Category Archives: word

Pronounced: PUNG-gull, verb Notes: This word is supposed to be more common in the western part of the United States Yesterday’s word The word hendiadys is “a figure of speech in which two words joined by a conjunction are used to convey a single idea instead of using a word and it’s modifier” (examples inContinue reading “pungle”

Pronounced: hen-DIE-uh-diss, noun Notes: This word has nothing to do with chickens Yesterday’s word The word vanward means “located in the vanguard; advanced” First usage Our word came into English in the early 1800s Background / Comments I have heard of “vanguard,” which arrived long before our word (the late 1400s). I didn’t realize thatContinue reading “hendiadys”

Pronounced: VAN-word, adj Notes: You might know the meaning; I didn’t Yesterday’s word The word epanalepsis is “a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is repeated after intervening text” First usage Our word came into English in the late 1500s Background / Comments There is a Bible phrase that I believe fitsContinue reading “vanward”

Pronounced: ep-uh-nuh-LEP-sis, noun Notes: I didn’t know the meaning, but I have run across this Yesterday’s word The word mawkish means First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1600s Background / Comments Gross… our word’s background opens up a can of… maggots! Our word came from the Middle English word mawke (maggot), whichContinue reading “epanalepsis”

Pronounced: MAW-kish, adj Notes: I (pretty much) knew one of the definitions Yesterday’s word The word synecdoche is “a figure of speech in which a part stands for the whole (or vice verse). First usage Our word came into English in the late 1300s Background / Comments I am pretty sure that I have usedContinue reading “mawkish”

Pronounced: sih-NEK-duh-kee, noun Notes: This word seemed familiar to me – see tomorrow’s comments Yesterday’s word The word banausic means “relating to or concerned with earning a living (used pejoratively); utilitarian; practical” First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1800s Background / Comments Our word goes back to Greek society – the consideredContinue reading “synecdoche”

Pronounced: buh-NAW-sik, adj Notes: Interesting word I didn’t know Yesterday’s word The word zeugma is “the use of a word to refer to two or more words, especially in different senses” (example in the comments) First usage Our word came into English in the late 1500s Background / Comments In the sentence “We have beenContinue reading “banausic”

Pronounced: ZOOG-muh, noun Notes: Familiarity: 0% – a new word for me Yesterday’s word The word yawp means First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1300s Background / Comments The background of our word is interesting to me. There was a Middle English verb yelpen (to boast; call out; yelp) whose past participleContinue reading “zeugma”

Pronounced: YAWP, verb Notes: I didn’t really know the meaning of this word Yesterday’s word The word antimetabole is “a repetition of words or an idea in a reverse order” (an example is “to fail to plan is to plan to fail”). First usage Our word came into English in the late 1500s Background /Continue reading “yawp”

Pronounced: AN-tih-muh-TAB-uh-lee, noun Notes: A mouthful! Whether or not you know the definition, you’ve run across them Yesterday’s word The word repine means First usage Our word came into English in the early 1500s Background / Comment As noted, I have heard this word in a rather obscure song. As I imagine you are, IContinue reading “antimetabole”