Whippersnapper (noun)
wip-u-snap-u
A young and inexperienced person considered to be presumptuous or overconfident.
Late 17th century: perhaps representing whipsnapper, expressing noise and unimportance.
The name comes from HMT Windrush, a troopship that brought 492 migrant workers to Tilbury Docks, London on 22nd June 1948. These people were the first to land on our shores, and the name came to mean anyone that arrived in this movement, which lasted until 1971. Read More
Arcane (adj)
ah-kain
Understood by few; mysterious or secret.
Mid 16th century: from Latin arcanus, from arcere ‘to shut up’, from arca ‘chest’.
On 10th April Amazon UK opened this year’s awards, a literary prize recognising outstanding work by self published authors. To qualify for the 2018 award you must have published your book via Kindle Direct Publishing, between 1st May 2018 and 31st August 2018. Read More
Since that first appearance he’s been back several times, proving a favourite with children and mothers alike. The British heartthrob who’s played characters such as hardman Alfie in Peaky Blinders and the Krays may not seem like the first choice for reading bedtime stories but both him and his dog have been popular additions to the show. Read More
Roil (verb)
royl
move, or make move in a turbulent, swirling manner.
Late 16th century: perhaps from Old French ruiler ‘mix mortar’, from late Latin regulare ‘regulate’.
The main literature prize, the Pulitzer Prize for fiction goes to Less by Andrew Sean Greer this year. A funny and touching tale, Less follows the life of mid-list novelist who needs to grow up. Here’s that, and the other Pulitzer winners for 2018. Read More
Quoth (verb) (archaic) (humorous)
kwoth
Said (used only in first and third person singular before the subject)
Middle English: past tense of obsolete quethe ‘say, declare’, of Germanic origin.
Perendinate (verb) (historic)
pe-ren-din-ait
Put off until the day after tomorrow.
From latin Latin perendinare