English Language

Disavow (verb) dis-a-vow Deny any responsibility or support for. Late Middle English: from Old French…

Colloquium (noun) kol-o-kwee-um An academic conference or seminar. Late 16th century (denoting a conversation): from…

Zetabetical (adj) zee-ta-bet-i-kal Reverse alphabetical order, from Z-A. From the letter Z, in the form…

Stum (noun) stum Unfermented grape juice Mid 17th century: from Dutch stom (noun), stommen (verb),…

Simper (verb) sim-per Smile in an affectedly coy or ingratiating manner. Mid 16th century: of…

Fatuous (adj) fat-u-us Silly and pointless Early 17th century: from Latin fatuus ‘foolish’ + -ous.…

Au Courant (adj) ow-ku-ran Aware of what is going on; well informed. Fashionable Mid 18th…

Couchant (adj) kow-chant (of an animal) lying with the body resting on the legs and…

Concomitant (adj) kon-komi-tant Naturally accompanying or associated. Early 17th century: from late Latin concomitant- ‘accompanying’,…

Rhotic (adj) row-tik Relating to or denoting a dialect or variety of English (e.g. in…