WORDS
OF MIDDLE ENGLISH ORIGIN
Key: The word's language of origin appears directly below it, and to the right of that is an example sentence and an etymology, along with any related themes.
Word |
Phonetic Pronunciation |
Part of Speech |
Definition |
tenterhook
Middle English |
TEN-tur-hook |
noun |
1. a sharp, hooked nail for fastening cloth to a tenter
2. something that causes suffering or painful suspense |
Ex.
Etym.
Rel. Themes: |
Fans of thrillers enjoy being kept on tenterhooks until the final minutes.
From the Middle English teyntur, from medieval Latin tentura, from tenta, "tent"
+ hook
Sounds Silly
|
tomfoolery
Eponym
Middle English |
tom-FOO-luh-ree, -FOOL-ree |
|
the action or behavior of a tomfool; playful or foolish behavior; silly trifling |
Ex.
Etym.
Rel. Themes: |
Mother got so fed up with the neighbors' tomfoolery that she up and moved.
From the Middle English nickname Thom Foole, given to any half-witted man.
Eponyms, Sounds Silly
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