Phillumenist

I am sick and tired. Didn’t want to post the word of the day. Could not think about it. Then, one of my daughters said, “I’ll help you, dad. How about phillumenist?” I had no idea what a phillumenist was. I looked it up. So, here is the word of...

Semaphore

Semaphore: A signaling system.  A semaphore uses flags, lights, or mechanical arms to send messages, usually to travelers.  You might see a semaphore next to the railroad tracks. The word might also refer to a system of sending messages by holding the arms or flags in...

Admit

Admit: to allow to enter. There are so many definitions and so many variations of this word, it is probably best to begin with the etymology.  Admit comes from the Latin verb admitto, which also has many definitions.   Admitto means: to urge on to spur to a gallop to...

Pyrophoric

Pyrophoric: liable to ignite spontaneously when exposed to air.  You know, like..  Charlie Sheen.  While a pyrophoric chemical might ignite, a pyrophoric alloy will produce sparks when struck.  Lighter flints, for example, are pyrophoric.  The flintlock mechanism in...

Admonish

Admonish: To warn or notify of a fault; to reprove with mildness, to reprove without harshness.  Admonish can also mean: To counsel against wrong practices; to caution or advise.  To instruct or direct. The English word derives from the French admonester, which came...

Admire

Admire: To regard with wonder or surprise; to look up to; to look at with approbation, esteem, reverence, affection; to look at with wonder, or pleasure. From Latin admiror, which is a combination of the preposition ad meaning to, or toward, and the verb miror meaning...