Logorrhea (noun) log-o-ree-a Incessant or compulsive talkativeness First recorded in 1900–05; see logo- + -rrhea. The term is often used in a humorous way but also refers to a medical…
Panopticon (noun) pan-op-ti-kon a building, as a prison, hospital, library, or the like, so arranged that all parts of the interior are visible from a single point. 1760–70; pan- +…
Donnybrook (noun) don-ee-bruk an inordinately wild fight or contentious dispute; brawl; free-for-all. First recorded in 1850–55; after Donnybrook (Fair). (more…)
Paul Castle, an artist who is both blind and gay, is the author and illustrator of two adorable children’s books; Pringle & Finn (The Pengrooms) and The Secret Ingredient. Unfortunately,…
Volar (adj) voh-ler Of or relating to the palm of the hand or the sole of the foot. / pertaining to or used for flight. 1805–15; From Latin vol (…
Asterism (noun) as-ter-izm (astrology) A group of stars./ A constellation. 1590–1600; Greek asterism ( ós ) a marking with stars. See asterisk, -ism (more…)
Parsimonious (adj) par-sim-oh-nee-us Unwilling to spend money, or use resources. Overly frugal. First recorded in 1590–1600 and from parsimon(y),”extreme frugality” + -ious, adjective-forming suffix. Often used metaphorically for a wide…
Trope (noun) trohp any literary or rhetorical device, as metaphor, metonymy, synecdoche, and irony, that consists in the use of words in other than their literal sense. First recorded in…
Sibylline (adj) sib-il-een mysterious; cryptic First recorded in 1570–80. From Latin Sibyllīnus, “pertaining to a sibyl.” (more…)
Plouk (noun) plwk A pimple. C15, unknown origin. (more…)
Estival/Aestival (adj) est-i-val Pertaining or relating to summer. First recorded in Middle English between 1350–1400. From Late Latin aestīvālis, equivalent to Latin aestīv(us), “of or relating to summer”. (more…)
Assassination (noun) as-as-in-ay-shun the premeditated act of killing someone suddenly or secretively, especially a prominent person. First recorded in 1590–1600. To be killed by an assassin. (more…)
Brindle (noun/adj) brin-dl (noun) A brownish or tawny colour of animal fur, with streaks of other colour. (adj)brownish or tawny with streaks of other colour. 1670–80; alteration of brinded, with…
Thalassophile (noun) thal-as-oh-fiyl Lover of the sea. From the Greek word 'Thalassa (more…)
Hermitage (noun) hur-mit-idj any secluded place of residence or habitation; retreat; hideaway, a place for a hermit. First recorded between 1250–1300. The sense of “any secluded place of residence” first…
Elevenses (noun) el-ev-en-siz a midmorning break for refreshments First recorded in 1840–65 and chiefly in British English usage.Originally a dialect of elevens, meaning “an eleven-o’clock meal.” Doubly pluralized form of…
Caseophile (noun) kas-ee-oh-fiyl A connoisseur or lover of cheese First recorded in 2005–10; from Latin cāse(us) “cheese” (more…)
Pettifog (verb) pet-ee-fog to bicker or quibble over trifles or unimportant matters. First recorded in 1605–15; back formation from pettifogger “ambulance chaser,” equivalent to petty “inferior, secondary” + fogger “shyster,”…
Chockablock (adj) chok-a-blok extremely crowded or full. First recorded in 1790–1800. Formed from chock, “wedge” + –a- (connective) + block, “solid mass of wood.” (more…)
Dovetail (verb) duv-tayl To join or fit together compactly or harmoniously. First recorded in 1555–65. So named from its shape, referring to a seamless joint. (more…)
