[‘ Good sense; shrewdness.'] Pronunciation: Brit. /rʌmˈɡʌm(p)ʃn/, U.S. /ˌrəmˈɡəm(p)ʃən/ Etymology:Origin uncertain. Compare later gumption n., rummlegumption n. Sc. National Dict. (at cited word) suggests a derivation < a variant of the Scots intensifying prefix ram- (see ramgunshoch adj.) + gumption n. (although this is first attested later). However, it is not clear whether rum- can be identified with the more common prefix ram-. It is possible that the word may be shortened < rummlegumption n.

Read more

[‘ ‘The descent into Avernus is easy’: easy is the descent into hell. Chiefly fig.: it is easy to slip into evil or immoral ways.'] Pronunciation: Brit. /ˈfasɪlɪs dɛˈsɛnsəs əˈvəːnʌɪ/, ˈfakɪlɪs dɛˈskɛnsəs əˈvəːnʌɪ, U.S. /ˈfæsɪlᵻs dɛˈsɛnsəs əˈvərˌnaɪ/, ˈfækɪlᵻs dɛˈskɛnsəs əˈvərˌnaɪ Forms: α. 15– *facilis descensus Averni*, 18 *facilus descensus Averni* /irreg./. β. 18– *facilis descensus Averno*. Etymology: < classical Latin /facilis dēscensus Avernī/ (Virgil Aeneid 6. 126, in some MSS; the preferred reading is Avernō), lit.

Read more

[‘ Full assurance or certainty, esp. in relation to an article of religious faith or doctrine.'] Pronunciation: Brit. /plᵻˈrɒf(ə)ri/, U.S. /pləˈrɑfəri/ Forms: 15–16 *plerophorie*, 16– *plerophory*. Etymology: < post-classical Latin /plerophoria/ assurance, certainty (c/1595 in a British source) and its etymon Hellenistic Greek /πληροϕορία fullness of assurance, certainty (New Testament: Hebrews 6:11, 10:22, etc.) < /πληροϕορεῖν/ to bring full measure, to satisfy fully ( < /πληρο-, combining form (compare -o- connective) of ancient Greek /πλήρης full, satisfied (see plereme n.

Read more

[‘ No money; nothing.'] Pronunciation: Brit. /ˈnʌp(ə)ns/, U.S. /ˈnəp(ə)ns/ Etymology: < /n-/ (in no adj.) + -uppence (in tuppence, variant of twopence n.).  /Brit./ /colloq./  No money; nothing. Use of the word has declined since the introduction of decimal coinage in Britain in 1971. 1883 A. Lang in /Longman’s Mag./ Sept. 517 The wrong copy..is..worth exactly ‘nuppence’ to the collector. 1886 A. Lang in /Longman’s Mag./ Mar. 551 The Americans can get our books, and do get them, and republish them and give us nothing—that awful minus quantity, ‘nuppence’!

Read more

An incredible graphic produced by the creator of the web comic Stand Still. Stay Silent, at https://sssscomic.com/comic.php?page=196. Obviously, I couldn’t miss the opportunity to share it.

Read more

Sometimes grammar pedants deserve it. credit: https://www.smbc-comics.com/?id=3598#comic

Read more

[‘ Of a person or his or her actions: quick, prompt; eager, vehement.'] Pronunciation: Brit. /reɪð/, U.S. /reɪð/, ræθ Forms: OE *hraðe* plural, OE *hreð* see note below, lOE *hræþe* /Kentish/, plural, ME *raþe*, ME *vanth* transmission error, ME– *rath* now Eng. regional, ME– *rathe*, 16 *raith*, 18 *raaye* /Irish English/ (south.), 18– *rave* /Eng. regional/ (Somerset); /Sc./ pre-17 *raith*, pre-17 18 *rath*, pre-17 18– *rathe*. Etymology:Variant of rad adj.1 In Middle English probably partly also < rathe adv.

Read more

[‘ A human being or animal that devours things (esp. food) of all kinds; an omnivore.'] Pronunciation: Brit. /panˈtɒfədʒɪst/, U.S. /pænˈtɑfədʒəst/ Etymology: < panto- comb. form + -phagist comb. form.  /rare/.  A human being or animal that devours things (esp. food) of all kinds; an omnivore. 1822 J. M. Good /Study Med./ I. 119 Borelli gives us an instance of a pantophagist who swallowed a hundred louis-d’ors at a meal.

Read more

[‘ Division of a previously united body of people into mutually opposing parties; a split, a schism.'] Pronunciation: Brit. /ˈsɪʒn/, ˈsɪʃn, U.S. /ˈsɪʒ(ə)n/, ˈsɪʃ(ə)n Forms: 15– *scission*; /Sc./ pre-17 *scissione*. Etymology: < (i) Middle French, French /scission/ action of cutting or dividing (/a/1365), division, cut (1488), split, division in a previously united body of people, state, etc. (1517), schism (1739), and its etymon (ii) post-classical Latin /scission-, /scissio action of dividing (Vulgate), separation (4th cent.

Read more

[‘ Shrivelled or pinched with cold or hunger; wasted, stunted, withered.'] Pronunciation: Brit. /ˈnɪðəd/, U.S. /ˈnɪðərd/, Sc. /ˈnɪðərd/ Forms: /Eng. regional/ (north.) 16 *netherd*, 17–18 *nither’d*, 18– *nithered*; /Sc./ 18 *nither’t*, 18– *niddered*, 18– *nidderet*, 18– *nidderd* /Shetland/. Etymology: < nither v. + -ed suffix1.  /Sc./ and Eng. regional (north.).  Shrivelled or pinched with cold or hunger; wasted, stunted, withered. 1691 J. Ray /Coll. Eng. Words/ (ed. 2) 52 /Netherd/, starved with Cold.

Read more