Vocabulary Mnemonics Episode 88: Redoubt, backronym, atavistic, and more…
Oct 18, 2025
Discover the intriguing meanings behind words like redoubt, a temporary fortification linked to doubt. Explore hapless as a term for the unlucky and delve into atavism, the concept of reverting to an earlier type. Learn about bacronyms, where acronyms are formed backwards, and the distinction between acronyms and initialisms. Enjoy playful definitions like cosset for pampering and codswallop for nonsense. Unravel the power of esemplastic imagination and find out how aspersion relates to casting false allegations!
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Redoubt Means Hidden Stronghold
- A redoubt is a temporary fortification or stronghold, unrelated to the word "doubt."
- Discovering an enemy redoubt explains why victory can suddenly feel uncertain.
Hapless Means Unlucky
- Hapless means unlucky or without hap, essentially "happy-less" or hopeless.
- Contextual examples (news, sentences) make the meaning easy to infer in real usage.
Atavism As A Throwback
- Atavism (atavistic) describes a throwback or reversion to an earlier type or behavior.
- Use it for people or actions that feel out of step with modern norms, like archaic habits.