Tag Archives: Vocabulary

Thoughts for the Day

Posted on February 5, 2014 by Ron

Today in History (Febuary 5th): 1631: British clergyman Roger Williams arrived in Salem, Mass., seeking religious freedom. He founded the colony of Rhode Island. 1788: Birthdays: Former British Prime Minister Robert Peel, founder of the London Police Force. 1837: Birthdays: … Continue reading →

Posted in Quotes, Thoughts for the Day, Vocabulary | Tagged , | Comments Off on Thoughts for the Day

Thoughts for the Day

Posted on February 4, 2014 by Ron

Today in History (Febuary 4th): Dilbert of the Day 1746: Birthdays: Polish-born American patriot Tadeusz Kosciuszko. 1789: George Washington is unanimously elected to be the first President of the United States by the U.S. Electoral College. George Washington of Virginia, … Continue reading →

Posted in Quotes, Thoughts for the Day, Vocabulary | Tagged , | Comments Off on Thoughts for the Day

Thoughts for the Day

Posted on February 3, 2014 by Ron

Today in History (February 3rd): 1377: 2,000 people in Cesena, Italy, were killed by papal troops in what became known as the Cesena Bloodbath. 1690: Massachusetts Colony issued the first paper money in America. 1783: Spain recognized the independence of … Continue reading →

Posted in Quotes, Thoughts for the Day, Vocabulary | Tagged , | Comments Off on Thoughts for the Day

Thoughts for the Day

Posted on February 2, 2014 by Ron

Today in History (February 2nd): Groundhog Day Dilbert 1653: The city of New Amsterdam was incorporated. It later was renamed New York City. 1754: Birthdays: French statesman Charles de Talleyrand. 1848: The war between the United States and Mexico formally … Continue reading →

Posted in Quotes, Thoughts for the Day, Vocabulary | Tagged , | Comments Off on Thoughts for the Day

Thoughts for the Day

Posted on February 1, 2014 by Ron

Today in History (February 1st): 1790: The U.S. Supreme Court convened in New York City for its first session. 1861: Texas seceded from the United States. 1865: U.S. President Abraham Lincoln signed the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which … Continue reading →

Posted in Quotes, Thoughts for the Day, Vocabulary | Tagged , | Comments Off on Thoughts for the Day

Extra! Extra! Headlines Take Headers!

Posted on January 31, 2014 by Ron

Readers often send me collections of funny headlines, but I don’t use them in my column because I can’t verify their authenticity. But when a reader recently sent me photographs of actual headlines as they appeared in newspapers, I decided … Continue reading →

Posted in Vocabulary | Tagged | Comments Off on Extra! Extra! Headlines Take Headers!

Onomastics

Posted on January 31, 2014 by Ron

PRONUNCIATION: (on-uh-MAS-tiks) http://wordsmith.org/words/onomastics.mp3 MEANING: (noun), The study of proper names or of terms used in a specialized field. ETYMOLOGY: From Greek onomastikos (of names), from onomazein (to name), from onoma (name). Also see onomasticon. Earliest documented use: 1904. NOTES: {notes} … Continue reading →

Posted in Vocabulary | Tagged | Comments Off on Onomastics

Fagin

Posted on January 30, 2014 by Ron

PRONUNCIATION: (FAY-gin) http://wordsmith.org/words/fagin.mp3 MEANING: (noun), One who trains others, especially children, in crime. ETYMOLOGY: After Fagin, the leader of a gang of pickpockets, in Charles Dickens’s novel Oliver Twist. Oliver runs away from the cruelty of the undertaker to whom … Continue reading →

Posted in Vocabulary | Tagged | Comments Off on Fagin

Thoughts for the Day

Posted on January 29, 2014 by Ron

Today in History (January 29th): 1688: Birthdays: Swedish scientist and philosopher Emanuel Swedenborg. 1736: Birthdays: American colonial political philosopher Thomas Paine. 1820: 10 years after mental illness forced him to retire from public life, King George III, the British king … Continue reading →

Posted in Quotes, Thoughts for the Day, Vocabulary | Tagged , | Comments Off on Thoughts for the Day

Thoughts for the Day

Posted on January 28, 2014 by Ron

Today in Histoy (January 28th): 1225: Birthdays: Roman Catholic St. Thomas Aquinas. 1547: Henry VIII died and 9-year-old Edward VI became king of England. 1782: The U.S. Congress authorized creation of the Great Seal of the United States. 1813: Pride … Continue reading →

Posted in Quotes, Thoughts for the Day, Vocabulary | Tagged , | Comments Off on Thoughts for the Day