It's the Word of the Day podcast for December 18th.
Today's word is quam, spelled Q-U-A-L-M.
Quam is a noun.
A quam is a feeling of doubt or uncertainty about whether one is doing the right thing or whether something is right or proper.
Quam is often used in its plural form, as in, I have no quams with that decision.
Here's the word used in a sentence from ghosts of Crook County, an oil fortune,
a phantom child, and the fight for indigenous land by Russell Cobb.
Pinkerton agents had few qualms about what we consider ethical standards in law enforcement today.
Pinkerton's lied, bribed, and took bribes,
flipped sides for the bright price, harassed, and intimidated workers.
We're not sure how the word quam came to be.
It may be related to a similar German word,
but we know this word was originally used to refer to a sudden sick feeling,
such as nausea or faintness,
and then for a sudden attack of usually disturbing emotions, such as grief or doubt.
Both these senses are still in use.
A person may be described, for example, as experiencing a quam of nausea or a quam of fear.
These days, though, you are most likely to hear quam used in its newest sense,
referring to a feeling of uneasiness,
particularly about whether a person is following their conscience or better judgment.