Category: Word of the Day – F

Word of the Day: FRIDAY-FACE

ETYMOLOGY
probably from the time when Friday was a day of abstinence

EXAMPLE
“…The Fox on a time came to visit the Gray, partly for kindred, chiefly for craft, and finding the hole empty of all other company, saving only one Badger enquiring the cause of his solitariness: he described the sudden death of his dam and sire with the rest of his consorts. The Fox made a Friday face, counterfeiting sorrow: but concluding that death’s stroke was inevitable persuaded him to seek some fit mate wherewith to match.…”

From: Greene’s, Groat’s-Worth of Witte, bought with a million of repentance 
Robert Greene, 1592

Word of the Day: FREMESCENT

ETYMOLOGY
as if from Latin fremescentem, pr. pple. of fremescere, 
freq. vb. from Latin fremere (to roar)

EXAMPLE
“… The tide advances; Syndic Roederer’s and all men’s straits grow straiter and straiter. Fremescent clangor comes from the armed Nationals in the Court; far and wide is the infinite hubbub of tongues …”

From: The French Revolution: A History
By Thomas Carlyle, 1837

Word of the Day: FLANTITANTING

ETYMOLOGY
a reduplicated formation on flanting (flaunting)

EXAMPLE
“…An old Doctor of Oxford shewd me Latine verses of his in that flourishing flantitanting goutie Omega fist, which he presented unto him (as a bribe) to get leave to playe, whe hee was in the heighth or prime of his Puer es cupis atque doceri…”

From: Have with You to Saffron-Walden Or, Gabriell Harveys Hunt is Up
By Thomas Nashe, 1596

Word of the Day: FLAMFEW

ETYMOLOGY
corruption of French fanfelue, from medieval Latin famfalūca (bubble, lie),
apparently from Greek πομϕόλυξ (bubble)

EXAMPLE
“…In brest of the Godesse Gorgon was cocketed hardlye,
With nodil vnioyncted, by death, light vital amoouing.
Voyd ye fro theese flamfews, quoa the God, set a part the begun wurck…”

From: Thee First Foure Bookes of Virgil his Aeneis
Translated intoo English heroical verse by Richard Stanyhurst, 1582

Word of the Day: FAILANCE

ETYMOLOGY
from Old French faillance, from faillir (to almost do something, to fail)

EXAMPLE
“…but when you come to Exercise the whole company ioyned, you may at some times for your owne satissaction in the more ready & gracefull performance of them, command the Postures to bee done by the whole number at once, with such pawse betweene euery Posture, as may afford you meanes to discerne any faylance therein: but whensoeuer you skirmish you shall vse no more of direction then,
1. Make Ready.2. Present.3. Giue Fyre…”

From: The Compleat Gentleman, fashioning him absolute in the most necessary & commendable qualities concerning minde or bodie that may be required in a noble gentleman
By Henry Peacham, 1627