spoony \SPOO-nee\ (adjective) - 1 : Foolish; silly; excessively sentimental. 2 : Foolishly or sentimentally in love.

"'I think every man is bound to do the best he can for himself -- that is, honestly; there is something...Read More

osculation \os-kyuh-LAY-shuhn\ (noun) - The act of kissing; also: a kiss.

"If by osculation you mean kissing, Miss Cobb... I guess you don't remember the Austrian count who was a head waiter here. If there was anything ...Read More

mores \MOR-ayz; -eez\ (plural noun) - 1 : The fixed customs of a particular group that are morally binding upon all members of the group. 2 : Moral attitudes. 3 : Customs; habits; ways.

"Now: mores are the customs of ...Read More

propound \pruh-POWND\ (transitive verb) - To offer for consideration; to put forward; to propose.

"So they called after them, and they stopped and stood still till they came up to them; but they concluded as they went, ...Read More

A good friend of mine wonders about this sentence from a billing statement she received: "Beginning in April of 2025, your payment date will be moved forward from April 19 to April 26." She asks, "Shouldn't 'moved ...Read More

Today, we interview the coiners of two of our most overused cliches. Our first guest is Polly Anna Doubtful, creator of the expression "cautiously optimistic."

Q: How did this semi-oxymoronic phrase start?

A: Back in ...Read More