It's the Word of the Day podcast for December 18th.

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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 qualms 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 emotion, such as grief or doubt.

Both these senses are still in use.

A person may be described, for example, as experiencing a qualm of nausea or a qualm of fear.

These days, though, you're 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. You're especially likely to hear this sense of

...