Category Archives: word

Pronounced: VOH-tihv, adj Notes: Not what I thought Yesterday’s word The word conundrum means an intricate and difficult problem a question or problem having only a conjectural answer a riddle whose answer is or involves a pun First usage Our word came into English in the early 1600s Background / Comments According to my referenceContinue reading “votive”

Pronounced: kuh-NUN-drum, noun Notes: I know one definition for sure, but the others I didn’t know Yesterday’s word The word toxophily is “the practice of, love of, or addiction to, archery” First usage Our word came into English in the late 1800s Background / Comments Our word came from Greek; it is a combination ofContinue reading “conundrum”

Pronounced: tok-SAH-fuh-lee, noun Notes: Some people may know this word; I didn’t, but recognized part of the word Yesterday’s word The word nidus is a nest or breeding place a place where something originates or develops First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1700s Background / Comments Our word came from the LatinContinue reading “toxophily”

Pronounced: NIGH-duhs, noun Notes: I couldn’t think of the meaning, but when I saw it, it rang a bell in my memory Yesterday’s word The word griselda is “a meek and patient woman” First usage Our word came into English in the 1300s Background / Comments When I see our word, it reminds me ofContinue reading “nidus”

Pronounced: grih-ZEL-duh, noun Notes: I know a character named this in a book, but it didn’t help with the definition Yesterday’s word The word yegg means “safecracker; robber” First usage Our word came into English in the early 1800s Background / Comments I enjoy mystery stories – especially older ones – so I’m surprised thatContinue reading “griselda”

Pronounced: yehg, noun Notes: I’m a little surprised that I have never heard this word Yesterday’s word The word Juno is “a woman of stately bearing and beauty” First usage Our word came into English in the early 1600s Background / Comments I knew that Juno was a goddess in Roman mythology; she was theContinue reading “yegg”

Pronounced: JOO-noh, noun Notes: You may know this word Yesterday’s word The word nosocomial means “acquired or occurring in a hospital” First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1800s Background / Comments Our word is generally used of infections. It came from the Late Latin (or New Latin) word nosocomium (hospital); one partContinue reading “Juno”

Pronounced: nah-suh-KOH-me-uhl, adj Notes: Another word I have not run across Yesterday’s word The word Ballardian means “relating to a dystopian world, especially one characterized by social and environmental degradation, assisted by technology” First usage I could not find a reference that said when our word came into usage; probably in the late 1900s BackgroundContinue reading “nosocomial”

Pronounced: ba-LAHR-dee-uhn, adj Notes: A word I’ve not run across Yesterday’s word The word foppery means foolish character or action; folly the behavior or dress of a fop First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1500s Background / Comments These days, a “fop” is a man who is extremely devoted to or vainContinue reading “Ballardian”

Pronounced: FAH-pree (alt: FAH-puh-ree), noun Notes: This is a borderline word; I was pretty close to the definitions Yesterday’s word The word cock-horse means, as an adverb, “mounted with a leg on each side”. As a noun, it is “a hobby horse”. First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1500s Background / CommentsContinue reading “foppery”