Dulcinea

Tuesday 31^st May 2016

Dulcinea \ [duhl-sin-ee-uh, duhl-suh-nee-uh]  noun 1. a ladylove; sweetheart.

Quotes

... I stole under cover of the darkness to the dwelling of my dulcinea. ....Washington Irving, "Buckthorne; or, the Young Man of Great Expectations,"  Tales of a Traveller,1824

Origin

Dulcinea entered English by way of Miguel de Cervantes's Don Quixote as the name the protagonist, Don Quixote, bestowed on his ladylove. Dulcinea is derived from the Spanish word dulce meaning "sweet." Thanks to: www.dictionary.com

Jimjams

Friday 27^th May 2016

Jimjams \ [jim-jamz]  nounnoun, ( used with a plural verb) Slang. 1. extreme nervousness; jitters 2. delirium tremens

Quotes

This manner of atavism kept her at attention when all else about her seemed at variance: plans voiced on her own territory comforted her in moments of jim-jams. ....Christopher Nolan, The Banyan Tree, 1999

Origin

Jimjams is a gradational compound based on the word jam meaning "to press, squeeze, or fill tightly." The sense “nervous jitters” entered English in the1800’s. Thanks to: www.dictionary.com

Gormless

Thursday 26^th May 2016

Gormless \ [gawrm-lis]  adjective, Chiefly British Informal. 1. lacking in vitality or intelligence; stupid, dull, or clumsy.

Quotes

She was clearly a gormless girl, and just as clearly an ideal match for his gormless grandson. ...Tom Sharpe, The Throwback, 1978

Origin

Gormless is a variation on the earlier term gaumless, based on the Scots  and Northern English gaum meaning "heed, attention." Thanks to: www.dictionary.com

Forthwith

Wednesday 25^th May 2016

Forthwith \ [fawrth-with, -with , fohrth-] 

adverb

1. immediately; at once; without delay:

Any official accused of dishonesty should be suspended forthwith.

Quote

She bade me tell you to come yourself. In obedience to her commands, I do hereby require you to pack yourself up, and proceed forthwith to Grey Abbey.

....Anthony Trollope, The Kellys and the O'Kellys, 1848

Origin

Forthwith entered English in the 1400’s. The prepositional phrase forth with was in use in Middle English.

Thanks to: www.dictionary.com