Category Archives: word

Pronounced: BUM(P)-shus, adj Notes: I had an idea about this word, but it was (mostly) wrong Yesterday’s word The word Ananias means “a liar” First usage Our word came into English in the late 1800s Background / Comments Our word comes from the Bible; specifically, the book of Acts in the New Testament. But IContinue reading “bumptious”

Pronounced: an-uh-NY-uhs, noun Notes: I did know this word; I find the origin interesting Yesterday’s phrase The phrase Sturm und Drang means “turmoil” First usage Our phrase came into English in the late 1700s Background / Comments As you might expect, our word came from German, which it means “storm and stress”. When it firstContinue reading “Ananias”

Pronounced: shtourm-unt-DRANG, noun Notes: People who know German may know this word Yesterday’s word The word mew can mean, as a noun As a verb, it can mean First usage Various; the first three nouns and the verbs came into English in the late 1300s. The sound definitions (fourth and fifth above) came into EnglishContinue reading “Sturm und Drang”

Pronounced: myoo, noun/verb Notes: I was sure I knew this word, but it had eight definitions; I knew three of them Yesterday’s word The word bandbox is First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1600s Background / Comments In the 1600s, a “band” could refer to ruffs – the large round collars ofContinue reading “mew”

Pronounced: BAN(d)-box, noun Notes: I think I’ve run across the word, but I didn’t know what it is Yesterday’s word The word quiff means First usage The first definition came into English in the late 1800s; the second definition came into English in the 1920s Background / Comments It is thought that the first definitionContinue reading “bandbox”

Pronounced: kwif, noun Notes: I didn’t know either of the definitions of this word Yesterday’s word The word cathexis is “investment of mental or emotional energy in a person, object, or idea” First usage Our word came into English in the 1920s Background / Comments I confused our word with “catharsis”, which is a purgingContinue reading “quiff”

Pronounced: kuh-THEK-suhs, noun Notes: I confused this word with another word Yesterday’s word The word Hamlet means First usage The first definition came into English in the 1900s (1900-1910); the second definition came into English in the mid-1300s Background / Comments I knew the origin of the first definition (after the main character in Shakespeare’sContinue reading “cathexis”

Pronounced: HAM-lit, noun Notes: There are a couple of meanings; one is pretty well known, but the other one is surely related to the Shakespeare play Yesterday’s word The word consigliere is “counselor; advisor” First usage Our word came into English in the 1600s (but see Comments below) Background / Comments Our word came fromContinue reading “Hamlet”

Pronounced: cone-sill-YEH-reh, noun Notes: The word looks Italian to me, but I didn’t know the definition Yesterday’s word The word Bardolphian means “have a red complexion, especially a red nose” First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1700s Background / Comments I was way off on my guess at the meaning of ourContinue reading “consigliere”

Pronounced: bar-DOL-fee-uhn, adj Notes: I’ve not run across this word Yesterday’s phrase The phrase warp speed is “the highest possible speed” First usage Our phrase came into English in the 1960s (possibly the 1970s) Background / Comments If you thought that warp speed was related to the speed of light, you probably enjoy science fiction.Continue reading “Bardolphian”