Category Archives: word

Pronounced: VER-ih-green, noun Notes: I thought that this word might mean “very green”, but that’s not really the correct meaning Yesterday’s word The word kegler means “bowler” First usage Our word came into English in the 1930s Background / Comments Our word came from medieval Germany, where bowling was practiced as a test of religiousContinue reading “verigreen”

Pronounced: KEH-gluhr, noun Notes: I am a bit surprised that I don’t know this word Yesterday’s word The word akrasia is “the lack of will or self-control resulting in one acting against one’s better judgment” First usage Our word came into English in the early 1800s Background / Comments Our word came from the GreekContinue reading “kegler”

Pronounced: uh-KRAY-zhuh (alt: uh-KRAY-zhee-uh), noun Notes: Another new word Yesterday’s word The word habiliments means First usage Our word came into English in the late 1300s to early 1400s Background / Comments I can almost see the word “habit” (that nuns wear), so that is the habiliments of a nun. Our word came from theContinue reading “akrasia”

Pronounced: huh-BIH-luh-muhnts, noun Notes: This words looks familiar, but I could not define it Yesterday’s word The word philocynic means, as a noun, “a dog lover”. As an adjective, is means “fond of dogs” First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1800s Background / Comments You probably recognized the Greek word philo- (loving)Continue reading “habiliments”

Pronounced: fil-oh-SIN-ick, noun/adj Notes: I thought our word meant someone who either was fond of being a cynic or else enjoyed the company of cynics Yesterday’s word The word risorgimento is First usage Our word came into English in the late 1800s Background / Comments Our word came straight into English from the Italian wordContinue reading “philocynic”

Pronounced: ree-ZAHR-jih-MEN-toe, noun Notes: Another new word to me (note that this word may be capitalized) Yesterday’s word The word dobber means First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1800s Background / Comments Our word has different origins; the first two definitions come from the word dob (to inform; to put down; toContinue reading “risogimento”

Pronounced: DOB-uhr, noun Notes: A new word for me, as far as I can remember Yesterday’s word The word duckboard is “a boardwalk or slatted flooring laid on a wet, muddy, or cold surface” (usually used in the plural form) First usage Our word came into English in the 1910s Background / Comments Our wordContinue reading “dobber”

Pronounced: DUCK-board, noun Notes: I think I’ve heard the word, but could not define it properly Yesterday’s phrase The phrase Hawthorne effect means “an improvement in workers’ performance attributed to the special attention they received when singled out for a study” First usage Our phrase came into English in the 1950s Background / Comments TheContinue reading “duckboard”

Pronounced: HAW-thorn ih-FEKT, noun Notes: I had not heard of this word Yesterday’s word The word threnody is “a song of lamentation for the dead; elegy” First usage Our word came into English in the early 1600s Background / Comments I said yesterday that the word stirred a faint memory, but that I couldn’t rememberContinue reading “Hawthorne effect”

Pronounced: THREH-nuh-dee, noun Notes: This word seems vaguely familiar, but I couldn’t place it or define it Yesterday’s word The word sough means, as a verb, “to make a moaning, sighing, whistling, murmuring, or rustling sound” As a noun it means First usage Our word came into English a long time ago – before theContinue reading “threnody”