Category Archives: word

Pronounced: KAHK-horse, adv/noun Notes: I know the word, but not the meaning – especially not the noun meaning Yesterday’s word The word volant means having the wings extended as if in flight (used of a heraldic bird) flying or capable of flying quick; nimble First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1500s BackgroundContinue reading “cock-horse”

Pronounced: VOH-luhnt, adj Notes: My guess at the meaning was utterly wrong Yesterday’s word The word caballine means giving inspiration relating to horses First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1400s Background / Comments The two definitions above don’t appear to be related to each other at all – however, the Greeks believedContinue reading “volant”

Pronounced: CAB-uh-lihn (alt: CAB-uh-leen), adj Notes: Also capitalized, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen this word Yesterday’s word The word exigent means requiring immediate aid or action requiring or calling for much; demanding First usage Our word came into English in the early to mid-1400s Background / Comments I think I confused our wordContinue reading “caballine”

Pronounced: EK-suh-juht, adj Notes: I’ve run across this word in many places, but I didn’t get the meaning right Yesterday’s phrase The phrase wheel horse is someone responsible and diligent, especially one who bears the biggest share of burden in a group a horse harnessed closest to the front wheel(s) of a carriage First usageContinue reading “exigent”

Pronounced: (as expected), noun Notes: I have heard of “wheel house”, but not “wheel horse” Yesterday’s word The word ecotone is “a transition area between two adjacent ecological communities” First usage Our word came into English in the 1900s (1900-1910) Background / Comments Our word refers to the area in which landscapes overlap, where theContinue reading “wheel horse”

Pronounced: EE-kuh-tone (alt: EK-uh-tone), noun Notes: You may be able to make a good guess at this word Yesterday’s word The word equipollent means “equal in power, force, effect, etc” First usage Our word came into English in the early 1400s Background / Comments Our word came from the Old French word equipolent, which cameContinue reading “ecotone”

Pronounced: ee-kwuh-PAH-luhnt, adj Notes: I’ve never run across this word: it looks like “to equip with pollen” Yesterday’s word The word refulgence means “a radiant or resplendent quality of state; brilliance” First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1600s Background / Comments Back in early 2004, the word was effulgence; in the “Comments”Continue reading “equipollent”

Pronounced: rih-FUL-jen(t)s, adj Notes: Long time readers with excellent memory (I’m not sure I have any of these) have seen this earlier Yesterday’s word The word settlor is “one who makes a settlement of property” First usage Our word came into English in the early 1800s Background / Comments Our word is more common inContinue reading “refulgence”

Pronounced: SET-luhr (alt: SET-lore), noun Notes: Not a misspelling Yesterday’s word The word tub-thumper is “a vociferous supporter” First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1600s Background / Comments I was sure that this came from politicians beating on an upturned tub to make their point; however, the earliest tub-thumpers were preachers whoContinue reading “settlor”

Pronounced: TUB-thuhm-puhr, noun Notes: I thought I knew the origin of this word, but I was incorrect Yesterday’s word The word ordonnance is “the systematic arrangement of parts in art, literature, architecture, etc” First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1600s Background / Comments Our word came from French, being changed from theContinue reading “tub-thumper”