with stars” First usage This word came into English in the late 1500s Background / Comments You did better than I if you saw “stellar” in the word. Our word comes fromContinue reading “zetetic”

Pronounced: steh-LIHF-er-us, adj Notes: Another word I couldn’t guess the meaning of, but after reading it, it makes sense Yesterday’s phrase The phrase mise en abyme means “self-reflection in a literary work, a work of art, etc” First usage A fairly recent word; it came into English in the 1960s Background / Comments As youContinue reading “stelliferous”