vet

Another word with multiple meanings, but I'll skip the obvious one and jump to the more interesting one :)

Pronunciation: vet (listen to it on dictionary.com)

Verb: to verify the accuracy, authenticity, validity of something. Brit: to investigate someone thoroughly to make sure they are suitable for a job requiring trustworthiness and loyalty.

Etymology: 19th century

Usage: The doc fully vetted the new royal dog and declared him free of bugs, both literally and figuratively.

pitch

Pitch. I love a word with so many different meanings but the one I love the most because it appeals to my gothic youth: black as tar. (For a fuller definition, see pitch defined on dictionary.com)

Pronunciation: pich (listen to it on dictionary.com)

Noun: a sticky resinous substance of a dark black or brown color obtained from the boiling or distillation of tar.

Etymology: 8th century, from the Old English pic, Latin pix

Usage: proverbially: black or dark as pitch (e.g pitch black)

excoriate

I have indeed been dilatory in updating this blog :) But instead of excoriating myself, I offer you this new word.

Pronunciation: ek skȯr ee eyt (listen to it on dictionary.com)

Verb: literally means to flay or strip off the skin of a person. 2. flay verbally: denounce or berate scathingly.

Etymology: 15th century, Middle English, from the Late Latin excoriatus (past participle of excoriāre to strip, skin)

Usage: From The Decameron:

The sun was now in the zenith, and smote with extreme fervour full and unmitigated upon her tender and delicate frame, and upon her bare head, insomuch that his rays did not only scorch but bit by bit excoriate every part of her flesh that was exposed to them, and so shrewdly burn her that, albeit she was in a deep sleep, the pain awoke her.