More about nebulous

• First recorded in 1375鈥�1425.
• Comes via late Middle English from the Latin word 苍别产耻濒艒蝉耻蝉, meaning 鈥渇ull of mist, foggy, cloudy.鈥�
• 狈别产耻濒艒蝉耻蝉 comes from nebul(a) 鈥渃loud, mist, vapor,鈥� from which we get聽nebula, “a cloud of interstellar gas and dust.”

EXAMPLES OF NEBULOUS

• His explanation was so nebulous that it left everyone in the room puzzled and unsure of what to do next.
• The line between dreams and reality felt increasingly nebulous as she struggled to wake up.

More about desuetude

• First recorded in 1425鈥�75.
• Comes via late Middle English from the Latin word 诲脓蝉耻脓迟奴诲辞, equivalent to the base of 诲脓蝉耻脓蝉肠别谤别, 鈥渢o become disaccustomed to, unlearn.鈥�

EXAMPLES OF DESUETUDE

• Over time, the once bustling marketplace fell into desuetude as modern shopping centers took over.
• As technology advanced, many manual skills and crafts fell into desuetude, replaced by automation and machinery.

More about firkin

• First recorded around 1400鈥�50.
• Comes from the late Middle English word ferdkyn or firdekyn.
• This is formed from a variant of ferthe, meaning “fourth,” and the diminutive suffix –kin.

EXAMPLES OF FIRKIN

• The antique store had a collection of quaint firkins on display, each with its own unique design.
• After the harvest festival, the townspeople gathered around to share stories over slices of bread from a firkin of butter.

It’s National Poetry Month, and we鈥檝e created a challenge that really is for everyone.