Category Archives: word

Pronounced: PLUM-ee, adj Notes: This word had four definitions; I knew two of them. How many can you think of? Yesterday’s word The solidus is the forward slash symbol (‘/’) used to mean “or” (as in his/her) or “and or” (straggler/deserter) or “per” (feet/second). Background / Comments The word I use informally for this symbolContinue reading “plummy”

Pronounced: SAH-luh-duhs, noun Notes: This is a fancy word for something; I know a different fancy word for it, but not this one Yesterday’s word The word contund means “to thrash or bruise” Background / Comments I should have seen the similarity to contusion and been able to guess at the meaning. Our word comesContinue reading “solidus”

Pronounced: kuhn-TUHND, verb Notes: This is another case of a word that I didn’t have any idea of the meaning, but after looking at the definition, I should have been able to figure it out. Yesterday’s word The word pukka means “geniune, authentic; also first-class” Background / Comments If this word evokes mental pictures ofContinue reading “contund”

Pronounced: PUH-kuh, adj Notes: I’ve run across this word in reading, and had an idea of the meaning, but I also found the background interesting. Do you know the meaning? Yesterday’s word The word subduct means “to push or move below something” Background / Comments The word comes from Latin subducere (to draw up, withdraw,Continue reading “pukka”

Pronounced: suhb-DUCT, verb Notes: I found it hard to define this word Yesterday’s word The word logy means “marked by sluggishness and lack of vitality; groggy” Background / Comments The origins of logy (sometimes spelled loggy) are uncertain (but it is NOT related to “groggy” except in meaning). It is thought to come from theContinue reading “subduct”

Pronounced: LOW-gee, adj Notes: I’m not sure why such a short, useful word is not better known Yesterday’s word The word rowel, as a verb means “to prick; to vex”. As a noun, it is the small spiked wheel on the end of a spur attached behind the shoes of a horse rider. They areContinue reading “logy”

Pronounced: ROU-uhl, noun/verb Notes: Some people may know this word Yesterday’s word The word argosy means a large ship; especially a large merchant ship a rich supply Background / Comments Although it looks like it, argosy is not related to argonaut. Argosy comes from Ragusa, which is the Italian name for the city which isContinue reading “rowel”

Pronounced: ARE-guh-see, noun Notes: I had no idea of the meaning of this word Yesterday’s word The word cutpurse means “a thief, especially one who steals from people’s pockets” Background / Comments Before clothing had pockets, people carried their money in a pouch (purse) that hung from a girdle (a belt, cord, sash, or theContinue reading “argosy”

Pronounced: CUT-purse, noun Notes: If you watch shows set in the past, you may know this one Yesterday’s word The word rapporteur means “a person who gives reports (as at a meeting of a learned society) Background / Comments To me, this word is just a fancy one for “secretary”. As you may expect, thisContinue reading “cutpurse”

Pronounced: ra-pour-TUHR, noun Notes: This seems to be a fancy word for which we have a simpler one Yesterday’s word The word scapegrace means “a scoundrel; a mischievous person” Background / Comments This word was coined to describe a person who had “escaped” the “grace” of God. First usage This word showed up in theContinue reading “rapporteur”