by James Paddock | May 3, 2013 | WOTD
half a dozen Numeral Pronunciation: /hɑːf ə dʌzən/ Half of twelve (12), i.e. six (6). Let’s talk about this phrase for a moment. It is wrong. Just… wrong. Okay? It is wrong on the following counts: First off, it is three excess syllables where saying...
by James Paddock | Jul 30, 2012 | WOTD
apophthegm Noun (plural: apophthegms) Pronunciation: /ˈapəθɪm/ A short, witty, instructive saying; an aphorism or maxim. Who thought this word was a good idea? For one thing, it literally looks like a sneeze. It’s one letter away from having all the letters of...
by James Paddock | May 6, 2012 | WOTD
dearth Noun (plural: dearths) A period or condition when food is rare and hence expensive; famine. (by extension) Scarcity; a lack or short supply. I literally only just discovered this word a few weeks ago, but since then it seems to have been popping up everywhere...
