Word of the week – sternutation

sternutation; noun the act, fact, or noise of sneezing Example Sentence: Julie knew that she had put on too much perfume when she entered the car and immediately heard a chorus of sternutation from the passengers. Did you know? “Sternutation” comes from...

Word of the week – periphrasis

periphrasis; noun use of a longer phrasing in place of a possible shorter form of expression an instance of periphrasis Example Sentence: The college English teacher warned her students against padding their essays with periphrases solely to reach the required length....

Word of the week – mohair

mohair; noun a fabric or yarn made wholly or in part of the long silky hair of the Angora goat; also : this hair Example Sentence: This year’s product line includes coats and sweaters made from mohair produced in Texas. Did you know? “Mohair” entered...

Word of the week – pompadour

pompadour; noun a man’s style of hairdressing in which the hair is combed into a high mound in front a woman’s style of hairdressing in which the hair is brushed into a loose full roll around the face Example Sentence: The actress Katharine Hepburn is...

Word of the week – jingoism

jingoism; noun extreme chauvinism or nationalism marked especially by a belligerent foreign policy Example Sentence: Albert Einstein was a pacifist who found German jingoism, with its ultra-nationalistic ideology and militaristic policy, so objectionable that he left...

Word of the week – skimble-skamble

skimble-skamble;  adjective rambling and confused : senseless Example Sentence: “What a lark it is to tag along after constantly astonished Alice as she meets up with all those skimble-skamble Lewis Carroll creations,” raved one theater critic of an...