by Dwane | Oct 4, 2023 | Education, English, Vocabulary
Ultracrepidarian: someone giving opinions on something beyond their knowledge. The habit of talking constantly about subjects you know little or nothing about. From the Latin word ultra (beyond) and crepida (slipper, or sandal). According to legends, a famous Greek...
by Dwane | Oct 2, 2023 | Education, English, German, Vocabulary
Grammando: someone who frequently corrects the grammar mistakes of others. I just discovered this word in a series I am watching on Wondrium (formerly known as the Great Courses). The series, if you are interested, is English Grammar Boot Camp. The fact that I am...
by Dwane | Sep 23, 2023 | Education, English, Latin, Vocabulary
Pram: a stroller, a baby carriage, a small vehicle with four wheels designed for a baby to lie in while you push it around. I was born in England. I remember stories of my mom pushing me around Bicester, England in a pram. Back then, says my mom, the British moms...
by Dwane | Jul 25, 2023 | Education, English, Vocabulary
Bailiwick: someones special area of knowledge Your bailiwick is your area of expertise. Bailiwick comes from the word bailiff (an officer of the court) and the Old English word for village, win. Algebra was not my bailiwick in high school, or in college. Made me...
by Dwane | Jul 14, 2023 | Education, English, Vocabulary
Anomalous Abnormal, differing from the norm, the standard, or the usual way of doing things. Anomalous is the adjective form of anomaly. Anomalous comes from the Greek words ἀν (an), meaning “not” and ὁμός (homos) meaning “same”. Synonyms include atypical, divergent,...
by Dwane | Jul 13, 2023 | Education, English, Vocabulary
Anomaly Something differing from the usual pattern. A peculiarity, an abnormality. A deviation from the normal. An outlier. Synonyms include aberration, deviation, oddity, and rarity. Anomaly comes from the Greek words ἀν (an), meaning “not” and ὁμός (homos)...
