Infelicitous (adj) in-fel-is-it-us inapt, inappropriate, or awkward; malapropos / not felicitous, happy, or fortunate; unhappy. First recorded in 1825–35 (more…)
Absquatulate (verb) ab-skwat-yu-layt to flee; abscond. First recorded in 1820–30. Formed from ab-, “away from,” and squat, “to sit in a low or crouching position.” (more…)
Steadfast (adj) sted-fast Firm in purpose, resolution, faith, attachment. First recorded before 1000 and comes from the Middle English word stedefast, from Old English stedefæst. (more…)
Motte (noun) mot (historic)a mound forming the site of a castle or camp. late 19th century: from French, ‘mound’, from Old French mote (see moat). (more…)
Plash (noun) plash A gentle splash. / A pool or puddle. First recorded before 1000; Middle English plasch “pool, puddle,” Old English plæsc; cognate with Dutch, Low German plas, probably…
Fulgurate (verb) gul-guyr-ayt To flash and dart like lightning. 1670–80; Latin fulgurātus, past participle of fulgurāre to flash, glitter, lighten, derivative of fulgur flash of lightning (more…)
Eustress (noun) yoo-stres Physical, mental, or emotional tension that is caused by something positive or is psychologically or physically beneficial. First recorded in 1965–70 and comes from the Greek prefix…
Heterogeneous (adj) het-er-oh-jeen-yus Different in kind; unlike; incongruous. Composed of parts of different kinds; having widely dissimilar elements or constituents 1615–25; Medieval Latin (more…)
Brief clues to help you find 18 tales with numbers in the title – some tricky, some easy! We've also just turned our best quizzes into a book that…
Hodgepodge (adj) hodj-podj A random mixture; a jumble. First recorded in 1615–25; variant of hotchpotch (more…)
Primordial (adj) pry-mawd-ee-al constituting a beginning; giving origin to something derived or developed; original. First recorded around 1350–1400 and comes via Middle English from the Late Latin word prīmōrdiālis, meaning…
Comity (noun) kom-it-ee Mutual courtesy; civility. First recorded in 1535–45; from Latin cōmitās, equivalent to cōm(is) “affable” + -itās -ity (more…)
Zetetic (adj) zet-et-ik proceeding by inquiry or investigation. First recorded in 1650–60 and comes via the New Latin word zētēticus, from Greek zētētikós, “inclined to investigate or inquire.” (more…)
Kinkeeping (noun) kin-keep-ing The labour involved in maintaining and enhancing family ties, including organizing social occasions, remembering birthdays, sending gifts, etc. First recorded in 1975–80. Formed from the words kin,…
18 quotes about reading by 18 famous authors. It would be a tough quiz so to make it easier I’ve added one of their works in brackets… but not to…
Quango (noun) kwan-go (especially in the United Kingdom) a semipublic advisory and administrative body supported by the government and having most of its members appointed by the government. First recorded…
Fjeld (noun) fyeld a rocky, barren plateau of the Scandinavian peninsula. From Norwegian, dating back to 1855–60. Similar route to fell. (more…)
To celebrate the beginning of spring (well, for us in the northern hemisphere) a quiz on writing related to the season, to Easter, gardens and generally sunshiney stuff! We've…
Subterfuge (noun) sub-ter-fewj An artifice or expedient used to evade a rule, escape a consequence, hide something, etc. First recorded in English around 1565–75 and comes from the Late Latin…
Fard (verb) fah-rd To apply cosmetics to (the face). First recorded around 1400–50 and comes from an Old French noun that derived from the verb farder, meaning “to apply makeup.”…
