Category Archives: word

Pronounced: SWIH-vuht, noun Notes: A new word to me Yesterday’s word The word intractable means “not easily handled, managed, or controlled” First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1500s Background / Comments I thought that this word meant something like “stubborn”. Our word came from the Latin word tractare (to handle), which cameContinue reading “swivet”

Pronounced: in-TRAK-tuh-bull, adj Notes: I’ve read this word enough that I recognize it, but my understanding was off a bit Yesterday’s word The word winkle means First usage Our word came into English in the late 1910s or early 1920s Background / Comments I have run across our word in the Peter Wimsey stories byContinue reading “intractable”

Pronounced: WING-kuhl, verb Notes: This word is more common in the UK; it was a borderline case for me Yesterday’s word The word opisthograph is “a text written on both front and back” (can refer to paper, stone, parchment, etc). First usage Our word came into English in the early 1600s Background / Comments TheContinue reading “winkle”

Pronounced: o-PISS-thuh-graf, noun Notes: I didn’t know this word, but I really like it and hope I get to use it soon! Yesterday’s word The word raffish means First usage Our word came into English in either the very late 1700s or very early 1800s Background / Comments Originally, the reference material for our wordContinue reading “opisthograph”

Pronounced: RAH-fish, adj Notes: I think I’ve run across this word in reading Yesterday’s word The word codex is “a manuscript volume (as opposed to a scroll), especially of an anicent text” First usage Our word came into English in the late 1500s Background / Comments As noted, I get our word confused with anotherContinue reading “raffish”

Pronounced: KOH-decks, noun Notes: I keep getting this word and another one confused Yesterday’s word The word jawboning is “the use of public appeals to influence the actions especially of business and labor leaders” – such an appeal is often made by a political leader such as a president. First usage Our word came intoContinue reading “codex”

Pronounced: JAW-boh-ning Notes: I had two different thoughts about the meaning; neither were correct Yesterday’s word The word bibligony is “the art of producing or publishing books” First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1800s Background / Comments An alternative word to our word is “bibliogenesis” (of which I would have been ableContinue reading “jawboning”

Pronounced: bib-lee-OG-uh-nee, noun Notes: I saw “biblio-” at the start of the word and thought that I would know it, but I didn’t Yesterday’s word The word pleonasm is “the use of more words than those necessary to denote mere sense; redundancy” First usage Our word came into English in the late 1500s. Background /Continue reading “bibliogony”

Pronounced: PLEE-uh-nah-zuhm, noun Notes: A great word to know and use – it was unknown to me Yesterday’s word The word hauteur means “haughtiness” First usage Our word came into English in the mid-1600s Background / Comments Our word kind of looks like “haughty” (if you take a quick glance). It came from the FrenchContinue reading “pleonasm”

Pronounced: hoe-TURR, noun Notes: You may know, or be able to guess, the meaning Yesterday’s word The word inanition is First usage Our word came into English in the second half of 1300s Background / Comments Our word describes a state of suffering due to emptiness — either literally due to lack of nourishment orContinue reading “hauteur”