Etymologie, Etimología, Étymologie, Etimologia, Etymology, (griech.) etymología, (lat.) etymologia, (esper.) etimologio
US Vereinigte Staaten von Amerika, Estados Unidos de América, États-Unis d'Amérique, Stati Uniti d'America, United States of America, (esper.) Unuigintaj Statoj de Ameriko
Wörterbuch, Diccionario, Dictionnaire, Vocabolario, Dictionary, (esper.) vortaroj

A

about.com
Etymological word lists

(E?)(L?) http://ancienthistory.about.com/cs/wordlists/index.htm?terms=etymology
Etymological word lists, such as origins of names, legal etymology, professional etymology, Greco-Latin etymology, veterinary etymology, dinosaur etymology, archives of etymologies, and more.

B

basicenglishspeaking
3000 Most Common Words in English

(E?)(L?) https://basicenglishspeaking.com/3000-most-common-words/

There are up to 3000 most common words which Americans usually use in their daily lives. Each word is defined using the reference from Oxford Dictionary and well demonstrated with the audio pronunciation together with word examples to show how it is used in real-life context. Besides, lessons are delivered with both texts and high-quality audio, which considerably facilitates your learners’ speaking and listening practices.

Words starting with "A" |

about | ability | above | able | abandon | abandoned | abroad | absence | absent | absolute | absolutely | absorb | abuse | academic | accent | accept | acceptable | access | accident | accidental | accidentally | accommodation | accompany | according to | account | accurate | accurately | accuse | achieve | achievement | acknowledge | acquire | across | act | action | active | actively | activity | actor; actress | actual | actually | adapt | addition | additional | address | adequate | adequately | adjust | admire | admit | adopt | adult | advance | advanced | advantage | adventure | advertise | advertisement | advertising | advice | advise | affair | affection | afford | afraid | after | afternoon | afterwards | again | against | age | agency | aggressive | ago | agree | agreement | ahead | aim | airport | alarm | alarming | alcohol | alcoholic | alive | all right | allow | ally | almost | alone | along | aloud | alphabet | alphabetical | alphabetically | already | alternative | although | altogether | always | amaze | amazing | ambition | ambulance | among(amongst) | amount | amuse | amusing | analyse, analyze | analysis | ancient | anger | angle | angrily | angry | animal | ankle | anniversary | announce | annoy | annoyed | annoying | annual | annually | another | answer | anticipate | anxiety | anxious | anxiously | any | anyone anybody | anything | anyway | anywhere | apart | apartment | apologize | apparent | apparently | appeal | appear | appearance | apple | application | apply | appoint | appointment | appreciate | approach | appropriate | approval | approve | approving | approximate | approximately | april | area | argue | argument | arise | arm | armed | army | around | arrange | arrangement | arrest | arrival | arrive | arrow | art | article | artificial | artist | artistic | ashamed | aside | ask | asleep | aspect | assist | assistance | assistant | associate | association | assume | assure | atmosphere | attach | attached | attack | attempt | attend | attention | attitude | attorney | attract | attraction | attractive | audience | august | aunt | authority | automatic | automatically | available | average | avoid | awake | award | aware | away | awful | awfully | awkward | awkwardly |

Words starting with "B" |

back | background | backwards | bad | bad-tempered | badly | bag | baggage | bake | balance | ball | ban | bandage | bank | bar | bargain | barrier | base | basic | basically | basis | bath | bathroom | battle | bay | beach | bear | beard | beat | beautiful | beautifully | beauty | because | become | bed | bedroom | beef | beer | before | begin | beginning | behalf | behave | behavior | behind | belief | believe | belong | below | belt | bend | benefit | beside | bet | better, best | between | beyond | bicycle | bid | big | bill | biology | bird | birth | birthday | bit | bite | bitter | black | blame | blank | blind | block | blood | blow | blue | boat | body | boil | bone | book | boot | border | bored | boring | born | borrow | boss | both | bother | bottle | bottom | bound | bowl | box | boy | brain | branch | brand | brave | bread | break | breakfast | breast | breath | breathe | breathing | brick | bridge | brief | briefly | bright | brightly | brilliant | bring | broad | broadcast | broadly | brother | brown | brush | bubble | budget | build | building | bunch | burn | burst | bury | bus | bush | business | businessman, businesswoman | busy | but | butter | button | buy | by | bye |

Words starting with "C" |

cabinet | cable | cake | calculate | call | calm | calmly | camera | camp | can | cancel | cancer | candidate | candy | capable | capacity | capital | captain | capture | car | card | cardboard | career | careful | carefully | careless | carelessly | carpet | carry | case | cash | castle | catch | cause | ceiling | celebrate | celebration | cellphone | cent | center | century | ceremony | certainly | certificate | chain | chair | chairman, chairwoman | challenge | chance | change | channel | chapter | character | characteristic | charge | charity | chase | chat | cheap | cheat | check | cheek | cheerful | cheerfully | chemical | chemist | chemistry | chest | chew | chicken | chief | child | chin | chocolate | choice | choose | church | cigarette | cinema | circle | circumstance | citizen | city | civil | claim | clap | class | classic | classroom | clean | clear | clearly | clerk | clever | client | climate | climb | climbing | clock | close | closely | closet | clothes | clothing | cloud | coach | coat | coffee | coin | cold | collapse | colleague | collect | collection | college | color | combination | combine | come | comedy | comfort | comfortable | command | comment | commission | commit | commitment | committee | common | commonly | communicate | communication | community | company | compare | comparison | compete | competition | competitive | complain | complaint | complete | completely | complex | complicate | complicated | computer | concentrate | concentration | concern | concerned | concert | conclude | conclusion | concrete | condition | conduct | conference | confidence | confident | confine | confirm | conflict | confront | confuse | confused | confusing | confusion | congratulations | congress | connect | connection | consequence | conservative | consider | considerable | considerably | consideration | consist of | constant | constantly | construct | construction | consult | consumer | contact | contain | content | contest | context | continent | continue | continuous | continuously | contract | contrast | contribute | contribution | control | convenient | convention | conventional | conversation | convert | convince | cook | cooker | cookie | cooking | cool | cope (+with) | core | corner | correct | cost | cottage | cough | could | count | counter | country | countryside | couple | courage | course | court | cousin | cover | cow | crack | crash | crazy | cream | create | creature | credit | crime | crisis | critical | criticism | criticize | crop | cross | crowd | crowded | crown | crucial | cruel | crush | cry | cultural | culture | cup | cupboard | cure | curious | curl | curly | current | currently | curtain | curve | custom | customer | cut | cycle |

Words starting with "D" |

dad | daily | damage | damp | dance | dancer | danger | dangerous | dare | dark | data | date | daughter | day | dead | deaf | deal | dear | death | debate | debt | decade | decay | december | decide | decision | declare | decline | decorate | decoration | decrease | deep | deeply | defeat | defend | define | definite | definitely | definition | degree | delay | deliberate | deliberately | delicate | delight | deliver | delivery | demand | demonstrate | dentist | deny | department | departure | depend | deposit | depress | depressed | depth | describe | description | desert | deserted | deserve | design | desire | desk | desperate | desperately | despite | destroy | destruction | detail | detailed | determination | determine | determined | develop | development | device | devote | devoted | diagram | diamond | diary | dictionary | die | diet | difference | different | differently | difficult | difficulty | dig | dinner | direct | direction | directly | director | dirt | dirty | disadvantage | disagree | disappear | disappoint | disappointed | disappointment | disapproval | disapprove | disaster | discipline | discount | discover | discovery | discuss | discussion | disease | disgust | disgusted | disgusting | dish | dishonest | dislike | dismiss | dissolve | distance | distinguish | distribute | district | disturb | divide | divorce | do | doctor | document | dog | dollar | domestic | dominate | door | dot | double | doubt | down | downstairs | dozen | draft | drag | dramatic | dramatically | draw | drawing | dream | dress | drink | drive | driver | driving | drop | drug | drugstore | drum | drunk | dry | due | dull | during | dust | duty |

Words starting with "E" |

each | ear | early | earn | earth | ease | easily | east | eastern | easy | economic | economy | edge | edition | educate | education | effect | effective | effectively | efficient | efficiently | effort | egg | either | elbow | elderly | elect | election | electric | electrical | electronic | elegant | elevator | else | elsewhere | embarrass | embarrassed | embarrassing | embarrassment | emerge | emergency | emotion | emotional | emphasis | emphasize | employ | employee | employer | employment | empty | enable | encounter | encourage | encouragement | end | ending | enemy | energy | engaged | engine | engineer | engineering | enjoy | enjoyable | enormous | enough | ensure | enter | entertain | entertaining | entertainment | enthusiasm | enthusiastic | entire | entirely | entitle | entrance | entry | envelope | environment | environmental | equal | equally | equipment | equivalent | error | escape | especially | | essential | essentially | establish | estate | estimate | etc (et cetera) | euro | even | evening | event | eventually | ever | every | everyone | everything | everywhere | evidence | evil | exact | exactly | exaggerate | exam | examine | example | excellent | except | exception | exchange | excited | excitement | exciting | exclude | excuse | executive | exercise | exhibit | exhibition | exist | existence | exit | expand | expect | expectation | expense | expensive | experience | experiment | expert | explain | explanation | explode | explore | explosion | export | expose | express | expression | extend | extensive | extent | extra | extraordinary | extreme | extremely | eye |

Words starting with "F" |

face | facility | fact | factor | factory | fail | failure | fair | fairly | faith | faithful | fall | fame | familiar | family | famous | fan | far | farm | farmer | farming | fashion | fashionable | fast | fasten | fat | father | fault | favor | favorite | fear | feature | february | fee | feed | feel | feeling | female | fence | festival | fever | few | field | fight | figure | fill | film | final | finally | finance | financial | find | fine | finger | finish | fire | firm | firmly | first | fish | fit | fix | flag | flame | flash | flat | flavor | flight | float | flood | floor | flour | flow | flower | flu | fly | focus | fold | follow | following | food | foot | football | for | force | forecast | foreign | forest | forever | forget | forgive | fork | form | formal | formally | former | formula | fortune | forward | foundation | frame | free | freedom | freeze | frequent | frequently | fresh | friday | fridge | friend | friendly | friendship | frighten | frightened | frightening | from | front | fruit | fry | fuel | full | fully | fun | function | fund | fundamental | funeral | funny | furniture | further | future |

Words starting with "G" |

gain | gamble | gap | garage | garbage | garden | gas | gasoline | gate | gather | general | generally | generate | generation | generous | generously | gentle | gentleman | gently | genuine | genuinely | geography | get | giant | gift | girl | girlfriend | give | glad | glass | glasses | global | glove | glue | go | goal | god | gold | good | goodbye | goods | government | grab | grade | gradual | gradually | grammar | grand | grandchild | grandfather | grandmother | grandparents | grass | grateful | grave | gray | great | greatly | green | groceries | grocery | ground | group | grow | growth | guarantee | guard | guess | guest | guide | guilty | guy |

Words starting with "H" |

habit | hair | hairdresser | half | hall | hammer | hand | handle | hang | happen | happily | happiness | happy | hard | hardly | harm | harmful | harmless | hat | hate | hatred | have | he | head | headache | heal | health | healthy | hear | heart | heat | heaven | heavily | heavy | heel | height | hell | hello | help | helpful | her | here | hero | hers | herself | hesitate | hi | hide | high | highly | highway | hill | him | himself | hip | hire | his | historical | history | hit | hobby | hold | hole | holiday | hollow | home | homework | honest | honestly | honor | hook | hope | horn | horror | horse | hospital | host | hot | hotel | hour | house | household | how | however | huge | human | humor | humorous | hungry | hunt | hunting | hurry | hurt | husband |

Words starting with "I" |

ice | ice cream | idea | ideal | ideally | identify | identity | ignore | ill | illegal | illness | illustrate | image | imaginary | imagination | imagine | immediate | immediately | impact | impatient | impatiently | imply | import | importance | important | importantly | impose | impossible | impress | impression | impressive | improve | improvement | in | inability | incident | include | including | income | increase | indeed | independence | independent | indicate | indirectly | individual | indoor | indoors | industrial | industry | inevitable | inevitably | infect | infection | infectious | influence | inform | informal | information | ingredient | initial | initially | injure | injury | ink | inner | innocent | insect | insert | inside | insist | install | instance | instead | institute | instruction | instrument | insult | insurance | intelligence | intelligent | intend | intention | interest | interested | interesting | interior | internal | international | interpret | interpretation | interrupt | interruption | interval | interview | into | introduce | introduction | invent | invention | invest | investigate | investigation | investment | invitation | invite | involve | iron | irritate | irritated | irritating | island | issue | it | item | its | itself |

Words starting with "J" |

jacket | jam | january (jan) | jealous | jewellery | job | join | joint | joke | journalist | journey | joy | judge | judgement | juice | july | jump | june (jun) | junior | just | justify |

Words starting with "K" |

keen | keep | key | keyboard | kick | kid | kill | kilogram | kilometer | kind | kindly | kindness | king | kiss | kitchen | knee | knife | knit | knitting | knock | know | knowledge |

Words starting with "L" |

labor | laboratory | lack | lady | lake | lamp | land | language | large | last | late | later | latter | laugh | launch | law | lawyer | lay | lazy | lead | leader | leading | leaf | lean | learn | least | leather | leave | lecture | leg | legal | lemon | lend | length | less | lesson | let | letter | level | library | license | lid | lie | life | lift | light | lightly | like | likely | limit | limited | line | lip | liquid | list | listen | liter | literature | little | live | living | loan | local | locate | location | lock | lonely | long | look | look after | loose | lose | loss | lot | loud | loudly | love | lovely | lover | low | loyal | luck | lucky | luggage | lunch | lung |

Words starting with "M" |

machine | mad | magazine | magic | main | maintain | major | majority | make | male | mall | man | manage | management | manager | manner | manufacture | manufacturer | many | map | mark | market | marketing | marriage | married | marry | massive | master | match | mate | material | mathematics | maths | matter | maximum | may | maybe | mayor | me | meal | mean | meaning | meanwhile | measure | measurement | meat | media | medical | medicine | medium | meet | meeting | melt | member | membership | memory | mental | mentally | mention | menu | mere | merely | mess | message | metal | meter | method | mid- | middle | midnight | might | mild | mile | military | milk | mind | mine | mineral | minimum | minister | ministry | minor | minute | mirror | miss | missing | mistake | mistaken | mix | mixed | mixture | model | modern | moment | monday | money | monitor | month | mood | moon | moral | morally | more | morning | most | mostly | mother | motion | motorcycle | mount | mountain | mouse | mouth | move | movie | Mr. | Mrs. | much | mud | multiply | murder | muscle | museum | music | musical | musician | must | my | myself | mysterious | mystery |

Words starting with "N" |

nail | naked | name | narrow | nation | national | natural | naturally | nature | navy | near | nearby | nearly | neat | neatly | necessarily | necessary | neck | need | needle | negative | neighbor | neighborhood | neither | nephew | nervous | nervously | nest | net | never | nevertheless | new | newly | news | newspaper | next | nice | nicely | niece | night | no | nobody | noise | noisy | none | nonsense | nor | normal | normally | north | northern | nose | not | note | nothing | notice | noticeable | novel | november | now | nowhere | nuclear | number | nurse |

Words starting with "O" |

o'clock | object | objective | observation | observe | obtain | obvious | obviously | occasion | occasionally | occupied | occur | ocean | october | odd | oddly | of | off | offence | offend | offensive | offer | office | officer | official | officially | often | oil | ok (okay) | old | old-fashioned | once | onion | only | onto | open | opening | openly | operate | opinion | opponent | opportunity | oppose | opposite | opposition | option | orange | order | ordinary | organization | organize | organized | origin | original | originally | other | otherwise | our | ours | ourselves | out | outdoor | outdoors | outer | outline | outside | outstanding | oven | over | overall | overcome | owe | own | owner |

Words starting with "P" |

p.m | pack | package | packaging | page | pain | painful | paint | painting | pair | palace | pale | pan | pants | paper | parallel | parent | park | part | particular | particularly | partly | partner | partnership | party | pass | passenger | passport | past | path | patience | patient | pause | pay | payment | peace | peaceful | peak | pen | pencil | penny | pension | people | pepper | per | percent | perfect | perfectly | perform | performance | perhaps | period | permanent | permanently | permission | permit | person | personal | personality | personally | persuade | pet | phase | philosophy | photocopy | photograph | photographer | phrase | physical | physically | physics | pick | picture | piece | pile | pill | pilot | pin | pink | pity | place | plain | plan | plane | planet | plant | plastic | plate | play | player | pleasant | pleasantly | please | pleased | pleasure | plenty | plus | pocket | poem | poetry | point | poison | poisonous | pole | police | policy | polish | polite | politely | political | politically | politician | politics | pollution | pool | poor | popular | population | port | position | positive | possess | possession | possibility | possible | post office | pot | potato | potential | pour | powder | power | powerful | practical | practice | praise | prayer | precise | predict | prefer | preference | pregnant | preparation | prepare | presence | present | presentation | preserve | president | press | pressure | pretend | pretty | prevent | previous | previously | price | pride | primarily | primary | prime minister | prince | princess | principle | print | printer | prior | priority | prison | prisoner | private | privately | prize | probable | probably | problem | procedure | proceed | process | produce | producer | product | production | profession | professional | professor | profit | program | progress | project | promise | promote | promotion | prompt | pronounce | pronunciation | proof | proper | properly | property | proportion | proposal | propose | prospect | protect | protection | protest | proud | proudly | prove | provide | pub | public | publication | publicly | publish | publishing | pull | punch | punish | punishment | pupil | purchase | pure | purple | purpose | pursue | push | put |

Words starting with "Q" |

qualification | qualified | quality | quantity | quarter | queen | question | quick | quickly | quiet | quietly | quit | quite | quote | Words starting with "R" | race | racing | radio | rail | railway | rain | raise | range | rapid | rapidly | rare | rarely | rate | rather | raw | reach | react | reaction | read | reader | reading | ready | real | realistic | reality | realize | really | rear | reason | reasonable | recall | receipt | receive | recent | recently | reception | recognition | recognize | recommend | record | recover | red | reduce | reduction | refer | reflect | reform | refrigerator | refusal | refuse | regard | regarding | region | regional | register | regret | regular | regularly | regulation | reject | relate | related | relation | relationship | relative | relatively | relax | relaxed | relaxing | release | relevant | relief | religion | religious | rely | remain | remaining | remark | remarkable | remarkably | remember | remind | remote | remove | rent | repair | repeat | repeated | repeatedly | replace | reply | report | represent | representative | reputation | request | require | requirement | rescue | research | reservation | reserve | resident | resist | resolve | resort | resource | respect | respond | response | responsibility | responsible | rest | restaurant | restore | restrict | restriction | result | retain | retire | retired | retirement | return | reveal | reverse | review | revise | revision | revolution | reward | rhythm | rich | ride | ridiculous | right | ring | rise | risk | rival | river | rob | rock | role | roll | romantic | roof | room | root | rope | rough | roughly | round | route | routine | royal | rubber | rubbish | rude | rudely | ruin | rule | ruler | rumor | run | running | rural | rush |

Words starting with "S" |

sack | sad | sadly | safe | safely | safety | sail | sailing | sailor | salad | salary | sale | salt | same | sample | sand | satisfaction | satisfied | satisfy | saturday | sauce | save | say | scale | scare | scared | scene | schedule | school | science | scientific | scientist | scissors | score | scratch | scream | screen | screw | sea | seal | search | season | seat | second | secondary | secret | secretary | secretly | section | secure | security | see | seed | seek | seem | select | selection | sell | send | senior | sense | sensible | sensitive | sentence | separate | separated | separately | separation | september | series | serious | seriously | servant | serve | service | session | set | settle | several | severe | severely | sew | sewing | sex | sexual | shade | shadow | shake | shallow | shame | shape | shaped | share | sharp | shave | she | sheep | sheet | shelf | shell | shine | shiny | ship | shirt | shock | shocked | shocking | shoe | shoot | shop | shopping | short | shortly | should | shoulder | shout | show | shower | shut | shy | sick | side | sight | sign | signal | signature | significant | significantly | silence | silent | silly | silver | similar | simple | simply | since | sincere | sincerely | sing | singer | singing | single | sink | Sir | sister | sit | situation | size | skill | skilled | skin | skirt | sky | sleep | sleeve | slice | slight | slightly | slip | slope | slow | slowly | small | smart | smell | smile | smoke | smoking | smooth | smoothly | snake | snow | so | soap | social | society | sock | soft | software | soil | soldier | solid | solution | solve | some | somebody | someone | somehow | something | sometimes | somewhat | somewhere | son | song | soon | sore | sorry | sort | soul | sound | soup | sour | source | south | southern | space | spare | speak | speaker | special | specialist | specially | specific | specifically | speech | speed | spell | spend | spice | spicy | spider | spin | spirit | spiritual | spite | split | spoil | spoon | sport | spread | spring | stable | staff | stage | stair | stamp | stand | standard | star | stare | start | state | statement | station | statue | status | stay | steadily | steady | steal | steam | steel | steep | step | stick | sticky | stiff | still | sting | stir | stock | stomachstone | stop | store | storm | story | stove | straight | strange | strangely | stranger | strategy | stream | street | strength | stress | stressed | stretch | strict | strictly | strike | string | strong | strongly | struggle | student | studio | study | stuff | stupid | style | subject | substantial | substantially | substitute | succeed | success | successful | successfully | such | suck | sudden | suddenly | suffer | suffering | sufficient | sufficiently | sugar | suggest | suggestion | suit | suitable | suitcase | suited | sum | summary | summer | sun | sunday | superior | supermarket | supply | support | suppose | sure | surely | surface | surprise | surprised | surprising | surprisingly | surround | surrounding | survey | survive | suspect | suspicious | swallow | swear | sweat | sweater | sweep | sweet | swim | swimming | switch | swollen | symbol | sympathy | system |

Words starting with "T" |

table | tablet | tackle | take | take off | talk | tall | tank | target | task | taste | tax | taxi | tea | teach | teacher | teaching | team | tear | technical | technique | technology | television | tell | temperature | temporarily | temporary | tend | tendency | tension | tent | term | terrible | terribly | test | text | than | thank | thanks | that | theater | their | theirs | them | theme | themselves | then | theory | there | therefore | they | thick | thickness | thief | thin | thing | think | thinking | thirsty | this | thorough | thoroughly | though | thought | thread | threat | threaten | threatening | throat | through | throughout | throw | thumb | thursday | ticket | tidy | tie | tight | tightly | till | time | timetable | tin | tiny | tip | tire | tired | tiring | title | to | today | toe | together | toilet | tomato | tomorrow | ton | tone | tongue | tonight | too | tool | tooth | top | topic | total | totally | touch | tough | tour | tourist | towards | towel | tower | | toy | trace | track | trade | trading | tradition | traditional | traffic | train | training | transfer | transform | translate | translation | transparent | transport | trap | travel | traveller | treat | treatment | tree | trend | trial | triangle | trick | trip | tropical | trouble | truck | truly | trust | truth | try | tube | tuesday | tune | tunnel | turn | twice | twin | twist | type | typical |

Words starting with "U" |

ugly | ultimate | ultimately | umbrella | unable | unacceptable | uncertain | uncle | uncomfortable | unconscious | under | underneath | understand | understanding | underwear | undo | unemployed | unemployment | unexpected | unexpectedly | unfair | unfairly | unfortunate | unfortunately | unfriendly | unhappiness | unhappy | uniform | unimportant | unique | universe | university | unkind | unknown | unless | unlike | unlikely | unlucky | unnecessary | unpleasant | unreasonable | unsteady | unsuccessful | untidy | until | unusual | unwilling | up | upon | upper | upset | upside down | upstairs | urban | urge | urgent | us | use | useful | useless | usual | usually |

Words starting with "V" |

vacation | valid | valley | valuable | value | variety | various | vary | vast | vegetable | vehicle | version | vertical | very | victim | victory | video | view | village | violence | violent | violently | virtually | virus | visiblevision | visit | visitor | vital | vocabulary | voice | volume | vote |

Words starting with "W" |

wage | waist | wait | waiter | waitress | wake | walk | wall | wallet | wander | want | war | warm | warmth | warn | warning | wash | washing | waste | watch | water | wave | | way | weak | weakness | wealth | weapon | wear | weather | wedding | wednesday | | weekend | weekly | weigh | weight | welcome | well | well-known | west | western | wet | what | whatever | wheel | when | whenever | where | wherever | whether | which | while | whisper | whistle | white | who | whoever | whole | whose | why | wide | widely | width | wife | wild | will | willing | willingly | willingness | win | wind | window | wine | wing | winner | winning | winter | wise | wish | with | withdraw | within | without | witness | woman | wonder | wonderful | wood | wooden | word | work | worker | working | world | worried | worry | worth | would | wrap | wrist | write | writer | writing | wrong | wrongly |

Words starting with "Y-Z" |

yawn | year | yellow | yes | yesterday | yet | you | young | your | yours | yourself |


Erstellt: 2020-08

C

chronicle.com
Words

(E?)(L?) http://www.chronicle.com/blogs/linguafranca/category/words/

Category Archives: Words

December 21, 2016 by Allan Metcalf

Hashtag Christmas and Emoji New Year!

emojiBack in 1990, the internet was young, and print still ruled, as it had since the days of Johannes Gutenberg. It followed then that the American Dialect Society, introducing the notion of a Word of the Year, looked to print for candidates. The winner was the sarcastic political term bushlips, referring to President Bush’s failure to keep his promise of “Read my lips — no new taxes.”

Fast forward a quarter century to 2016, and the digital revolution has had its effect on our language. Not only ha…

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December 18, 2016 by Geoffrey Pullum

Where Are the Happiness Boys?

Professor with bubbles coming out of pipeExactly 58 years ago today (I write on December 17, 2016), E.B. White wrote a letter of protest to his editor, J.G. Case, who had been trying to get him to take some grammar advice and modify some of the proscriptive ukases in a usage book that White was revising. White wouldn’t yield an inch to what he called “the Happiness Boys, or, as you call them, the descriptivists”:

I cannot, and will-shall not, attempt to adjust … to the modern liberal of the English Department, the anything-goes fellow….

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December 14, 2016 by William Germano

Transformers

doll-s_house_posterHow many psychoanalysts does it take to transform a lightbulb? One — but the lightbulb really has to want to transform.

What’s happened to the verb transform? Has it undergone some transformation when I was looking away?

Here’s a typical sentence in what I think is the most up-to-date campus usage:

“The character of Nora transforms in the last act of Ibsen’s A Doll’s House.”

Nora does not transform some thing into something else. There’s no thing here that is being subjected to Nora’s powers…

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December 12, 2016 by Allan Metcalf

‘Bigly’ Is Huge

maxresdefaultYes, it didn’t take long for a reader of my Friday post to recognize what I meant when I hinted about my favorite word of the year 2016: ”It’s big.” Betsy Smith, retired from Cape Cod Community College, correctly deduced that my choice, for now at least, is bigly.

Why bigly? Because it contains so much in so little. It has a long history, yet until now was nearly obsolete. Its etymology is disputed. And most important, it expresses the state of mind of the winning candidate for the U.S. presiden…

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December 8, 2016 by Lucy Ferriss

A Radical Contranym

webradishI’ve been studying Italian, a language that gets me thinking about etymology even more than I usually do. The other day I learned that the word for root is radice. “Funny,” I said to my husband as we were fixing dinner that night. “It’s like a cross between radish and radical.” I was — I swear to you — chopping salad as I said this. I held up a radish to examine. “Well, duh,” I said. “It’s a root.”

Linking radical to radice felt more complicated. In mathematics, it makes sense as the root, say,…

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December 7, 2016 by Allan Metcalf

Words for a Year of Fear

WOTYwordThis week Time magazine announced its Person of the Year, the person who made the most news in 2016. To nobody’s surprise, that was Donald Trump.

But what about the Word of the Year 2016? That’s a little harder.

Trump certainly inspired neologisms. Witness, for example, David Barnhart’s “Trumptionary” that I have excerpted in previous posts.

March 7:

“The Trumptionary”

March 17:

“The Trumptionary, Part 2?

October 31:

“Trumptionary 3: Barnhart’s Never-Finished Dictionary of Politics”

Barnhart’s N…

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December 5, 2016 by Anne Curzan

Researching ‘Research’

research program 1Some pronunciation shifts are squarely on my radar. For example, I feel like I am hearing more and more people pronounce the noun program with a schwa in the second syllable. For me, the second syllable sounds like “gram”; for these other speakers, it sounds like “grum.” Both the Merriam-Webster online dictionary and the online American Heritage Dictionary provide the schwa-ful “grum” pronunciation as a second variant for the word program, but the Oxford English Dictionary online has yet to incl…

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December 4, 2016 by Ben Yagoda

Who You Calling ‘Snowflake’?

After the presidential election, a Montclair, N.J., store owner invited some like-minded souls to paint a mural on the boarded-up windows of her shop: a multicolored heart and, under a rainbow, the words “Make America Love Again.” The next morning she found that some changes had been made:

Screen Shot 2016-12-03 at 3.02.13 PM

In a November 14 article, The Des Moines Register reported:

One Iowa lawmaker has a message for any state university that spends taxpayer dollars on grief counseling for …

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December 1, 2016 by Lucy Ferriss

Post-Truth and Chaos

latitude-north-star-5-degrees-above-horizon_8d32bb0c6f9cb1e2I don’t know when prefixes stopped meaning what we think they mean, but it was a long time ago. I’m just wrapping up a course in recent American prose, for instance, where the term postmodernism keeps coming up. The students initially thought, quite logically, that postmodernism was a movement that came after modernism — even though, since they look around at a world they consider to be modern, they had a hard time wrapping their minds around its post- period’s being in the recent past. We wor…

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November 30, 2016 by Ben Yagoda

Travails With My ‘Aunt’

Scott Simon says "ahnt"

I’ve written before about a trend I first noticed in my students, then observed in the wider world: eschewing the common or standard spelling, pronunciation, or version of a word in favor of one that is or seems fancier or more British. Examples include amongst (instead of the traditional among); whomever instead of whoever in the subjective case (“I’ll give a ticket to whomever wants one”); the British spelling grey (gray) and the faux-British spelling advisor; and pronouncing…

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Erstellt: 2016-12

compuserve
WarrenAllen's Curious Words Page
Word List
Wort-Liste

(E?)(L?) http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/WarrenAllen/words.htm
Strange words and/or words with good stories behind them.

die Sammlung vom 20.10.2002:
Anaheim | Bell, book and candle | boogie | carking | chickenhead | defenestration | dudgeon | epicene | euonym | frisson | funky | gallimaufry | Generation X | hipster | iridescence | juke | | kipple | le dernier cri | lumpen | meatspace | mojo | pentimenti | pieces of eight / bits | roman à clef | skunk works | tchotchke / tchatchke / tsatske | trepanation | warren

corsinet
English Language Trivia
Brain Candy
Trivia about the English language and word origins

(E?)(L?) http://www.corsinet.com/trivia/j-triv.html
Die "(64 facts)" enthalten nicht nur aber auch Hinweise zur Herkunft von Worten.

D

dictionary
Hot Word

(E?)(L?) https://www.dictionary.com/e/2022/




(E?)(L?) https://www.dictionary.com/e/2021/




(E?)(L?) https://www.dictionary.com/e/2020/




(E?)(L?) https://www.dictionary.com/e/2019/




(E?)(L?) https://www.dictionary.com/e/2018/




(E?)(L?) https://www.dictionary.com/e/2017/

  • These are the words that defined 2017
  • As 2017 comes to a close, we reflect on the words that impacted all of us, for better or for worse. American leadership made bold communication choices in 2017: Fury replaced diplomacy. Accusations of collusion distracted from the truth. Covfefe gave us some much needed comic relief in an era of Presidency by Tweet. (No, we’re not adding it to the dictionary…at least not yet.) …
  • What is the “War on Christmas”?
  • What is the “War on Christmas”? Christmastime. A festive season for family, food, and warfare? Perhaps, you’re familiar with the “War on Christmas” that’s been raging over the last several years. It stems from the radical belief that multiculturalism is shadowing traditional American values. The provocative phrase has been linked to figures like President Donald Trump (remember “[People] don’t use the word Christmas . . …
  • It’s A Blithesome Holiday Word of the Day Quiz
  • It’s a Dictionary.com propine: The Word of the Day Quiz! Tell us your favorite word from this week below (and share it with your friends on Facebook and Twitter)! If the quiz doesn’t display, please try opening in the Chrome browser. Improve your vocabulary with our Visual Word of the Day videos. See this week’s here.
  • Dictionary.com’s Night Before Christmas
  • ‘Twas the night before Christmas at Dictionary.com . . . Not a laptop was stirring . . . just some RAM and some ROM New words have been logged by our lexicographers with care They will post them online in the new year to share The writers were sleeping with tablets on their right In case new inspiration should arrive in the night When out in our lobby …
  • Abubble: Visual Word of the Day
  • As fun as it is to say, it’s even better to experience.
  • What The Nog: What’s Eggnog?
  • What’s in eggnog? Frothy, creamy eggnog is a festive favorite in England, Canada, and America. This winter drink consists of milk, cream, sugar, whipped egg whites, and egg yolks. There are many versions of the drink, using alcohols like rum, brandy, whiskey, and bourbon. And, it often is flavored with everything from molasses to cinnamon to nutmeg to dried pumpkin. Now, there’s even soynog or nutnog, a version of …
  • Tidings of a Word of the Day Quiz!
  • No need for a cri de coeur, we’ve got another Word of the Day Quiz ready for you right here! Tell us your favorite word from this week below (and share it with your friends on Facebook and Twitter)! If the quiz doesn’t display, please try opening in the Chrome browser. Improve your vocabulary with our Visual Word of the Day videos. See this week’s here.
  • Mishpocha: Visual Word of the Day
  • Here’s to celebrating the holidays with your mishpocha.
  • Quiz Yourself On The Meanings Of These Names
  • What’s Really In A Name? Ever wonder what your name (or your best friend’s name, your significant other’s name, your mom’s name) means? Here’s your chance to find out how well you know the Dictionary.com definition of words that are also people’s names. The game is simple. Read the dictionary definition and match it with the correct word/name. If the quiz doesn’t display, please try …
  • How Big Is Your Vocabulary This Week?
  • No need for a logomachy . . . take this week’s Word of the Day Quiz to prove your vocabulary prowess. Tell us your favorite word from this week below (and share it with your friends on Facebook and Twitter)! If the quiz doesn’t display, please try opening in the Chrome browser. Improve your vocabulary with our Visual Word of the Day videos. See this week’s here. …
  • Dundrearies: Visual Word of the Day
  • Bringing dundrearies back.
  • Holy $#!%: Where Did The Symbolic Swear Come From?
  • Why is @#$%&! naughty? When the force of a swear word is too extreme (but some form of cuss must be used) symbolic stand-ins have long been used for lewdness. Suffice it to say, any emotional keyboard-striker can blurt out something that people perceive as a sub for swears. Whether it’s to diminish the force of swear, to get around censorship rules, or maybe just because symbols are @#$%ing cool …
  • Did You Just Interrupt . . . My Sentence?
  • What’s an interrupter? Interrupters—like this little guy right here—are squeezing into more and more contemporary writing. They’re often the goofy/sarcastic “wink-wink-nudge-nudge” asides writers play with in nonacademic writing and online content. Also called insertions, interrupting phrases, or parenthetical expressions, interrupters are words, phrases, or clauses that break the flow of writing—because if the author feels like it, why not?—to offer additional, can’t-be-held-back, or spur-of-the-moment thoughts …
  • It’s A New Cockcrow, Time To Test Your Vocabulary!
  • There’s no benevolence here . . . you’ll need real skill to ace this Word of the Day Quiz! Tell us your favorite word from this week below (and share it with your friends on Facebook and Twitter)! If the quiz doesn’t display, please try opening in the Chrome browser. Improve your vocabulary with our Visual Word of the Day videos. See this week’s here.
  • What’s The Difference Between Socialism And Communism?
  • What is the difference between socialism and communism? Socialism has three main meanings: 1. a theory or system of social organization that advocates the vesting of the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution, of capital, land, etc., in the community as a whole. 2. procedure or practice in accordance with this theory. 3. (in Marxist theory) the stage following capitalism in the transition of a …
  • Getting To Know The Em Dash
  • What is an em dash? The em dash is an incredibly versatile punctuation mark that can be used instead of parentheses, commas, colons, or quotation marks in a sentence. The em dash (—) sets off a word or clause and adds emphasis. Or, it can signal an interruption (see our article on interrupting sentences for more on that!) or amplification (“expanding”) of an idea. It’s also …
  • What Are Mr. And Mrs. Short For?
  • What are Mr. and Mrs. short for? History and etiquette tell us that Mister and Missus, known by the contractions Mr. and Mrs., are the proper ways to address men and women. Beneath the surface of these everyday honorifics lies a linguistic glitch though. And, it has created social havoc since “Mrs.” entered mainstream English in the 17th century. Where did Mister and Missus come …
  • Making Connections With Conjunctions
  • What is a conjunction? A conjunction is a connecting word used to join words, phrases, sentences, and clauses. Conjunctions are often single words (and, but, because). In some cases, they can also be phrases (in any case). The two main types of conjunctions are subordinating and coordinating. There are also correlative conjunctions. What is a subordinating conjunction? A subordinating conjunction connects a dependent clause to an independent …
  • What’s The Deal With Piqued, Peeked, And Peaked?
  • When do you use piqued? The word set we’re examining today can send writers into a spiral of uncertainty when it comes to word choice, particularly in the context of one expression: piqued my interest, peaked my interest, or peeked my interest? The answer is piqued—and here’s why. Pique means “to excite (interest, curiosity, etc.),” as in “The suspenseful movie trailer piqued my curiosity.” The term also …
  • Affect vs Effect: Use the Correct Word Everytime
  • Affect or effect? Both of these words are verbs and nouns and their meanings overlap. Very confusing! This slippery duo can send even experienced writers into a spiral of uncertainty. Especially, since many people pronounce them in almost the exact same way. Here’s a basic guideline for affect vs effect: Generally, we use affect as a verb (an action word) and effect as a noun …
  • What’s The Difference Between “i.e.” And “e.g.”?
  • What’s the difference between i.e. and e.g.? They may be small, but their power to befuddle writers and speakers of the English language is mighty. The term i.e. is a shortening of the Latin expression id est, which translates to “that is.” It is used to introduce a rephrasing or elaboration on something that has already been stated. The term e.g. is an abbreviation of …
  • Warranty Vs. Guarantee
  • What’s the difference between warranty and guarantee? A warranty is “a promise or guarantee given.” A warranty is usually a written guarantee for a product, and it holds the maker of the product responsible to repair or replace a defective product or its parts. It is only used as a noun. So, what’s a guarantee? Basically, it’s the promise included in the formal (and legal) warranty. As a noun, guarantee is “an agreement assuming responsibility to …
  • How To Use Quotation Marks
  • What are quotation marks? Quotation marks (” “) are used for direct quotations. A quotation begins and ends with quotation marks: “I am getting worried,” she said, “that he has not called.” This signifies that someone actually said these words. How else are quotation marks used? 1. Quotations marks can be used around expressions to offset (or call them out) from the other text. For example: …
  • What’s The Difference Between “A While” and “Awhile”
  • What are the difference between a while and awhile? Few word pairs capture the idiosyncrasies (“peculiar characteristics”) of the English language like a while and awhile do. Both of these terms are expressions of time, but one is written with a space while the other is one word. These two terms represent different parts of speech. The two-word expression a while is a noun phrase, consisting of the article a and …
  • Judgement Vs. Judgment
  • Is judgment spelled with an e? Have you ever seen the word judgment spelled two different ways? Sometimes, it appears as we spelled it here (no e), and other times it appears with an e: judgement. Which one is correct? Well, the short answer is that judgment is the prevailing (“dominant”) spelling. Many think that the difference between judgement and judgment is that the longer version is the British …
  • Let’s Pause And Talk About Commas
  • What is a comma? You’ve probably heard a lot of things about the comma and may have questions about when to use a comma. A comma (,) signifies a short pause in a sentence. It can also divide clauses (“parts of a sentence”) or items in a list. It is often used to create division or to improve the clarity of a sentence. When to use a comma …
  • Everyday Vs. Every Day
  • What’s the difference between everyday and every day? Do you eat breakfast every day or everyday? The word everyday describes things that are commonplace or ordinary, and it also answers the question “what kind?” For example, in the sentence “Wear your everyday clothes,” the word everyday tells you what kind of clothing to wear. The phrase every day indicates that something happens each day. It also answers the question “when?” …
  • ‘Tis the Season To Learn More About ‘Tis
  • What does ‘tis mean? Well, it’s an old—very old—contraction of it is. The apostrophe replaces the i in the word it to create ’tis . . . not quite how we create contractions today. According to Google’s Ngram Viewer, the contraction ’tis was a fan favorite in the early 1700s. At this time, it was likely used more often than it’s. Why is ’tis used? ‘Tis is also known as a proclitic. …
  • Cockcrow: Visual Word of the Day
  • Don’t be a Rodney. Let people sleep past cockcrow.
  • Word of the Year 2017
  • As 2017 comes to a close, it’s time for us to reflect on the words that impacted all of us this year—for better or for worse. At Dictionary.com, the Word of the Year serves as a symbol of the year’s most meaningful events and lookup trends. Our 2017 Word of the Year Is Complicit. Complicit means “choosing to be involved in an illegal or questionable …
  • Advice vs. Advise
  • Why are advice and advise so similar? It’s no wonder that advice and advise are often confused; they are used in similar contexts and are separated by just one letter. But, that letter signals important distinctions to keep in mind when using the terms. So, what are the differences between the two? What are the differences between advise and advice? Advise is a verb meaning “to give counsel to; offer an opinion …
  • Snowflake: From Winter Wonderland to Petty Insult
  • Every snowflake is unique. Reclaim the snow. Snowflake is one of the words that has taken a jump from normal noun to pointed insult. When used as an insult, it means that someone is easily offended and has a hard time accepting anything outside of their comfort zone. It’s often used against younger people (generally, those of the millennial generation) and left-leaning people.
  • Imply Vs. Infer
  • Imply and infer both refer to unspoken communication. The sender of this unspoken message is the one who implies, while the receiver is the one who infers. To imply is to subtly hint at a hidden message that isn’t part of the actual words spoken or written. For example, you can imply that you like someone by sending them flowers. To infer is to read …
  • Better Than Bakemeat . . . Nosh On This Quiz!
  • Feeling torporific after the holiday break? Restart your brain with the Word of the Day Quiz! Tell us your favorite word from this week below (and share it with your friends on Facebook and Twitter)! If the quiz doesn’t display, please try opening in the Chrome browser. Improve your vocabulary with our Visual Word of the Day videos. See this week’s here.
  • Pennyworth: Visual Word of the Day
  • Nothing haunts us like the things we don’t buy…especially when there’s a great pennyworth!
  • Turkey: A Bird or a Nation?
  • The republic of Turkey (look north of Egypt, east of Greece) isn’t exactly a breeding ground for the bird that Americans associate with Thanksgiving. In fact, the turkey is native to North America . . . so, why do they share the same name? Let’s get the word facts The word turkey has been used to refer to “land occupied by the Turks” since the …
  • This Quiz Could Be Macaronic
  • Here’s your chance to scrimshank . . . it’s the Word of the Day Quiz! Tell us your favorite word from this week below (and share it with your friends on Facebook and Twitter)! If the quiz doesn’t display, please try opening in the Chrome browser. Improve your vocabulary with our Visual Word of the Day videos. See this week’s here.
  • Claque: Visual Word of the Day
  • Seinfeld wasn’t the first to use a laugh track: It’s over 2,000 years old.
  • The Top 10 Current Parenting Buzzwords
  • This isn’t your parents’ parenting The language of parenting is constantly evolving, and these changes often occur in tandem with new parenting movements and styles. The early 20th century authoritarian style of parenting gave way to a more permissive parent in the ‘60s and ‘70s. The ‘80s and ‘90s parent became more intricately involved and focused on building their children’s self-esteem. Trophies for everyone! Now, …
  • What Do “Numpire” and “Ewt” Have in Common?
  • These funny-looking words may not be recognizable, but they were the ancestors of our modern-day umpire and newt. So, how did they evolve into their current forms? Because of the pesky letter n, the indefinite article a/an, and the fact that a bunch of English-speakers hundreds of years ago had hearing problems. The bouncing n and rebracketing Words like numpire and ewt underwent a process we’re playfully calling the …
  • Clickbait Isn’t New
  • Clickbait existed before clicking did “When you find out what these kids are jumping into, your jaw will drop!” “Baby ducks see water for the first time—can you BELIEVE what they do?” Confronted with such emotionally charged lines, it’s almost impossible not to click. Do the tykes tumble into a vat of chocolate syrup? Are ducklings reaching for toothpaste to brush their beaks? Can you …
  • This Quiz Is More Than Razzle-Dazzle
  • There’s no enjambment here: Take a break; it’s quiz time. Tell us your favorite word from this week below (and share it with your friends on Facebook and Twitter)! If the quiz doesn’t display, please try opening in the Chrome browser. Improve your vocabulary with our Visual Word of the Day videos. See this week’s here.
  • Are You a Master of the Arts? (A Quiz of Skill)
  • What should you get your master’s in? MAs, MFAs, and MBAs don’t stand a chance against these obscure arts and sciences. Ace this quiz, and you’ve got an official Master’s in Madcap. If the quiz doesn’t display, please try opening in the Chrome browser.
  • Whose Vs. Who’s
  • What do who’s and whose mean? Apostrophe or no apostrophe? That may be the real question. To begin to answer these questions, whose is the possessive form of the pronoun who, while who’s is a contraction of the words who is or who has. However, many people still find whose and who’s particularly confusing because, in English, an apostrophe followed by an s usually indicates the possessive form of a word. (For example, a purse belonging to a woman is “the woman’s purse.”) …
  • Arete: Visual Word of the Day
  • Who in your life embodies the idea of arete?
  • Slang Every 90s Kid Knows
  • Props if you’re in the know. If not, watch this:
  • What’s the #’s Real Name?
  • On Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, you tag your friends with the @ symbol and topics with the #. If you see something that says “#WordoftheDay,” the tweet or post has something to do with Word of the Day. And once you click on that marked topic, you’ll likely see all public posts about it. It’s a great tool for finding people who are talking about a …
  • Their, There, and They’re
  • The trio of their, there, and they’re can flummox writers of all levels. It’s confusing; they are homophones, meaning they have the same pronunciation but differ in meaning and derivation. Even though they sound the same, they aren’t spelled the same . . . and cue the noticeable errors! Let’s explore the correct usages of the three. Their is the possessive case of the pronoun …
  • Take a Knee, Burn a Bra
  • Famous Calls to Action Phrases like “sit-in” or “bra burning” might not currently mean much to you. But, we’re here to help you sort out the top 10 most famous calls to action, so you don’t accidentally find yourself taking out your nemesis’s knee. Or igniting your frontside. 1. Taking a Knee “Taking a knee” has become a buzz phrase capable of stirring heated conversation. …
  • Don’t Let This Quiz Give You the Heebie-Jeebies
  • Keep your bonce on your shoulders: It’s quiz time. Tell us your favorite word from this week below (and share it with your friends on Facebook and Twitter)! If the quiz doesn’t display, please try opening in the Chrome browser.   Improve your vocabulary with our Visual Word of the Day videos. See this week’s here.  
  • Real Fans Only: The Meaning Behind Obsessive Fandom
  • Whether you’re a Deadhead, Belieber, or a member of Raider Nation, extreme passion lies at the heart of all fans. Oodles of fan sites, message boards, Tumblr feeds, and those old-fashioned print newsletters help fans share the love. Fans use language to set themselves (as a group) apart from fans of rival teams or other artists. They create catchy nicknames and make references that may …
  • Who to Blame for English Spellings!
  • Let’s be honest: It’s practically impossible to be a “good” speller in English. The way words are spelled in English just don’t match how they are pronounced. Why, English language, why? Well, we can start by blaming William Caxton and the printing press. Diving into the historical context Let’s begin at the beginning, though: England, 1476. Norman French presence was in decline as the Bubonic Plague …
  • Ebullient: Visual Word of the Day
  • If you can’t pronounce the word ebullient, we have you covered.
  • The Best Old-Timey Insults We Should be Using Today | Video
  • Who doesn’t love a good comeback? These are the best insults we stopped using, but should totally bring back.   Love Throwing Shade? Here are more insults for you to bring back.
  • Slut: From Dirty to Empowering
  • Most women (and probably some men, too!) can recall a time they were called a slut. This word has been used to demean and hurt, but more recently, we are reclaiming it to empower and support.
  • How Big is Your Vocabulary?
  • Even if you’re not a cruciverbalist, we’re sure you’ll enjoy this quiz. Tell us your favorite word from this week below (and share it with your friends on Facebook and Twitter)! If the quiz doesn’t display, please try opening in the Chrome browser.  
  • Words That Are Their Own Opposites
  • English is weird: There are words that can mean two opposite things. Here’s what we mean:
  • English Words in Foreign Places (A Very Silly Quiz)
  • Welcome to this very silly quiz. Can you figure out what these English look-a-likes mean in their native language? Things will look a little foreign, but our obvious distractors will help you reach the right destination. Bon voyage! If the quiz doesn’t display, please try opening in the Chrome browser.
  • Preta: Visual Word of the Day
  • As long as there has been life, we’ve thought about death.
  • Don’t Let This Quiz Gorgonize You
  • We’re positive you’re already ducky, duckies. But this quiz isn’t nocent, so give it a shot! Tell us your favorite word from this week below (and share it with your friends on Facebook and Twitter)! If the quiz doesn’t display, please try opening in the Chrome browser.  
  • How to Woo a Word Lover: Pick Up Lines From the Dictionary
  • There isn’t a word in the dictionary for how good you look…
  • Perlocutionary: Visual Word of the Day
  • Learn more about this Word of the Day here.
  • Common Words with Uncommon Opposites | Video
  • Like mismatched socks… As we all know every lone sock has a long-lost twin, some words we use every day also have pairs that we just forgot about. Here are some the English language’s best uncommon opposites.
  • Mind Your Netiquette: Take This Week’s Quiz
  • It’s only right that you take today’s quiz…and share it with your friends on Facebook and Twitter! If the quiz doesn’t display, please try opening in the Chrome browser.  
  • Compliment vs. Complement | Video
  • Do you finish your best friend’s sentences? Are you always saying sweet nothings to the love of your life? We asked video students from Cal Poly to help us visualize the difference between Compliment and Complement. Here’s Alex McCraken’s take on these two words. Craving more about this weird word pair? You can read more about it here.
  • What a Bawcock! Compliment or Insult?
  • Here are some incredible old slang compliments and insults that are so hard to figure out, it’s funny. Like bawcock. That can’t be a compliment. Or can it? You’ll have to take this quiz to find out… If the quiz doesn’t display, please try opening in the Chrome browser.
  • Words That Divide Us
  • Sometimes it feels as if our country is more divided than it’s ever been. With social media and cable news outlets acting as our own personal echo chambers, it feels like our political differences seem to be dividing us more than ever. But, we should also recognize that this isn’t the first instance of divisive politics in US history. Think about the incredibly tumultuous 1960s, …
  • Moribund: Visual Word of the Day
  • Learn more about this Word of the Day here.
  • Solving the Mystery of Babbling Baby Talk
  • “Baby needa burpie?! Yeees?? [burp] Oh! WHOOOZa good baby? YOU are! Yeeesssssyouare!” Whether you find this adorable or aggravating, gaggles of parents around the world speak to their infants in singsong “goos” and “gahs.” The style has diverse names, from baby talk and motherese (but what about Dad?) to the neutral and more official-sounding child- or infant- directed speech. Whatever you choose to call it, …
  • Attention, Word Offenders: Avoid These Words
  • Are you guilty of using these crutch words? Never fear: So are we! See more words to remove from your speech here.
  • Stay Woke: Test Your Word of the Day Vocabulary
  • Take our Word of the Day and make it better! Test your knowledge of this past week’s words. (Test your friends, too: Facebook and Twitter.) If the quiz doesn’t display, please try opening in the Chrome browser.  
  • A Paroxysm of Laughter
  •  They say laughter’s contagious… Have you ever burst out laughing for no reason? Or caught your friend’s laughter without knowing why? That is an example of paroxysm. Although it can come in many forms (not all positive, such as a paroxysm of rage), we chose to highlight how infectious this type of joy can be.
  • Suffering From Anhedonia? This Quiz Can Fix That.
  • It’s that time again! How many words do you remember from this past week? Test your friends, too: Facebook and Twitter. If the quiz doesn’t display, please try opening in the Chrome browser.  
  • Deadpan: From American Slang to Comedic Style
  • Deadpan. It’s not just for people who suffer from bitchy resting face. Deadpan is often used in comedy to make viewers feel uncomfortable, or to add contrast to an otherwise slapstick set. This term is an Americanism from the 1920s, when it started being used as slang for the face itself.
  • This Quiz Is Not Clandestine
  • While all of your options are out in the open, it might still be tough to score a perfect 7/7 on this week’s quiz. Good luck to the polyhistors out there, and don’t forget to vote on your favorite word of the week (in the poll beneath the quiz). After you challenge your friends to a quiz off, check in with your results on Facebook or …
  • Deciduous: Visual Word of the Day
  • Pine and fir trees kept their green while their deciduous brothers were a riot of color. — Crickett Starr, Violet Among the Roses Learn more about this Word of the Day here.
  • Who Said It: Presidential Wit & Wisdom
  • Think you know your presidents? Take this quiz and see if you can match the style, wit and ideology of these memorable lines to the right POTUS. If the quiz doesn’t display, please try opening in the Chrome browser.
  • Tickle Your Sensorium With This Week’s Quiz
  • We hope you get a mickle of right answers this week! Check in on Facebook or Twitter to let us know how you do on the Word of the Day Quiz. And don’t forget to vote for your favorite word in the poll below. If the quiz doesn’t display, please try opening in the Chrome browser.  
  • Whoosis? Take The Word of the Day Quiz!
  • Get your brain ready for this serotinal WOTD quiz. We know you’re ready to fossick answers—and no gramarye should be required. Don’t forget to vote for your favorite word in the poll below! And when you have your results, tell us how you did on Facebook or Twitter. If the quiz doesn’t display, please try opening in the Chrome browser.    
  • A Quiz To Take You To Elysium
  • To those in the United States, happy Labor Day! We hope you’ll find Elysium in a moment of rest (and potentially, a good BBQ). Check in on Facebook or Twitter to let us know how you do on the Word of the Day Quiz. And don’t forget to vote for your favorite word in the poll below. If the quiz doesn’t display, please try opening in …
  • The Meaning of Labor Day
  • For many of us, Labor Day means the end of summer vacation, a guilt-trip for anyone wearing white, and an excuse for department stores to have sales. But, it’s important to keep in mind the true history behind this holiday: Labor Day is a celebration of laborers, introduced at a time when labor meant something far more grueling than it generally does today. In the …
  • Word of the Day Quiz August 21-27
  • Can a funster be banausic? It’s Monday again, and whether you’re ready to go or stretching for another cup of coffee, it’s verisimiliar that your brain can take the weekly Word of the Day quiz. So get clicking, and say hello on Facebook or Twitter after you’re done. Don’t forget to vote for your favorite word of the past seven days in the poll beneath the quiz! …
  • More “Man” Words in the Making
  • As we get deeper into this new millennium, one that we like to think might free us from things like racial and gender inequities and stereotypes, some interesting “man-” words have found their way into English. What’s going on? Are we widening the gender chasm, at least linguistically? Manly, Mean, or Meh? The proliferation of male “gender marked” nouns, like man bun, man purse, or …
  • Athleisure Explained
  • Who doesn’t like to be comfortable? Athleisure is one of many new words recently added to Dictionary.com. Simply put, athleisure is a style of clothing that’s worn as athletic apparel but is also suitable for casual, everyday wear. If this description means absolutely nothing to you, you’re not alone! The word is a recent addition to the English language, and one that even we needed …
  • Word of the Day Quiz August 20-26
  • 9/9 is the goal! Since today’s news is all about the eclipse, we’ve upped the challenge and added two additional words to the Word of the Day Quiz. Report in your results on Facebook or Twitter, and don’t forget to vote for your favorite word of this week in the poll beneath the quiz. Good luck (and be sure to protect your eyes from screen glare)! …
  • Yuo’re Albe to Raed Tihs - But Only Up To A Point
  • Remember that word-scrambled email that’s (re)circulated through virtually everyone’s inbox at some point between 2003 and now? Here’s a reminder: Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn’t mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can …
  • Word of the Day Quiz August 7-13
  • The mussitation begins… We’re sure your Word of the Day knowledge will fructify just in time for today’s quiz—but you may need to call an Australian to ask what arvo means. Good luck, and don’t forget to report in on Facebook or Twitter with your results! If the quiz doesn’t display, please try opening in the Chrome browser. Did you have a favorite word this …
  • Word of the Day Quiz July 30 - August 6
  • Our paladin has arrived! Your chances are good for this week’s Word of the Day quiz—two fifty-fifty chances, and one word where you’ll have to choose which definition isn’t correct. Will you be able to get 7 out of 7? Don’t forget to vote on your favorite word of the week in the poll below, and after you’re done with the quiz let us know …
  • Word of the Day Quiz July 23-29
  • Is autarky polemic? And can a membranophone help create ballon? These questions (and many more) may bumfuzzle you while taking this week’s Word of the Day quiz. Will you get 7 out of 7? Find us on Facebook or Twitter to let us know. If the quiz doesn’t display, please try opening in the Chrome browser.    
  • Word of the Day Quiz July 16-22
  • What did that mean, again? Give yourself a true challenge and don’t check your notes before taking this Monday’s quiz! How many will you get right without any extra help? Don’t forget to let us know how well you did on Facebook or Twitter. If the quiz doesn’t display, please try opening in the Chrome browser.    
  • Word of the Day Quiz: July 9-15
  • Harrumph. Are you ready for this week’s challenge? And just as importantly, will your favorite word of the week be the popular choice among the seven? After you’re done with the quiz, let us know how you did (and where you were fooled) on Facebook or Twitter. If the quiz doesn’t display, please try opening in the Chrome browser.    
  • What’s a Bastille?
  • On Bastille Day, the world parties in the name of France. But do you know what makes Bastille Day so important—not just for France but the history of all democracies? The occasion is typically honored with military parades and copious consumption of libations. This mix of weapons and wooziness arguably sums up the legacy of July 14, 1789. Bastille is French for “fortress,” “castle,” or “bastion.” The Bastille …
  • What’s Net Neutrality?
  • You may have heard the term “net neutrality” in the news lately. Net neutrality is the idea that the relationship between you and content on the internet shouldn’t be altered by internet service providers—that ISPs should provide nondiscriminatory access to internet content, without manipulating the transfer of data. Take a look at the infographic below for a visual, and check out these net neutrality resources: 7 Quotes That …
  • Word of the Day Quiz: July 2-8
  • We have a smorgasbord… …of words for you this week (and every week)! Think back to those Word of the Day alerts you saw during the BBQs of the last seven days, and test your memory by taking the quiz. When you’re done, don’t forget to tell us your favorite word of the bunch on Facebook or Twitter and in the poll below. If the quiz …
  • Word of the Day Quiz: June 25-July 1
  • Is it doublethink… …to remember checking in on the Word of the Day all week, but also to have serious questions about whether exurb is a noun or a verb? (The answer: no. That’s just another reason why we need quizzes.) After you ace the test, don’t forget to tell us your favorite word on Facebook or Twitter and in the poll below! If the quiz …
  • The Forgotten Verses of “The Star-Spangled Banner”
  • Do you know all the words to “The Star-Spangled Banner”? Many people have difficulty memorizing the lyrics of the first verse of this song, which is commonly performed at sports events and other public gatherings. But did you know that there are three additional verses that we almost never hear? In 1814, the poet and lyricist Francis Scott Key penned the lyrics to “The Star-Spangled …
  • O Say Can You Hear? A Look at Our National Anthem’s Poetic Roots
  • This weekend, many Americans will gather with loved ones to commemorate our country’s heritage by firing up the grill, admiring some fireworks, and attempting to sing one of the most difficult songs in the English language. “Star-Spangled Banner” was adopted as our national anthem in 1931, and its soaring melody and densely packed lyrics have been tripping up those tasked with performing it ever since. …
  • Word of the Day Quiz: June 18-24
  • With a few estival choices… …these words are whizzo. But do you remember what polishing a particular fruit can mean? Take the quiz, and don’t forget to tell us your favorite from the week on Facebook or Twitter and in the poll below. If the quiz doesn’t display, please try opening in the Chrome browser.      
  • Word of the Day Quiz: June 11-17
  • That sibylline behavior… …is hard to decipher. Does it mean you’re ready to ace this quiz? Let us know your score on Facebook or Twitter, and vote on your favorite in the poll below. If the quiz doesn’t display, please try opening in the Chrome browser.      
  • The Wonder-ful Nature of Greek God Names
  • Batman lurks like a bat in the shadows. Spider-Man slings webs like a radioactive spider. Superman is a literal translation of Friedrich Nietszche’s term ubermensch. And Wonder Woman is…well, what does Wonder Woman’s name tell us about her? A lot, it turns out. When William Moulton Marston created Wonder Woman in the early 1940s, he made her not just Diana, an Amazon princess, but also …
  • Word of the Day Quiz: June 4-10
  • Hoping for a little serendipity… …but if you don’t have that, a good memory will help. Will you be able to identify all seven words from last week’s Word of the Day selections? Let us know your score on Facebook or Twitter! And if you had a favorite of the bunch, don’t forget to share in the poll below. If the quiz doesn’t display, please try …
  • Word of the Day Quiz: May 28 - June 3
  • You’re true-blue… …and we don’t think that’s puffery. If you’d like a quick reminder of the word list, take a look at the poll below. Then tackle the quiz, and let us know how you do on Facebook or Twitter. Good luck! If the quiz doesn’t display, please try opening in the Chrome browser.    
  • 6 New Words We Need in English Right Now
  • English is a vast, glorious language, yet even with its incredible number of words, it feels like it’s still missing some absolute basics. The lack of these words leads to either lengthy clarifications or awkward situations—like getting stuck taking your friend’s llama to the flea market (more on that below). Of course, we can’t just go adding words to the dictionary all willy-nilly, but if …
  • Word of the Day Quiz: May 21 - 27
  • Do you know all 7 words memoriter? This week’s quiz is tough, but don’t let it leave you slumberous. When you’re done, make sure to vote on your favorite word from this week in the poll below! If the quiz doesn’t display, please try opening in the Chrome browser.
  • Farther vs. Further
  • Differentiating two words that go the distance… Do you use farther and further interchangeably? You’re not alone. The terms have very similar meanings, and English speakers have been using them as synonyms for centuries. But if you’re ready to get picky, there is one major difference that can guide your usage of these words! The widely accepted rule is to use farther when being literal and …
  • Word of the Day Quiz: May 14-20
  • Some forgettery, some luck… If you have one, invite your moggy over for moral support, then dive in to this week’s quiz. After testing your memory, vote on your favorite word from this week in the poll below! If the quiz doesn’t display, please try opening in the Chrome browser.  
  • Fast and the Furious - From Scottish Hootenanies to Street Racing
  • The eighth installment in the Fast and the Furious franchise was released in April 2017, and their continued box office success gives moviegoers and word-lovers something to cheer about. Beyond the stunning action sequences, though, let’s take a moment to appreciate the movie’s title, The Fate of the Furious, which sounds awesome. That probably has something to do with its alliteration, a figure of speech in …
  • Let’s Talk About Bitchface
  • Wait, what? Bitchface? Yes, bitchface is a word. Some people may find that offensive (why do we swear, anyway?), but it’s also interesting that the word describes a reality that often causes offense—unintentionally! Also called resting bitchface (that’s RBF, of course), bitchy resting face, or chronic bitchface, bitchface most often refers to a facial expression that doesn’t consciously express a particular emotion, but that others …
  • Whose vs. Who’s
  • We’ve all been there: agonizing over whether or not to add that apostrophe to who. Here’s an easy way to remember the difference. Whose is the possessive form of the pronoun who, while who’s is a contraction of the words who is or who has. Many people find whose and who’s particularly confusing because in English, an apostrophe followed by an S usually indicates the possessive form of a word. For example, a purse belonging to a woman is “the woman’s purse.” …
  • What Are We Gonna Call Self-Driving Cars If “Automobile” Is Already Taken?
  • We’ve reached the era of the self-driving car! Congratulations, us. Ford, General Motors, and Volkswagen are all in the autonomous driving game, along with many up-and-comers. Waymo (a division of Alphabet, Google’s holding company) describes theirs as “a safer car for everyone.” In a way, it’s shaky ground we’re standing on. One, because we’re standing on a foundation of dated perceptions of the future, and …
  • Word of the Day Quiz: May 7-13
  • You have our imprimatur… …to cheat if you have to. But if you find yourself searching Dictionary.com a little bit too often, may we suggest you sign up for our Word of the Day emails? Let us know how you do on this week’s quiz by sharing your results on Twitter or Facebook (good luck)! And whether you do it holus-bolus or come back later, don’t …
  • The Other Easter Eggs: Coded Messages and Hidden Treats
  • When was the last time you discovered an Easter egg hiding in plain sight? If your answer was “at the last Easter egg hunt I went to,” it’s time to expand your playing field. The term Easter egg started popping up in the 16th and 17th centuries. As most would guess, its original meaning refers to a hollowed-out or hard-boiled egg, dyed or painted for …
  • What’s the Difference Between a Bunny, a Rabbit and a Hare?
  • While the religious contexts of Easter can be well understood, the commercialized variants get a little crazy: an anthropomorphized bunny, baskets, pastel colors and eggs? There’s too much to tackle in that semantic basket, so we’ll answer a different crucial question: what’s the difference between a rabbit, a hare and a bunny? Let’s start with the two that have scientific names. Hares and rabbits are both …
  • The Reasons to Swear. A Lot.
  • Fair warning: The language here could get a little strong for some tastes. Raise your hand if you’ve ever slipped up and said a curse word in front of your boss, your grandma, or anyone else you probably shouldn’t have. We’re right there with you (totally raised our hands). Don’t be too hard on yourself. Swearing has a long history—words tend to stick around when …
  • Where Are You From, Loanword?
  • Let’s save some time and say it: Being exposed to other cultures and languages is one of the best things that can happen to you. Throughout history, English speakers have constantly been in contact with people who speak other languages. One of the coolest things that happens from that contact is language exchange. When a word from one language gets absorbed into another language, that’s …
  • Word of the Day Quiz: April 30-May 6
  • Not a minatory challenge… …at least, we hope not. Recap your week full of words by taking on this Word of the Day challenge! How many tries will it take you to get all seven correct? And when you’re done, don’t forget to tell us your favorite word of the week in the poll below. If the quiz doesn’t display, please try opening in the …
  • Practice vs. Practise
  • The difference between these two mainly comes down to British vs. American spelling. In British English, practise is a verb and practice is a noun. In American English, practice is both the noun and verb form. American English doesn’t really use practise. The Noun Practice As a noun, practice means “habit or custom” (as in “a religious practice“). It can also mean “repeated exercise to …
  • How -Able Lets You Expand Your Descriptive Abilities
  • -Able is a cool suffix that allows you to describe things in new and interesting ways. Adding -able to a word makes it into an adjective that indicates something or someone is capable of or worthy of something. For instance, if a doughnut is dunkable, that means it can be dipped into a cup of milk or coffee. Verbs With -Able You’ll most often see …
  • Proved vs. Proven
  • Have you proved your point, or proven it? Both words are both forms of the verb prove, which means “to establish truth through evidence or argument.” Both words are past participles, which basically means they completed actions that took place in the past. Generally speaking, proved and proven are interchangeable. You can usually choose between the two words based upon which one sounds better in the …
  • Reeking vs. Wreaking
  • Does Godzilla wreak havoc or reek havoc? Reeking is a word that usually describes something with a bad smell. Wreaking refers to something that causes destruction or damage. So really, it depends. Want to know more about these homophones? Keep reading. Reek As a verb, reek means a few things. Most often, it refers to a bad smell. You can either say “The pile of …
  • Paramount vs. Tantamount
  • Turns out, paramount doesn’t have that much to do with mountains. It does, however, describe something that’s of highest importance. Tantamount, on the other hand, refers to something that’s equal to something else. While the two words sound similar, that’s really all they have in common. Paramount Paramount is an adjective meaning “of utmost importance.” It can also describe someone with the highest level of …
  • Palette, Pallet, or Palate
  • Palette, pallet, and palate are homophones, which means they’re all pronounced the same way, but mean different things. Palette is mostly related to art. Pallet often refers to shipping equipment. Palate has several meanings related to taste. If you’re looking for a little more detail than that, read on. Palette When you picture a painter, you probably imagine them holding a flat board with a …
  • APRIL FOOLS! When? Where?
  • There are people who wait all year for April 1st. The fake bugs have been collected, the keys have been swapped, and the stories have been carefully thought through—and the cameras are probably ready. You already know why: because it’s fun (at least for the pranksters; please be kind to your victims)! But how long have we been celebrating this odd holiday? And where did …
  • The Mystery Behind April’s Name
  • Mark Twain once wrote: “This is the day upon which we are reminded of what we are on the other three hundred and sixty-four.” Twain’s referring to the first day of April or, as it’s often known, April Fools’ Day. While the first day of the fourth month of the year is sure to bring plenty of shenanigans (will you be the perpetrator or the …
  • Overwhelm vs. Underwhelm
  • These two might seem like straightforward antonyms, but there are a few differences to keep in mind. Overwhelm is a verb that means “to overpower” or “to cover or bury.” Underwhelm means “to fail to impress.” Basically, these words have opposite meanings. Overwhelm Overwhelm is a versatile verb. A situation can overwhelm someone. That same person can be overwhelmed by a situation. They might describe …
  • Opinion Of, Opinion On, or Opinion About?
  • What do you believe the difference is? Opinion of values an opinion, opinion on emphasizes the topic of an opinion, and opinion about emphasizes the opinion itself. All three are fair ways to use the word opinion, but there are some major differences in how each phrase is typically used. Opinion Of Opinion of is the most common phrase among the three. Your opinion of …
  • Word of the Day Quiz: April 23-29
  • It’s the dinkum thing… …this week’s Word of the Day quiz is ready for you. Take a deep breath (maybe grab a drupe to enjoy?), and check in with us on Twitter or Facebook to let us know your results. And while you’re at it, vote for your favorite word of the last seven days in the poll below!      
  • From Headlines to Hollywood to Hangry: New Words in the Dictionary
  • The latest update to Dictionary.com includes over 300 new words and definitions, reflecting everything from news stories to fashion trends. We’ve also updated several existing Dictionary.com entries. Once again, many new words came straight from the headlines, from Black Lives Matter and Burkini to alt-right and clicktivism. Some words like 420 and Kush reflect broader acceptance of marijuana use and culture, as it’s becoming medically …
  • Older vs. Elder
  • Both older and elder describe someone or something with the higher age in a comparison. Basically, they can both be the opposite of younger. They’re similar words that are usually interchangeable. For example, let’s say a woman has two sons, one 15 years old and one 18 years old. She could describe the 18-year-old boy as her older son or her elder son, and the …
  • Oblivious To vs. Oblivious Of
  • Oblivious to and oblivious of can both be used the same way. You can generally pick one based on which sounds better in the context of the sentence. Essentially, they both mean that someone is unaware of something. Synonyms Oblivious to and oblivious of share a meaning with a number of phrases, like ignorant of, unaware of, unconscious of, and blind to. Similarly, it may …
  • Not Good vs. No Good
  • Here’s something that’s good to know: No good means something has no use or value, and has no potential of becoming good. Not good means something is bad or undesirable. The correct way to use them isn’t that clear cut. At times, there’s no difference, and they can be used interchangeably. No Good When good is used as a noun, no can quantify or modify …
  • Motherland vs. Fatherland
  • The terms motherland and fatherland both refer to one’s native country, one’s country of origin, or the home of one’s ancestors. Whether a particular group uses motherland or fatherland tends to be a matter of custom. It’s unusual for a group to use both. Noah Webster’s The American Dictionary of the English Language, from 1847, referred to motherland as “the home of one’s mother’s ancestors” …
  • Mistrust vs. Distrust
  • Trust us on this one. There’s a difference between these two. Distrust is a complete lack of trust, and it’s often based on experience. Mistrust is a general lack of trust or confidence, sometimes based on instinct. Both words can be used as either verbs or nouns. As adjectives, they’re distrustful and mistrustful, respectively. Distrust tends to be used far more frequently than mistrust. Distrust …
  • Every English “Rule” Has An Exception: I Before E, Except, Well, A Lot of Things
  • A lot of times you’ll come across articles about English grammar that are like “You can do X, but not Y, and if you do Z your writing will be bad and you should feel bad.” OK, ouch. On the one hand, yes, English does have a lot of helpful rules in place that have developed over hundreds of years. And yes, rules help standardize …
  • Moral vs. Ethical
  • Maybe you’ve heard these terms and wondered what the difference is. A lot of people think of them as being the same thing. While they’re closely related concepts, moral refers mainly to guiding principles, and ethical refers to specific rules and actions. A moral precept is an idea or opinion that’s driven by a desire to be good. An ethical code is a set of …
  • Word of the Day Quiz: April 16-22
  • Hope you’re jammy… …if getting seven right has been easy, let’s see if you’ll be able to place number eight in today’s quiz. Good luck. And as always, tell us your favorite in the poll below!    
  • Math vs. Maths
  • Both math and maths are short for the word mathematics. Math is the preferred term in the United States and Canada. Maths is the preferred term in England, Australia, and most other English-speaking places. Math The word math can refer to either the discipline or subject of mathematics. It can also refer to mathematical procedures. In a sentence like “She enjoys studying math and science,” …
  • Marshal vs. Martial
  • While the words are pronounced the same, they do have different meanings. Martial is an adjective that describes things related to war. A marshal is a police or military officer. Martial can only be used as an adjective, but marshal can be used as either a noun or a verb, but not an adjective. “But what about marshall?” you ask? We’ll get to that in …
  • What Exactly Is the Spring Equinox?
  • We get pretty excited about the spring equinox bringing us out of winter and officially starting the season of spring. But what exactly is the spring equinox? And does an equinox happen at the start of every season? First, let’s get into the equinox, which actually occurs just twice a year. The word equinox comes from Latin and means “equality of night and day.” So, the …
  • Manor vs. Manner
  • A manor is a mansion or stately home. A manner is a characteristic way of doing something. These words are homophones (words that sound the same but have different meanings), so it’s easy to mix them up. Manor In the context of a feudal system, manor referred to an estate or territorial unit consisting of a lord’s home and lands. In other words, the area …
  • Make Peace With vs. Come to Terms With
  • These two phrases mean almost the same thing, but it can be useful to know the difference. Making peace with something means you “become resolved or reconciled.” Coming to terms with something means you “accept or become resigned” to it. It can also mean to reach an agreement. Make peace with is usually used to talk about humans. Come to terms with is usually used …
  • Ludicrous vs. Ridiculous
  • Ludicrous means something is silly enough to cause amusement. Ridiculous means it’s absurd enough to invite mockery or derision. Ludicrous has a more playful and amusing sense than ridiculous. Ridiculous We use ridiculous when something is absurd enough to be laughable. Saying something is ridiculous often means you think it deserves mockery or disrespect. An 1857 guide called English Synonyms says that “Ridiculous includes an …
  • Loose vs. Lose
  • Did you lose that sock in the dryer, or loose it? Lose is a verb, while loose is almost always an adjective. They’re often confused because of their similar spelling. Lose Lose can only be used as a verb. It describes when you “come to be without something” (e.g. “to lose a sock in the laundry”) or “to suffer defeat or fail to win” (e.g. …
  • Loath vs. Loathe
  • It can be easy to mix up loath and loathe because of their extremely similar spellings, but here’s the difference: Loath is an adjective that means reluctant. Loathe is a transitive verb that means to be disgusted with. The fact that both words carry negative connotations also makes it easy to confuse them. It might help to know that their pronunciations are slightly different. Loath …
  • Word of the Day Quiz: April 9-15
  • Be a mensch… …and let us know how well you do on this week’s Word of the Day quiz. After you vote on your favorite in the poll below, find us (we promise it won’t be a rebarbative search) on Twitter or Facebook!      
  • Kudo vs. Kudos
  • You’ve probably heard these words floating around various celebrations, but do you know the difference? Kudos is a noun that means “praise, honor, or acclaim.” Kudo is the singular version of kudos, but kudos is also singular. Kudos comes from the Greek word kydos, which means praise or renown. Kudos are usually offered in response to an exceptional achievement. A Brief History of Kudos The …
  • Jury-rigged vs. Jerry-rigged
  • This one’s for you, DIY fans. Jury-rigged means something was assembled quickly with the materials on hand. Jerry-built means it was cheaply built. Jerry-rigged is a combination of these two words. Jerry-rigged is a relatively new word. Many people consider it to be an incorrect version of jury-rigged, but it’s widely used in everyday speech. Jury-Rigged The word jury has a few different meanings. It …
  • Juridical Process vs. Judicial Process
  • Let’s bring some order to these two similar terms. The juridical process relates to the administration of the law. The judicial process is the series of steps a legal dispute goes through in the court system. It deals with procedural issues, and it determines the roles of the judge and the jury in a courtroom. The judicial process also deals with the role and jurisdiction …
  • Itch vs. Scratch
  • Okay, this one might make you feel a little itchy. An itch is a skin irritation that causes the desire to scratch. Scratch describes the action used to relieve an itch. The grammatically correct construction is “to scratch an itch.” People often use itch and scratch in place of each other in everyday speech. For example, you may hear people saying they need to “itch …
  • “It is I” vs. “It’s Me”
  • Hello, it is I. Those are the lyrics, right? Should they be? The phrase it is I is correct for formal writing. It’s me is considered an informal style. Today, most native English speakers use it’s me instead of it is I. Classic, Formal Usage Traditionally, the use of I is appropriate when it follows a linking verb like is, was, or were. Linking verbs …
  • USA: Noun or Adjective?
  • USA is an abbreviation for the United States of America. US tends to be the more popular way to abbreviate United States. Both of these abbreviations can serve as either adjectives or nouns. However, some style guides prefer United States as the noun form and US as the adjective form. USA USA is a noun because United States of America is a noun. A noun …
  • Word of the Day Quiz: April 2-8
  • Fanfaronade for everyone! Unless, of course, you’re more the calm and inveterate type. Can you identify all seven of last week’s Word of the Day definitions? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter—and be sure to vote on your favorite in the poll below. Good luck!    
  • Have A Slice Of Pi (And Other Homophones)
  • March 14 is one of the geekiest days on the calendar. The date is read as 3/14, also known as Pi Day. Strictly geek-speaking, pi is the 16th letter of the Greek alphabet (II, p). The character to represent pi is “the symbol used in mathematics to represent a constant—the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter—which is approximately 3.14159. Pi has …
  • What’s the Word for More Than One Software?
  • The word software is a mass noun because it can be used to refer to a mass (or nonspecific number) of computing programs or products. Mass nouns function as both singular and plural nouns. They can describe either one item, multiple items of the same type, or an entire category of items. Some examples include bread, rice, hair, garbage, and ice. It isn’t necessary to add …
  • From Suffrage to Sisterhood: What Does “Feminism” Actually Mean?
  • International Women’s Day (March 8th) is an opportunity to celebrate the amazing women in our lives. It’s also a time to remember how far women have come over the course of American history, and the inspiring women who made it happen. From the suffragist movement of the 1800s to the Women’s March on Washington in 2017, women have used the enduring power of language to …
  • Libel vs. Slander
  • Libel and slander are both types of defamation. Defamation is the act of making negative statements that hurt another person’s reputation. Libel is written, published, or broadcast defamation, while slander refers to spoken defamatory statements. Both are illegal in the United States. Those who make defamatory statements may find themselves facing civil or criminal suits in state courts. In the United States, defamation suits are …
  • Survey Time! What Words Do You Always Misspell?
  • It’s like having a mental block…permanently. Somewhere along the line, your brain decided to have a problem with the spelling of a particular word, and now you always seem to misspell it. Don’t feel bad. It’s something we all deal with. Some of us use spelling tricks to resolve these conundrums, like the tried and true “I before E except after C” method (except for when …
  • Irreparable vs. Unrepairable
  • The words irreparable and unrepairable are synonyms that mean unable to be fixed. Both irreparable and unrepairable are adjectives (words that modify nouns by describing an aspect of them). Irreparable was first used between the late 1300s to early 1400s. It’s a Middle English word derived from the Latin term, irreparabilis, meaning not able to be recovered. Unrepairable is a related form of the verb …
  • “Spring Forward, Fall Back” And Other Popular Mnemonics
  • It’s the time of the year (to be exact, 2 a.m. Sunday March 12, in 2017) when we all spring our clocks forward one hour, and summarily gripe about losing an hour of sleep. The official term for it is daylight-saving time or daylight-savings time, but the easiest way we’ve found to keep DST straight is the helpful little expression “spring forward, fall back.” Mnemonics (named …
  • 9 of the Longest Words We Know
  • In today’s world, some of us may naturally gravitate towards shorter words. After all, the shorter the word, the easier it is to type on your phone. Short and pithy may be a convenient form for most of us, but tongue twisters deserve a place in our linguistic lexicon, too. Have you ever considered what the longest words are? Let’s take a look at a few—and …
  • Intrusive vs. Obtrusive
  • Intrusive and obtrusive both refer to invading a situation. Obtrusive is the more intentional one of these. The meanings and sounds of both words are close enough that it can be easy to confuse them. Some thesauruses present the words as synonyms, but there are a few subtle distinctions between them. Similarities These two words have very similar meanings. They both involve inserting oneself into …
  • Insidious vs. Invidious
  • Insidious and invidious both describe the way someone does something bad. Insidious implies secrecy, while invidious is more open. An insidious action is sneaky and harmful. An invidious action is also negative, but it happens out in the open. Insidious Insidious actions are covert. Those who carry them out hope to accomplish some act of evil. For example, lies are insidious. Secret meetings and intrigue …
  • Inquire vs. Enquire
  • And just what, may we ask, is the difference between these? While inquire means “to seek information in a formal way,” enquire means “to ask in a general way.” They can be used interchangeably. Inquire and enquire both originate from the same Latin word, meaning to seek. Both words mean to request information or examine facts. Inquire or enquire can be used as either a …
  • Recuse vs. Resign
  • As with many legal and political terms, recuse and resign are often confused with each other. The differences between these terms are important to understand, especially in light of recent calls for Attorney General Jeff Sessions to do both. To recuse means to withdraw from performing legal duties because of potential bias or a conflict of interest. This can apply to judges, jurors, lawyers, and so on, but …
  • Inhibit vs. Prohibit
  • Inhibit and prohibit are both verbs that mean to prevent or to forbid. Both verbs require a direct object to make sense, and they always involve two parties. Though both words have similar definitions, inhibit and prohibit aren’t interchangeable. In general, someone is inhibited by internal feelings or prohibited by an external source. Inhibit Inhibit is a verb with several meanings, including “to restrain, hinder, …
  • Word of the Day Quiz: Mar 26-Apr 1
  • Is mumpsimus good, bad, or something in-between? This week’s Word of the Day quiz gives you the chance to beat all of your prior 7/7 records with a bonus question—connect with us on Facebook or Twitter to let us know if you’re able to achieve that 8/8! And don’t forget to take 5 seconds to vote in the poll below. Which word will be crowned …
  • Ingenious vs. Ingenuous
  • Are you ready, Grammar Genius? Both ingenious and ingenuous are adjectives. Ingenious indicates cleverness or intelligence, while ingenuous refers to sincerity or a naive nature. How To Use Ingenious When you say ingenious out loud, it sounds like a combination of the words in and genius. Since a genius is an intelligent person, you can use that part of the word to associate ingenious with …
  • In Case Of vs. In the Event Of
  • Do you break the glass in case of emergency or in the event of emergency? The phrases in case of and in the event of are both prepositions. The first one means if it should occur. The second means if or when something happens. A preposition is a word or phrase that shows a relationship between two elements in a clause. Some common prepositions are …
  • Wanna Get Away? 9 Synonyms For Screwing Up
  • We’ve all had moments where we’ve really and truly screwed something up. An epic mistake (OK, maybe not on a historic, global scale like the February 26, 2017 Oscars). But still, we’re human, and mistakes do happen. There are a lot of words to describe things going south in a hurry. We’ve gathered a few here. You’ll notice they’re all very close in definition. Maybe …
  • Imply vs. Infer
  • Imply and infer both refer to unspoken communication. The sender of a message is the one who implies, while the receiver is the one who infers. This applies to both spoken and written communication. To imply is to subtly hint at a hidden message that isn’t part of the actual words spoken or written. For example, you can imply that you like someone by sending …
  • Imminent, Immanent, or Eminent
  • When something is imminent, that means it’s impending. Immanent isn’t a typo, it means inherent. Eminent means distinguished. Imminent Imminent means likely to occur at any moment or impending. It refers to something that’s approaching, about to happen, anticipated, or threatening to occur. For example, in Coquette, author Frank Swinnerton uses the word to describe someone’s arrival: “While she was waiting, she one day received …
  • Immigrants, Emigrants, or Migrants
  • There’s been a lot of talk in the news about these three groups. Sometimes you’ll see the terms being used interchangeably, but there are some differences you should be aware of. It’s important to understand what these words mean so you can use them correctly. Immigrants are people who come into a new country to settle permanently. Emigrants leave one country to settle in a new …
  • Word of the Day Quiz: Mar 19-25
  • What will your comportment be after taking this quiz? Report in your results (and your reactions) on Facebook or Twitter. And let us know if one of the words of last week really shined for you by voting for your favorite in the poll below!  
  • Hot Dog! Are They Sandwiches, Or Not?
  • Sandwich. This is a word worth pondering on several levels. First, what’s its origination? Why is a piece of meat between two slices of bread called a sandwich? Second, many of us mispronounce it, referring to a sammich. And we’re saving the biggest controversy for last. Is a hot dog…a sandwich? We feel obligated to get to the heart of this matter. It’s why we’re …
  • 3 Easy Tips for Writing Realistic Dialects
  • Dialects are unique ways that people speak within a language. They may be distinguished by special grammar, words, sentence structure, and pronunciation. Dialects may emerge in languages due to differences among regions, classes, or ethnic backgrounds. Many writers use dialects to enhance realism in their stories, especially for characters in specific locations. However, it’s easy to overuse or misuse dialects if you aren’t careful. To …
  • Exoplanets And Planets: The Truth Is Out There
  • Exoplanets are in the news, and not just because Google did a doodle on them, either. On February 22, 2017, news of the discovery of seven new exoplanets was announced by NASA. This may be a new word for you non-NASA geeks out there. Let’s examine the difference between planets and exoplanets. A planet is sometimes also called a major planet. It’s any of the …
  • Unlock the Full Potential of Punctuation Marks
  • Punctuation marks have a lot of different uses. The period, question mark, and exclamation point are used to end sentences. The comma, semicolon, colon, and dash indicate a pause or break. Parentheses contain words, while hyphens combine them. Apostrophes show the omission of letters, and also show possession. Ending a Sentence A period (.) ends any sentence that forms a statement. Periods are also used …
  • Loan, Lend, Loaned, and Lent
  • The words loan and loaned are the present and past tenses of to loan. Lend and lent are the present and past tenses of to lend. As verbs, loan and lend are often used interchangeably. For example, “A bank loans people money to buy a home. It also lends borrowers money to buy a car.” Loan and lend also have identical meanings when they’re used …
  • And The Award Goes To…
  • The four major performing arts honor their respective members with separate and distinct award ceremonies. Some award recipients may show disdain for the process and boycott the presentation, but others seem happy to accept the recognition of their peers on the world stage. It’s interesting to note that three of the four award ceremonies make use of peoples names for their award, while the fourth …
  • Let’s Pause and Talk About Commas
  • You’ve probably heard a lot of things about the comma. A comma (,) signifies a short pause in a sentence. It can also divide clauses or items in a list. It can be used to create division, or to improve the clarity of a sentence. Pauses, Adjectives, and Nonessential Phrases In writing, commas usually signal a pause that would be heard if the sentence were …
  • Pitfalls And Perils Of Twitter’s 140-Character Barrier
  • Any Twitter user knows about the 140 character limit for a tweet. You only have so many characters to work with, which makes brevity essential. How many of you have composed a tweet only to see “-5” in red, indicating you ended up with 145 characters (five too many)? You have all these words you want to say! But it’s not going to happen. (That’s …
  • Footnotes vs. Endnotes
  • Let’s say you have a bit of extra information that’s too long for parentheses. What do you do? That’s where footnotes and endnotes come in. What are they exactly? Footnotes appear at the bottom of each page they refer to, while endnotes appear at the very end of a text. They usually show up in academic writing. Read on if you want to know more …
  • Enemy vs. Nemesis
  • Who do you think would win an epic showdown like this one? We often see these words used interchangeably, but there are some subtle differences between them. An enemy is a foe who’s hostile toward the protagonist (or central character) of a story. A nemesis is an opponent or rival whom a protagonist can’t overcome. The Enemy In literature, an enemy is often referred to …
  • Word of the Day Quiz: Mar 12-18
  • What did you think of the words this week? Getting all seven correct will be good reason for vaunting. But which word did you like the most? Whether you preferred Cimmerian to luciferous (or would rather lean on arithmancy for your choice), let us know in the poll below this week’s quiz.    
  • Assent vs. Ascent
  • Homophones: Love them or hate them, they’re everywhere. These two are a great example. They may sound the same, but their meanings couldn’t be any more different. Assent is a word that indicates agreement or approval. Ascent refers to an upward movement. Assent As a verb, assent means to agree or to give in. When used as a verb, it’s often followed by the word …
  • What Are You Doing, Action Verb?
  • Action verbs are typically single words that describe what a person or thing in a sentence does (like run, write, yell, and think). So if it answers the question What is the subject doing? it’s the action verb. In the sentence “John paints the garage,” the subject is John. To find the action verb, ask yourself What is John doing? John paints, so the action …
  • Quiz Yourself: When to capitalize “President”
  • Meet the president: Mr. President Have you ever worried about when president should be capitalized? You should only capitalize it as a title before an individual’s name or when directly addressing a person in that role. You’ve probably seen plenty of variations in the news and on social media. But do you know when you’re actually supposed to capitalize titles like president or governor? Take …
  • Quiz Yourself: How Many Emoji Can You Name?
  • Who are you, emoji? Emoji are everywhere. They’re all over your social media feeds, your mom likes to text them to you, and they’re even making their way into ads. You know and love them, and so do we. But did you know that these fun, familiar characters have official names? Each emoji has a specific name that’s determined by the Unicode Consortium. Some names …
  • Hail To The Chief: The Origination Of Presidents’ Day
  • If you live in the United States, you might have a Monday in February off (unless you work retail). That special Monday is Presidents’ Day! But you might be interested to know that the Presidents’ Day holiday isn’t the official name of the holiday at all, and some states customize the day, too. The Uniform Monday Holiday Act The day was originally established in 1885 …
  • Zlopp! Ptakk! Biff! Holy Bat-Onomatopoeia!
  • We define onomatopoeia as “the formation of a word, as cuckoo, meow, honk, or boom, by imitation of a sound made by or associated with its reference.” Or, if you prefer, “the use of imitative and naturally suggestive words for rhetorical, dramatic, or poetic effect.” In the pop culture realm of 1960s television, no one made better use of the onomatopoeia concept for dramatic effect …
  • This or That: Do You Know the Difference Between Adjectives and Pronouns?
  • Sometimes these two just look so similar. It can be easy to mix them up. The simplest explanation is that adjectives modify nouns or pronouns, and pronouns refer back to nouns that were mentioned earlier in a sentence or paragraph. Keep reading if you need more details. Using Adjectives Adjectives are useful for creating vivid descriptions because they can add specific traits to a person …
  • Totespeak on Fleek
  • Every generation has its own style of verbal communication. It usually starts young, so it makes sense that the prime users of social media can be blamed (or applauded, depending on your point of view) for the explosion of trendy slang we’ll call totespeak. Totes? Yes, it’s obviously a derivation of the word totally, which you squash down like this: “That puppy is totes adorbs!” …
  • And Now…Transition Words!
  • Good transitions connect one sentence or paragraph to the next. A word, phrase, or sentence can serve as a transition to help make a shift in relationship, space, or time. Transitions connect ideas and supporting examples. They signal the coming of additional information or a conclusion. Transitions in Relationship Some transition words and phrases are used to compare and contrast. These include comparable to, in …
  • 10 Ways To Say You’re Sorry
  • You may have been friends with someone for years, but it only takes a second to damage that friendship with the wrong word or two. Now that you’ve made the mess, it’s time to clean it up with a well chosen apology. There are different ways to say you’re sorry, of course. Let’s examine the words and a few of the situations they’re most suited …
  • Emphasis on Italics
  • Italics are typically used to show emphasis or to denote titles of stand-alone works. Different style guides have different rules about what to italicize. Here are some good general guidelines, but the most important thing is to stay consistent within your work. Titles of Works In most cases, you should italicize the titles of complete works, like books or movies. Some style guides, like APA …
  • Pesky Homophones: Too, To And Two
  • The three words too, to and two sound exactly alike but have three distinct usages! They are classic examples of what we refer to as homophones—words that are pronounced the same but have different meanings and spellings. They often end up in the wrong spot in written language as a result of an over-eager spellcheck program on your phone. Let’s examine which one fits in the …
  • Say What? Direct Questions vs. Reported Dialogue
  • A direct question is when you ask a question by speaking directly (e.g. “How are you doing today?”). Reported dialogue is when you report what someone else says (e.g. “Joan asked how you’re doing today.”). Reported dialogue usually uses the third person point of view. Direct Questions Direct questions usually include interrogative pronouns or adverbs. Interrogative pronouns and adverbs include words like as who, what, …
  • When to Use Definite vs. Indefinite Articles
  • Articles are a unique type of adjectives that indicate which noun (person, place, or thing) you’re talking about. The only definite article in English is the, and it refers to a specific noun. Indefinite articles (a or an) refer to nouns more generally. Indefinite Articles Indefinite articles refer to non-specific nouns. Think “I need a pen” or “I want an orange.” In both cases, we …
  • Word of the Day Quiz: Mar 5-11
  • Don’t just stravage through …with a little research, we’re sure you can correctly identify the meanings of all seven of last week’s words. And don’t forget to vote for your favorite after you’ve completed the quiz!    
  • Using a Comma with “As Well As,” and Other Phrases
  • Okay, yeah, this sounds like a very specific topic, but it’s useful to know the answer. Basically, you should use commas with as well as when it’s part of a nonrestrictive modifying clause. There should be commas before and after any nonrestrictive modifying clause. That’s the broad answer, but read on if you want to get to know details. Nonrestrictive Clauses A nonrestrictive modifying clause …
  • ? All You Need Is Love ?
  • ? Love is all you need ? The words “I love you” are traveling around the world at warp speed as Valentine’s Day creeps closer. Have you ever thought about how different cultures say these three simple yet highly complex and emotionally charged words? Were you thinking we’d roll out a quiz for this? Do we even need to ask such a question? Need to …
  • Getting to Know Predicate Nominative and Predicate Adjective
  • In general, a predicate completes a sentence by providing information about what the subject is or does. The subject of a sentence is who or what is doing the action. The predicate explains the action. There’s often a linking verb (like is or became) in between the two. A predicate nominative is a noun that completes the linking verb in a sentence. Predicate adjectives complete …
  • Dictionary.com Gets To The Heart Of Valentine’s Day
  • It’s a day that has spawned more Hallmark cards and movie specials than you can possibly imagine. If you have a special someone to share it with, you’re really into it. If there is no special someone at the moment, you send a card to yourself and wait for the 15th. Love is a complex emotion and is thoroughly integrated into this non-public holiday. It’s …
  • A Lyrical Look At Grammy “Song Of The Year” Hopefuls
  • The 2017 Grammy Awards - the glitzy extravaganza honoring the best and brightest in the music industry—are Sunday night on CBS. Music is an emotional thing, and it can reach you in different ways. Sometimes it’s the music of the song, and sometimes the lyrics themselves speak to you. They might remind you of something happening in the here and now, and other times the …
  • Coordinating Between Independent and Dependent Clauses
  • You might have seen these terms floating around. Clauses are the building blocks of sentences. They’re groups of related words (phrases) that contain both a subject and a verb. When a clause can stand alone as a complete sentence with a clear meaning, it’s considered independent. If it only makes sense when you join it with another clause, it’s dependent (or subordinate). For example, “in …
  • Quiz Yourself: Affect vs. Effect
  • Get to know your cause and…consequences. We get a lot of lookups every day for these homophones. To make a long story short, one is a (usually) a verb, and the other is (usually) a noun. Do you remember which is which? Test your skills! Need a refresher? Read the article on affect vs. effect here.
  • 3 Action-Packed Types of Verbs
  • Verbs do a lot of things. There are 3 types of verbs: verbs of being, linking verbs, and action verbs. Most verbs are either action or linking verbs, depending how they’re used in a sentence. Verbs of Being Verbs of being demonstrate a state of existence. Yes, your yoga teacher was right: you can just be. The major verbs of being are to be and …
  • Its vs. It’s
  • One confusing pair of words to write out is its and it’s. Its is a possessive form of it, meaning belonging to it. It’s is a contraction of the words it is or it has. To figure out which is correct for your sentence, just swap in “it is” and then “it has“. If the sentence makes sense with either of those substitutions, use it’s. If the resulting …
  • What’s In A Name: 18 Popular Brands
  • Number two in our miniseries of “What’s In A Name” deals with popular brand names and their etymology. While some names are easy to figure out—Ford cars are named after Henry Ford—other brand name origins are a bit more complex, or in some cases, convoluted. Nike Nike refers to the Greek winged goddess of victory as well as a tactical missile of the 1940s. As …
  • How Long Should My Paragraph Be?
  • There isn’t really a required number of sentences to make a paragraph, but there are some guidelines you might want to consider. A typical paragraph consists of 3 to 6 sentences. Paragraphs are meant to express a central idea. They can be made of any number of sentences as long as they meet the structural requirements. The basic structure of a paragraph has three parts: …
  • 5 Types of Nouns that You Use All the Time
  • Nouns come in a lot of different shapes and sizes. The major ones are common nouns, proper nouns, abstract nouns, possessive nouns, and collective nouns. A noun is a person, place, or thing. The category of thingsmay sound super vague, but in this case it means inanimate objects, abstract concepts, and activities. Phrases and other parts of speech can also behave like nouns, and be …
  • 10 Different Ways To Say You’re Speechless
  • We’ve all been there. You’re on a roll with some spontaneous train of thought, then the train gets derailed. “After London, we left for Paris and were held up at Heathrow because of a problem with the plane’s … er, uh…oh, what was that thingy—?” Your hard drive brain freezes, and it’s not because of a milk shake. The right word simply escapes you; your …
  • I vs. Me
  • Is it “my friends and I,” or “my friends and me?” I is a subject pronoun, and me is an object pronoun. This means I can be used as the subject of a sentence, and me can only be used as the object of one. I can perform an action, while me can only have actions performed upon it. Subject vs. Object Pronouns A subject …
  • Word of the Day Quiz: Feb 26-Mar 4
  • Your weekly hydra has arrived. Do you consider yourself a lotus-eater? Or are you not quite sure if that’s insulting? The Word of the Day quiz is ready for you, either way. And when you’re done, don’t forget to tell us what word was your favorite this week!
  • Gettin’ Short and Sweet with Apostrophes
  • An apostrophe (’) can show possession or indicate that letters or numbers have been omitted. They can also indicate ownership. Possessive Nouns When a singular noun doesn’t end in S, you just need to add an apostrophe and an S to make it possessive. Examples include “the boy’s bike,” “the dog’s leash,” and “Bob’s house.” If a singular noun does end in S, you should …
  • The Language Of The 1980s: Like, Bag Your Face
  • The decade of the 1980s will forever be remembered for the way it looked and sounded. On the visual end, you had the explosion of color on networks like MTV and shows like Miami Vice. With MTV, you didn’t need to have a great song, you just needed to have a flashy, catchy video. With Miami Vice, it was all about the pastels and art …
  • In The Huddle, They Speak A Different Language
  • With the Super Bowl coming up this Sunday, it’s a good time to take a look at the language of the sport of professional football. Whether you’re referring to words used for penalties such as offside and clipping or actual play calling (which is truly arcane), football has a language all its own. With that in mind, here’s a list of curious football terminology. On …
  • Stand Apart from the Crowd (with Parentheses)
  • Parentheses offset text that isn’t important to the meaning of a sentence. Things like extra information, clarifications, asides, or citations. The information inside the parentheses can be as short as a number or a word, or it can be as long as a few sentences. Parentheses always appear in pairs. They’re often used where commas would also be appropriate. Clarifying and Adding Extra A sentence …
  • Time For The Doggone Puppy Bowl
  • There are two big games being played on Super Sunday, February 5. For football fans, there’s the Falcons and the Patriots. And for puppy fans, Animal Planet presents Puppy Bowl XIII. Team Ruff tangles with Team Fluff for all the marbles. Or all the dog bones. Many dog references have made their way into everyday speech. For example, when it seems as though everyone is …
  • Active vs. Passive Voice: Hear and Be Heard
  • First, a quick overview, in case all you need is a reminder: In active voice, the subject performs the action of the verb. In passive voice, the subject receives the action of the verb. If you feel like you need a little more than that, keep reading. Passive Voice The subject of a sentence is the person or thing that sentence is about. You can …
  • Irregular Plural Nouns: People Change, but Aircraft Don’t
  • Irregular plural nouns are nouns that become plural in a way other than adding -s or -es to the end. It can be tough to remember which nouns are irregular, but here are a few guidelines for how to handle the ones that are. Regular Nouns First off, a noun is a person, place, or thing. Nouns are singular when they represent one item and …
  • Custom-Made Descriptions with Hyphens
  • The shortest of the dashes, hyphens (-) link words and parts of words. They can connect prefixes or break up a word at the end of a line of text. They can also combine two or more words that describe a noun. For example, in George Orwell’s 1984, hyphenated words help create unusual descriptive phrases: “He felt deeply drawn to him, and not solely because …
  • En Dashes from A-Z
  • You don’t hear as much about them as other dashes, but you’ve most likely seen them around. En dashes (-) can denote a range or connect the endpoints of a route. They can also show a contrast or connection between two words. You can use them to replace the words to, and, or versus. An en dash is longer than a hyphen (-) and shorter …
  • The Joining and Separating Power of the Em Dash
  • Few punctuation marks are as divisive as the em dash. Used in place of commas, parentheses, or colons, the em dash (—) sets off a word or clause with added emphasis. It’s the longest of the dashes, and it signals a disruption in the sentence’s flow. For example, F. Scott Fitzgerald uses one in The Great Gatsby to show an interruption in train of thought: …
  • Don’t Leave Us Dangling, Modifier!
  • When you see a phrase in a sentence, and you can’t be sure which word it’s referring to, chances are it’s a dangling modifier. Having nothing to modify, the phrase just “dangles” without purpose (hence its name). Modifiers usually apply to the nearest noun to them. When writers leave out the noun or noun phrase they intend to modify, the modifier may appear to refer …
  • Wish You Were Here, Subjunctive Mood!
  • The subjunctive mood is a way of talking about unreal or conditional situations. You can also use it to describe desires, wishes, needs, or intentions. You’ll often see it as the format for idioms and expressions. Unreal Situations The most common use of the subjunctive mood to express imaginary or hypothetical situations. It’s often used in if clauses. To show the subjunctive mood, you should …
  • Coming Home for the Lunar New Year
  • The Lunar New Year is one of the biggest holidays in East Asia. Because it’s based on the Chinese lunisolar calendar, we tend to call it Chinese New Year here in the West. For millions of Asian Americans, this is a time to gather with family, start the year off right, and eat a lot of delicious food. Like, a lot. You may have seen …
  • Gung Hei Fat Choi: Welcome To The Year Of The Rooster
  • In the United States, New Year’s Day is always celebrated on January 1. The Lunar New Year, however, falls on different dates every year. This year, it’s on Saturday, January 28. According to the Chinese Zodiac, 2017 will be Year of the Rooster. Curious about the zodiac? Let’s take a look at some fun facts. New Year: New Animal The Chinese Zodiac is made up …
  • She Turned The World On With Her Smile: A Farewell To Mary Tyler Moore
  • Mary Tyler Moore passed away today at the age of 80 due to complications related to diabetes. She had been in poor health for some time. Moore first burst into America’s collective pop culture consciousness in the 1960s with her winsome portrayal of Laura Petrie on The Dick Van Dyke Show. She then rose to superstardom on the eponymous Mary Tyler Moore Show—which saw additional …
  • Super 6: The Major Punctuation Marks
  • You’ve definitely seen them around, but do you know how they’re supposed to be used? The major punctuation marks are the period, comma, exclamation point, question mark, semicolon, and colon. These marks organize sentences and give them structure. The Period A period (.) ends a sentence. It comes immediately after the last letter of a sentence, and there only needs to be one space between …
  • Word of the Day Quiz: Feb 19-25
  • Avoid dudgeon, study up and take the quiz! Can you beat your score from last week? Whether your goal is getting all 7 right or just 1, your opinion on this week’s words will be ungraded. Be sure to share your opinion below, after you’ve aced the quiz.    ..
  • It’s Time to Talk About Infinitives
  • An infinitive is the most basic form of a verb. You’ll usually see it with the word to, as in to eat or to think. An infinitive phrase is an infinitive plus complements and modifiers. To eat vegetables daily and to think about a solution are infinitive phrases. While infinitives themselves are verbs, infinitive phrases can be used as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs. Adverbial Infinitives …
  • What’s In A Name: Tech Talk
  • In the modern world we occupy, tech company names like Google, Yahoo, Amazon, eBay and others are a part of our daily life and conversations. Some of them, like Google, become synonymous with the act itself. If you need to search something, you “just Google it,” which is much like what happened to Xerox when copiers came into vogue. Have you ever stopped to consider where …
  • The Upcoming “Star Wars” Film Now Has A Name
  • The latest installment (Episode VIII) of the Star Wars series now has a name. The follow-up to 2016’s The Force Awakens will be titled The Last Jedi. Star Wars fans and even non-fans are quite familiar with the name Jedi: “a person who claims to live according to a philosophy based on that of the fictional Jedi, a caste of wizards in the Star Wars series …
  • Poetic Foot vs. Meter
  • Poetry has a lot of moving parts. If you’re reading this, chances are you’re starting to explore poetic analysis. Poetic foot and meter are a great place to start. Once you have these basics down, the rest becomes a lot easier. A poetic foot is a unit of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry. Poetic meter refers to the number of feet …
  • The Roman Numeral Bowl: Are You Ready For Some Football?
  • Sunday, February 5 is the date for the latest and greatest Super Bowl, to be played at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. The Atlanta Falcons and the New England Patriots will battle for the National Football League title, with one of the winning players ending up at a parade in Orlando the next day. The Super Bowl is without a doubt one of the biggest …
  • Glögg Is A Great Word (And A Potent Winter Drink)
  • Old Man Winter has his clutches firmly on us in the United States and in other parts of the world. After a long day, there’s nothing better than kicking back on the sofa with a warm drink while the snow falls (and then falls some more, and some more). Looking for something new to add to your hot drink repertoire? Here are some warm and …
  • The Other Kind of Apostrophe
  • When you hear apostrophe, you probably think of this ’, right? Today, we’re talking about the literary device, which is completely different. A literary apostrophe is when a speaker addresses an absent party as if they were present. Literary apostrophes are great for conveying emotion. They allow the speaker more expression and offer a better view of the their inner thoughts and feelings. In Greek, …
  • Dictionary.com Tongue Twister Challenge Kickoff
  • What does the dictionary do for fun? Challenges you to a tongue twister duel, of course! Get in on the action on Twitter!    
  • Creating Rhythm and Balance with Parallelisms
  • When writers use very similar wording across several sentences or lines of poetry, it’s known as parallel sentence structure. Doing this creates rhythm and balance. Parallel sentence structures are also known as parallelisms. Simple parallelisms may be as short as words or phrases. More complex ones may combine entire clauses or sentences. Parallel sentence structures can highlight aspects of stories and poems in many ways. …
  • Speech Spikes: Trump’s Inauguration Address
  • Donald Trump took the oath of office on Friday, January 20th and officially became the 45th President of the United States of America. Everyone has an opinion on the word choices and speaking styles of politicians, and speeches from world leaders often cause words to spike in lookups on Dictionary.com. Inauguration and inaugurate (to induct into office with formal ceremonies; to install) were the top lookups throughout …
  • Try Tongue Twisters Today!
  • Try saying this out loud: “Does this shop stock short socks with spots?” Not so easy? That’s because it’s a tongue twister. Tongue twisters are fun verbal exercises full of words that rhyme or sound similar. People will usually try to say them quickly, several times in a row without making any mistakes. Why They Work There are plenty of well-known tongue twisters. One of …
  • A Full (White) House Of Acronyms
  • In today’s 140-word character challenged powered world, abbreviations and assorted acronyms are more prevalent than ever. The most powerful of these acronyms might well reside at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, otherwise known as the White House—home to POTUS (President of the United States) and FLOTUS (First Lady of the United States). In that POTUS definition, note that only the upper-case version applies to the nation’s Chief …
  • All About Prepositional Phrases
  • Prepositional phrases are the kinds of things you use all the time without thinking about them. They’re groups of words that begin with a preposition and end with an object. Prepositions are words like about, across, after, for, and in. You’ll see them in simple prepositional phrases, like about zebras, after school, and with friends. Objects of Prepositions When we say object, we mean the …
  • End of an Era: Word Lookups From Obama’s Farewell Speech
  • President Barack Obama’s second and final term is at an end. He gave his farewell speech Tuesday January 10 in Chicago, the city that launched his rise to national prominence. Word choices and speech patterns of our world leaders are a constant source of discussion (and comedy skits), as every administration has a style and at least one tic. Long known as an effective public …
  • Word of the Day Quiz Feb 12-18
  • And the calliopean crowd goes wild! Another seven days gone, another seven words that you’ve studied, glanced at, or straight up neglected. Whatever level of ready you are, it’s time take this week’s quiz. How many can you get correct? And after you’re done with the quiz, don’t forget to tell us which one was your favorite.    
  • 4 Ways to Structure Your Sentences
  • The four types of sentence structures are simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex. The quantity and arrangement of clauses determines the makeup of each type of sentence structure. A clause is a grouping of words with both a subject and a verb that can (but doesn’t always) form a sentence. If the clause can form a complete thought on its own, it’s considered an independent clause. …
  • Foodies! Put Down That Fork And Take This Quiz!
  • Is anybody hungry out there? We all call food different things in different places. In other words, one man’s soda is another man’s tonic. It’s called regionalism, a speech form, expression, custom, or other feature peculiar to or characteristic of a particular area. There are food items with unique names that are particular to a certain part of the country, too—can you guess where they’re …
  • Time for A Presidents’ Day Quiz!
  • Hail to the Chief There are 45 individuals who have held the title of president, and as you might expect, there’s a lot of trivia associated with the nation’s Chief Executive. For example, did you know that Grover Cleveland answered the White House telephone? Can you imagine that happening today? “Hello, Donald Trump speaking.” After you recover from that thought, take our quiz (that question’s …
  • Alumni vs. Alumnus
  • Do you know if you’re an alumnus or an alumni? Alumni actually is the plural form of alumnus, a Latin word that means a graduate or former student of an educational institution. Although alumnus usually refers to academics, it can also mean a former employee, associate, or member of any organized group. Alumni refers to more than one alumnus (think of a graduating class). The …
  • The Oath Of Office: Thirty-Five Words That Can Change History
  • Like clockwork, we hear the presidential oath of office every four years. Thirty-five words that basically give the incoming Chief Executive the keys to the proverbial car. And the nuclear launch codes. The National Museum of American History says that Article 2, Section 1 of the Constitution “requires that before presidents can assume their duties they must take the oath of office.” Once the incoming …
  • 5 Relative Pronouns That You Use Every Day
  • Spoilers: We’ll be diving into who vs. whom in this one! The first thing we should mention is that relative pronouns introduce relative clauses. A relative clause is a type of dependent clause (a clause that can’t stand by itself as a complete sentence). It adds extra information to a sentence. The five relative pronouns are who, whom, whose, which, and that. Who vs. Whom …
  • Comparative Adjectives Just Keep Getting Better
  • Let’s say you want to describe a noun (a person, place, or thing). You can use an adjective, as in “Jane’s hair is long,” but what if you want to describe the way Jane’s hair compares with Natalie’s? That’s where comparative adjectives come in. Comparative adjectives highlight the differences between two nouns. They let you say things like “Jane’s hair is longer than Natalie’s hair.” …
  • Will You Be Our Valentine?
  • Calling All Cupids! Valentine’s Day is more than just a box o’ chocolates. There’s a lot of hidden history to this red-letter day. Take our Valentine’s Day quiz, and expand your knowledge of this heart-filled holiday. Need to know more? Read about the many histories of Valentine’s Day.
  • 5 Types of Lexical Verbs Bursting Onto the Scene
  • Lexical verbs are the main verbs (or action words) in a sentence. They can show the subject’s action or express a state of being. They fall into several categories: transitive, intransitive, linking, dynamic, and static. Transitive and Intransitive Verbs A transitive verb expresses action, and needs a direct object to receive that action. “Alice sees the candle,” is an example. Sees is the lexical verb …
  • Can You Name the 3 Types of Adjectives?
  • For starters, Adjectives are words that describe nouns or pronouns. They answer questions like what kind, how many, and which one? The three main types of adjectives are descriptive adjectives, quantitative adjectives, and demonstrative adjectives. Descriptive Adjectives Descriptive adjectives describe the characteristics of a noun. They can tell you about a noun’s size, color, shape, taste, and more. Some examples are small, red, round, friendly, …
  • Is “Supposably” a Real Word?
  • What does it mean? Supposably means capable of being supposed. In other words, it describes something that’s capable of happening. Though supposably is a valid word, it can be tricky to use in a sentence, and isn’t often used in modern speech. Contemporary writers are more likely to use its synonym, conceivably. Supposably is frequently confused with the similar-sounding word supposedly. The main difference is …
  • Friday the 13th Fears
  • Can you turn to the person next to you, look them in the eye, and honestly say that you’ve never felt even a slight pang of concern when waking up on the morning of Friday the 13th? No? You’re not alone. Maybe it’s triskaidekaphobia, the fear of the number thirteen, that gets you down. But if thirteens don’t bother you unless it’s Friday, you might be …
  • Word of the Day Quiz: Feb 5-11
  • It’s going to be a bonzer day …we can feel it. So get those brainwaves jumping and take this week’s Word of the Day quiz!
  • My Apology vs. My Apologies
  • If you need to say you’re sorry, it helps to know whether you’re sending your apology or apologies.The phrase my apologies is an idiom, while the phrase my apology literally means my act of apologizing. As an idiom, my apologies means excuses or regrets. This phrase is a way of saying you’re sorry. The phrase my apology is not an idiom. It only has a …
  • Anyway, Anyways, and Any Way
  • Which word is it, anyway? Anyway is a common adverb used to mean in any case, while any way is an adjective-noun pair that means whichever path. Anyways is the very informal form of anyway. It never appears in formal writing, and its only real use is to simulate the spoken word in lines of dialogue. Anyway Anyway, used as an adverb, suggests a disregard …
  • Sometime, Sometimes, and Some Time
  • While they appear very similar, sometime, sometimes, and some time have slightly different meanings. Sometime means a vague point in time, and usually refers to a long amount of time. Sometimes means occasionally. Some time refers to a period of time. Sometime Sometime refers to an unspecified point in time. It functions as an adverb, and is also synonymous with someday, one day, or sooner …
  • Stupider vs. More Stupid
  • It turns out stupider is an actual word. Stupider and more stupid are both comparative forms of the adjective stupid. They can be used interchangeably. In the English language, stupid is one of just a few adjectives that have two grammatically correct options for their comparative form. The superlative forms of stupid are stupidest and most stupid. Stupid The word stupid is an adjective (a …
  • Amidst vs. Amid
  • Amid and amidst sound so similar it can be easy to confuse them. They’re prepositions that both mean in the middle of or surrounded by. A preposition is a word that describes the relationship between two things in a sentence. The two words are interchangeable. Usage Grammatically, there’s no difference between the words amid and amidst. The primary distinction lies in when and where people …
  • Let’s talk about your resolutions.
  • Hey there. You know what tomorrow is? We’re about to finish the very first week of 2017. Unbelievable, isn’t it? Just seven days ago you were counting down to midnight, ready to take on the new year. By now, the confetti’s been (mostly) swept up. The party hats are boxed away, and the champagne glasses are washed and rolled up in tissue. There might be …
  • Assume vs. Presume
  • The words assume and presume both mean that you take something for granted as being true, but the difference is based on how certain you are. Assume is typically used in situations where someone takes something as the truth with a very low level of certainty or with no proof at all. Presume usually involves a higher level of certainty and is used in situations …
  • Nauseated vs. Nauseous
  • The word nauseated means to be affected with nausea or to feel sick to your stomach. Nauseous describes something that causes a feeling of nausea. These words have the same root word, nausea, a Latin word that refers specifically to seasickness. Nauseous and nauseated originally had different definitions. In current common usage, though, the words have evolved to become practically interchangeable. Nauseous The word nauseous …
  • Word of the Day Quiz: Jan 29-Feb 4
  • There’s no need for an equivoque …just dive right in and see if you can ace this week’s quiz!
  • Why Is It Called a Blockbuster?
  • Do you consider yourself a movie buff? The 74th Golden Globe awards aired on January 8, and the nominations for Best Drama, Best Musical or Comedy, and Best Animated Film got us thinking—is Deadpool a drama or a comedy? And on that note, why do we often call superhero movies and summertime smash hits “blockbusters“? The linguistic origins of the blockbuster are fittingly militaristic, since …
  • Hyperbole vs. Hype
  • Are you excited? We are. Hyperbole is a literary device that relies on exaggeration, while hype is a word associated with excitement and publicity. Hyperbole Hyperbole is extreme exaggeration. It’s not meant to be taken literally. Writers use hyperbole to create imagery, emphasize feelings, or provide insight about a character. Hyperbole appears in novels, songs, poems, and daily speech. The song “1,000 Miles” by Vanessa …
  • Ace This ’80s Lingo
  • Hey dudes and dudettes! Whether you experienced the 1980s first-hand or only know about the decade through the miracles of online search, you can prove just how rad you are by totally taking our ’80s lingo quiz! Can’t get enough? There’s a lot more ’80s lingo to learn.
  • Hyper vs. Hypo
  • Let’s start from the top: Hyper- is a prefix that means excess or exaggeration, while hypo- is another prefix that means under or beneath. Both hyper and hypo are usually used as prefixes, which are elements or partial words added to the beginning of a base word to modify its meaning. Hyper is derived from the Greek word for over, and hypo is a Greek …
  • Former vs. Latter
  • First thing’s first: Former and latter are both terms that denote an item’s place in a two-part sequence. They usually appear in the sentence immediately following the sequence. Former refers back to the first of a set, while latter refers to the last item. An easy way to remember the difference is to recall that both former and first begin with an F, while both …
  • Quiz Yourself: Lights, (Camera Emoji), Action!
  • Let’s all go to the lobby! Award season brings out the movie lovers in all of us. Whether you go to all of the midnight premiers or just watch for the red carpet fashion, you probably have an Oscar favorite or two this year. Even though we all know better than to text in the theater, we couldn’t resist writing some of our favorite movie …



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    Lexical Investigations: Balaclava
    A motley combination of Anglo-Saxon, Latin, and Germanic dialects, the English language (more or less as we know it) coalesced between the 9th and 13th centuries. Since then, it has continued to import and borrow words and expressions from around the world, and the meanings have mutated. (Awesome and awful once meant nearly the same thing.) CONTINUE READING »

    When the language of life meets the language of literature: encoding Shakespeare into DNA
    From the birth of the sign to the development of new words, we’ve investigated many facets of our living language here at the Hot Word, but rarely do we have the opportunity to look at the language of life itself—DNA. As you might remember from 7th-grade science, DNA stands for deoxyribonucleic acid, the molecular structure that stores the genetic code for all life forms. CONTINUE READING »

    Lexical Investigations: Mazel Tov
    A motley combination of Anglo-Saxon, Latin, and Germanic dialects, the English language (more or less as we know it) coalesced between the 9th and 13th centuries. Since then, it has continued to import and borrow words and expressions from around the world, and the meanings have mutated. (Awesome and awful once meant nearly the same thing.) CONTINUE READING »

    How do you say “basketball” in Latin? And what does it have to do with the retiring pope?
    News of Pope Benedict XVI’s retirement has brought the Latin language to the front and center of minds worldwide. For one thing, the Pope announced his retirement in Latin. Giovanna Chirri, an Italian journalist assigned to the Vatican beat, was able to break the story before her peers thanks to her knowledge of the dead language. CONTINUE READING »

    Lexical Investigations: Holistic
    A motley combination of Anglo-Saxon, Latin, and Germanic dialects, the English language (more or less as we know it) coalesced between the 9th and 13th centuries. Since then, it has continued to import and borrow words and expressions from around the world, and the meanings have mutated. CONTINUE READING »

    The Value of Signs: Saussure’s rebuttal
    We’ve reached the final installment of our series on Ferdinand de Saussure and the scintillating study of semiology. In our last post we left our friend Saussure in a rather unflattering light, when we explored the first scientific evidence against his hypothesis: that the relationship between the sign (a word) and the signified (the concept a word represents) might not be as arbitrary as Saussure posited. CONTINUE READING »

    Are Scrabble tile values in need of an overhaul?
    Invented by out-of-work architect Alfred Butts during the Great Depression, Scrabble is a staple of word lovers’ lives. The popularity of this beloved game took off in the mid-1950s and has been an essential part of the canon of classic board games ever since.

    Lexical Investigations: Art
    A motley combination of Anglo-Saxon, Latin, and Germanic dialects, the English language (more or less as we know it) coalesced between the 9th and 13th centuries. Since then, it has continued to import and borrow words and expressions from around the world, and the meanings have mutated. (Awesome and awful once meant nearly the same thing.)CONTINUE READING »

    When dictionaries are a matter of life or death…
    Two recent events have raised the complicated question of whether or not dictionaries belong in courtrooms. A murder trial in Virginia was disrupted because the jurors illicitly consulted two dictionaries and a thesaurus. (The defense is currently seeking a mistrial.) And even on the Supreme Court it seems dictionaries are being misused. CONTINUE READING »

    Baltimore Ravens: The only football team named after a poem!
    A lot of football teams are named after birds (e.g., the Philadelphia Eagles, the Atlanta Falcons), but of all our feathered mascots only one comes from a poem: The Baltimore Ravens.


    (E?)(L?) http://hotword.dictionary.com/2013/01/

    Why is the San Francisco football team called the 49ers?
    When the California Gold Rush began in 1848, American football didn’t exist. But those aggressive gold miners would give their nickname to a football team one hundred years later.
    Gold was first found in Northern California in January 1848, and it took about a year for the news to travel and inspire thousands of fortune seekers to head west. CONTINUE READING »

    Lexical Investigations: Appendix
    A motley combination of Anglo-Saxon, Latin, and Germanic dialects, the English language (more or less as we know it) coalesced between the 9th and 13th centuries. Since then, it has continued to import and borrow words and expressions from around the world, and the meanings have mutated. (Awesome and awful once meant nearly the same thing.) CONTINUE READING »

    Was Saussure wrong?
    Welcome to the second installment in our series on Ferdinand de Saussure and the linguistic science of semiology. Now where were we?
    In the last post we discussed Saussure’s theory of the “sign” as a combination of the “signified” (the concept represented by a word) and the “signifier” (the spoken or written word doing the representing). CONTINUE READING »

    Where do words come from? Do they really mean anything?
    How do we use language? We use it to express ourselves through speech, to record our experiences or to invent and tell stories in writing. But before all that begins, before a word leaves our lips or a pen hits the page, we use language in our heads. This code we share is more than a “simple naming process.” It’s the means by which we form our thoughts and interpret the world around us. CONTINUE READING »

    The words you want to banish in 2013
    Last week, we discussed the Worst Words of 2012. We were originally inspired by past lists from Lake Superior State University in Michigan. Every year they compile words that were misused, overused, and abused, and this week they released their list for 2013, which included some choice words that we had overlooked: CONTINUE READING »


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    12.10.2012