Category Archives: word

Pronounced: ay-LAHN Notes: I’ve run across this word in reading, but I wasn’t sure of the meaning Yesterday’s word The word xerophilous means “adapted to a very dry or desert environment” First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1800s Background / Comments As I noted yesterday, I recognized part of the word —Continue reading “élan”

Pronounced: zee-ROF-uh-luhs, adj Notes: Well, I recognized one part of this word, but it still didn’t help with the definition Yesterday’s word The word tergiversation means First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1500s Background / Comments Our word came from the Latin word tergiversari (to show reluctance), which is created from tergumContinue reading “xerophilous”

Pronounced: ter-jih-ver-SAY-shun, noun Notes: This is a word I could use, if I can remember to use it Yesterday’s word The word teleology means First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1700s Background / Comments As I noted, I ran across an adjectival form of our word; a memory stirred — I thoughtContinue reading “tergiversation”

Pronounced: tell-ee-AHL-uh-jee, noun Notes: I didn’t recognize this word, but after I saw the definition, I’ve run across a form of it Yesterday’s word The word balneology is “the science of the therapeutic use of baths” First usage Our word came into English in the late 1800s Background / Comments As noted yesterday, I knewContinue reading “teleology”

Pronounced: bal-nee-AH-luh-jee, noun Notes: With the “-ology” ending, it means the study or science of “something” Yesterday’s word The word fissiparous means First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1800s Background / Comments Rather a fun word to use instead of “fragile”, isn’t it? Our word came from the Latin word fissi- (cleft)Continue reading “balneology”

Pronounced: fih-SIP-uh-russ, adj Notes: Interesting word that I didn’t know; I didn’t know the proper pronunciation Yesterday’s word The word hie means First usage Our word came into English sometime before around 900 Background / Comments After I read the definition, I seem to remember the line something like “I guess I better hie meContinue reading “fissiparous”

Pronounced: HI, verb Notes: I did recognized this word until after I read the definition Yesterday’s word The word lief, as an adverb, means “willingly; gladly; readily”. As as adjective, it means First usage Our word came into English in the late 800s Background / Comments Our word is one of the oldest words thatContinue reading “hie”

Pronounced: LEEF, adv/adj Notes: I have run across this word, but I could not properly define it Yesterday’s word The word etiolate means First usage Our word first came into English in the late 1700s Background / Comments Our word came from the French word étioler — it was originally used to depriving growing celeryContinue reading “lief”

Pronounced: EE-tee-uh-late, verb Notes: A new word to me; I don’t believe I’ve ever run across it Yesterday’s word The word orgulous means “haughty” First usage Our word came into English in the late 1200s Background / Comments I didn’t know our word existed; it would be fun to drop it into conversation when theContinue reading “etiolate”

Pronounced: OR-gyuh-luhs, adj Notes: I (incorrectly) thought this word may be related to ogres Yesterday’s word The word aerie is First usage Our word came into English in the late-1500s Background / Comments I think the place where I found the word has an incorrect pronunciation; the Internet has “AIR-ee” or “EAR-ee”, whereas in yesterday’sContinue reading “orgulous”