DarkRavie Posted February 13 Author Report Share Posted February 13 What's the Word: FLITCH pronunciation: [fliCH] Part of speech: noun Origin: Old English, unknown Meaning: 1. A slab of timber cut from a tree trunk, usually from the outside. 2. A side of bacon. Examples: "Landon cut several flitches of wood to add to the fire." "I love having a flitch with my eggs and toast." About Flitch The word "flitch" developed from the Middle English word "flicce" (which was the salted and cured side of any meat product), but originally came from German. Did you Know? While enjoying eggs with a flitch seems timeless, bacon as part of a hearty breakfast is less than a century old and the result of really good PR. To sell more pork products, one company reached out to doctors, asking them to cosign the idea that a heavier breakfast is a healthier one. The rest is history. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted February 14 Author Report Share Posted February 14 What's the Word: KVELL pronunciation: [fliCH] Part of speech: verb Origin: Yiddish, 1960s Meaning: 1. Feel happy and proud. Examples: "The best part of award shows is seeing recipients’ families kvelling over their success." "Even as conversations quieted, the winning team continued to kvell over their victory." About Kvell “Kvell” comes from the Yiddish word “kveln,” a word that developed from the Middle High German term “quellen” (meaning “to well up”). Did you Know? Yiddish has given us a wealth of words that we use in our everyday lives. Besides “kvell,” we also have the word “schtick” (a comedic routine), “klutz” (a clumsy person), and “bupkis” (nothing), among many others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted February 15 Author Report Share Posted February 15 What's the Word: PUERPERAL pronunciation: [pyoo-ER-per-əl] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, early 18th century Meaning: 1. During or relating to the period of about six weeks after childbirth during which the mother's reproductive organs return to their original nonpregnant condition. Examples: "Therese and her baby had a lot of support during the puerperal period." "The OB/GYN instructed the couple to check in often during the puerperal period." About Puerperal Puerperal comes from the Latin words "puer" ("child") and "para" ("bearing") — translating to "woman who has given birth." Did you Know? The six weeks following childbirth, aka the puerperal period, are important for both parents to bond with their baby and recover. For this reason, many countries offer paid maternal and paternal leave for a minimum of six weeks. Some countries, such as New Zealand, offer 18 weeks or more. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted February 16 Author Report Share Posted February 16 What's the Word: FLIVVER pronunciation: [FLIH-vər] Part of speech: noun Origin: Unknown, early 20th century Meaning: 1. A cheap car or aircraft, especially one in bad condition. Examples: "My dad is so frugal, he refuses to give up his flivver until it can't be driven." "It may look like a flivver, but that car served me well through my 20s." About Flivver While we know that this word developed in the early 20th century, when odd nicknames for vehicles first began popping up, its exact origins are unknown. Did you Know? Just because a car is old doesn't mean that it is also a flivver. If you're looking for a used car, it's a good idea to take along your mechanic or automotive-minded friend to check it out and make sure it is good quality. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted February 17 Author Report Share Posted February 17 What's the Word: NOBBY pronunciation: [NAH-bee] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Unknown, late 17th century Meaning: 1. Describing a person of wealth or high social position. Examples: "When he wasn’t saving lives as Batman, Bruce Wayne lived a nobby lifestyle as a socialite." "It doesn’t matter if the rental car is a nobby convertible or a family minivan — I’ll be happy either way." About Nobby The closest guess is that “nobby” developed by way of the Scottish word “knab” (meaning “a person of importance”) as slang for high society. Did you Know? Don’t mix these homophones up. “Knobby” is an adjective that describes something that has a lot of knobs — such as a pilot’s switchboard or an old branch. “Nobby” is an adjective that specifically describes a wealthy person or one who has a high social position. Both are adjectives, but each possesses a different meaning. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted February 18 Author Report Share Posted February 18 What's the Word: GEWGAW pronunciation: [GYOO-gaw] Part of speech: noun Origin: Middle English, unknown Meaning: 1. A showy thing, especially one that is useless or worthless. Examples: "Grandpa's collection of gewgaws clashes with Grandma's elegant taste." "She bought a gewgaw whenever she went to the thrift store." About Gewgaw Here's another word with unknown origins. While we know that "gewgaw" was first used in earnest in the 16th century, there's no information on how this word developed in the first place. Did you Know? Home personalization is hard. Whether you love gewgaws or not, try taking inspiration from magazines, sticking to a theme, or asking for advice. Encourage your personal sense of interior design to shine. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted February 19 Author Report Share Posted February 19 What's the Word: MENOLOGY pronunciation: [mə-NAL-ə-jee] Part of speech: noun Origin: Greek, early 18th century Meaning: 1. An ecclesiastical calendar of the months, especially a calendar of the Greek Orthodox Church containing biographies of the saints in the order of the dates on which they are commemorated. Examples: "Rosa loved collecting different examples of menology and switched calendars throughout the year to change things up." "Theresa consulted a menology to learn more about her namesake saints." About Menology This noun comes from the Greek word "mēnologion" — which can be broken down further into the words "mēn" ("month") and "logos" ("account"). Did you Know? Calendars come in all different shapes and forms, from breathtaking art prints to simple desk flip versions. Switch up your way of tracking the days this year to a wonderful alternative, such as a menology. Don't worry — your digital calendars will still be there. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted February 20 Author Report Share Posted February 20 What's the Word: MAECENATISM pronunciation: [may-SI-nə-tɪz-əm] Part of speech: noun Origin: Latin, early 17th century Meaning: 1. Patronage. Examples: "The museum honored the donors at a reception for their maecenatism." "Thanks to the maecenatism of regular shoppers, the local businesses were thriving." About Maecenatism This word originates from the classical Latin word “maecēnāt,” which refers to a patron of the arts. Did you Know? The word “maecenatism” comes from the ancient Roman diplomat Gaius Maecenas. Besides being well known as a counselor to Emperor Augustus, Maecenas was famous for patronizing the arts — specifically literature and poetry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted February 21 Author Report Share Posted February 21 What's the Word: ANNALIST pronunciation: [AN-ə-ləst] Part of speech: noun Origin: Unknown, 17th century Meaning: 1. A person who writes annals. Examples: "Our community's history has been preserved through written records maintained by annalists." "Timothy decided to combine his love of baseball and history and become a sports annalist." About Annalist This noun is borrowed from French, but originally comes from the Latin words "annales" ("yearly books") and "annus" ("year"). Did you Know? Black History Month, recognized in the United States since 1976, relies on annalists to assemble a cultural history of African Americans. The month celebrates the importance of Black people in America's development and culture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted February 22 Author Report Share Posted February 22 What's the Word: DEMIURGIC pronunciation: [dem-ee-ER-jik] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Greek, early 17th century Meaning: 1. Describing a powerful creative force or being. Examples: "When she's in her studio, she's a demiurgic force." "I meditate before I work to try to access a demiurgic state." About Demiurgic “Demiurgic” is thought to have originated from the Greek word “dēmiourgós,” meaning “skilled worker.” Did you Know? While “demiurgic” describes a powerful creative force or state of being, a demiurge is a creative entity, such as an artisan or craftsman. One notable demiurge is the Greek god Hephaestus, who was a talented blacksmith known as the god of the forge. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted Monday at 04:09 PM Author Report Share Posted Monday at 04:09 PM What's the Word: HEW pronunciation: [hyoo] Part of speech: verb Origin: Old English, unknown Meaning: 1. Chop or cut (something, especially wood or coal) with an axe, pick, or other tool. 2. Make or shape (something) by cutting or chopping a material such as wood or stone. Examples: "Michael was expected to hew the lumber into firewood by that evening." "Stone artists are skilled at hewing a marble slab into dramatic figures." About Hew While “hew” developed from the English word “hēawan,” it finds its origins in German (“houwen”) and Dutch (“hauen”). Each of these words refers to the act of chopping, cutting, and shaping wood and other hard materials. Did you Know? Totem poles, traditional sculptures made by Indigeneous people of the northern United States and Canada, are used to denote territory and represent historical events. Totems are hewn from cedar trees, and take around six to nine months to complete. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted Tuesday at 04:28 PM Author Report Share Posted Tuesday at 04:28 PM What's the Word: LOGGIA pronunciation: [LOH-djə] Part of speech: noun Origin: Italian, mid-18th century Meaning: 1. A gallery or room with one or more open sides, especially one that forms part of a house and has one side open to the garden. 2. An open-sided extension to a house. Examples: "Many modern houses feature a loggia that leads to the backyard and garden." "Kevin loved to spend mornings in his loggia, drinking coffee and reading the paper." About Loggia “Loggia” developed from the Italian word “lodge” (a small house). Did you Know? People most commonly encounter a loggia in a museum, palace, or another grand, important building. Loggia in public spaces are characterized by large arches and natural lighting — they can be found in warmer environments that allow open-air spaces. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted Wednesday at 05:50 PM Author Report Share Posted Wednesday at 05:50 PM What's the Word: NORTHEASTER pronunciation: [north-EES-tər] Part of speech: noun Origin: American English, late 18th century Meaning: 1. A storm or wind blowing from the northeast, especially in New England. Examples: "Even though the northeaster knocked down a lot of trees in my neighborhood, we didn’t lose power." "Jane’s flight was delayed because of the northeaster passing over Rhode Island." About Northeaster The word “northeaster” developed as a description of the powerful northeast winds that cause storms in the New England region of the United States. Did you Know? A northeaster, often contracted to be called a nor’easter, can happen year-round, which is why people might get a spring nor’easter composed of rain and winds and a winter nor’easter bringing piles of snow in the same year. However, the storms are most likely to be strongest between September and April. These winter nor’easters can cause billions of dollars in damage, so batten down the hatches if you’re anywhere near one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted Thursday at 04:46 PM Author Report Share Posted Thursday at 04:46 PM What's the Word: TWIG pronunciation: [twig] Part of speech: verb Origin: Unknown, mid-18th century Meaning: 1. To understand or realize something. Examples: "Tyson suddenly twigged that he had forgotten his report in the car." "After the appraisal, the family began to twig that the old coin collection was immensely valuable." About Twig The noun “twig” (fora slender woody shoot) comes from the old English word “twigge” (as well as the Dutch “twijg” and German “zweig”). Its origins as a verb describing the action of realization are largely unknown. Did you Know? The word “twig” is probably best known as the slender, woody shoots that protrude from trees and other plants. These twigs can help gardeners and homeowners twig, or understand, the health of their trees. If a twig is green inside, the tree is alive, whereas a rotten or dry twig might indicate a sick tree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted Friday at 04:14 PM Author Report Share Posted Friday at 04:14 PM What's the Word: STACCATO pronunciation: [stə-KA-doh] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Italian, 1715 Meaning: 1. Consisting of a series of sounds that are each sharply separated from the others. 2. A series of short, sharply separated sounds or words. Examples: "It was hard to work with the staccato of the nail gun in the background." "Kim’s heels made a sharp staccato against the tile as she hurried down the hallway." About Staccato This word evolved from Italian, where it translates to “disconnected.” Did you Know? You might hear “staccato” mentioned in the context of music. Staccato notes have spaces between them for silence, which creates the sharply separated sounds the music is known for. Its opposite is legato, notes that are connected and played with no silence or pauses between them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted 12 hours ago Author Report Share Posted 12 hours ago What's the Word: EGRESS pronunciation: [EE-gres] Part of speech: noun Origin: Latin, mid-16th century Meaning: 1. The action of going out of or leaving a place. 2. A way out. Examples: "The door was propped open for easy egress." "Before the lights dimmed, the ushers pointed out points of egress to moviegoers." About Egress “Egress” developed from the Latin words “egressus” (“gone out”) and “egredi,” which came from the combination of “ex” (“out”) and “gradi” (“to step”). Did you Know? Architects carefully construct egress windows in bedrooms and basements in order to keep buildings up to code. These windows are specifically designed for an easy exit in the case of an emergency, such as a fire or floods, and professionals often include a ladder for an even hastier exit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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