85: Snu Mar 3, 2015
Certain sounds can have connotations dating back to the
Proto-Indo-European language. For example, the Proto-Indo-European word
for 'nose' was 'snu'. That is why certain words relating to nose, snot,
sneeze, snout &c. have that similar sound. Even invented words such
as 'snuffleupagus' are examples of this connotation to the sounds.
84: yankng one's chain Mar 2, 2015
The idiom "yanking my chain" began with miners. Because washroom
facilities are difficult to set up in 19th century mines, there would be
a cart with a toilet seat on it that would move along the rails built
for mine trolleys. As one would not want a bathroom to be moving while
in use, miners would keep small chains to put in front of the wheels to
keep them from turning. A common prank among miner-folk was to pull the
chain out and allow the toilet carts to roll, with a person on it,
through a mine.
83: Double Consonants Mar 1, 2015
Some words that are homonyms have different spellings for nouns, namely
having an otherwise unnecessary double-consonant, such as 'inn' and
'butt'. These two words originate from Old English, where nouns are
declined, and this changed the spelling.
82: Geek Feb 28, 2015
The word 'geek' is defined in the Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's
English Dictionary, copyright 2008 as "a person who is socially awkward
and unpopular: a usually intelligent person who does not fit in with
other people", and the Oxford English Dictionary online defines the word
as, "an overly diligent, unsociable student; any unsociable person
obsessively devoted to a particular pursuit". Due to the popularization
caused by the reclaiming of the word relatively recently, it is a word
now said with pride, and will no doubt have a varied definition in
coming years.
81: strawberry Feb 27, 2015
Happy National Strawberry Day. The word 'strawberry' comes from Old
English, 'strēowberige'. There is no corresponding compound in other
Germanic languages. What might explain this is that a cognate Old
English name was eorðberge, which means, "earth-berry", note that the
modern German word is 'erdbeere'. The reason for the 'straw-' part of
the name is uncertain, though there are a few different theories. Many
believe it is in reference to the tiny chaff-like external seeds which
cover the fruit. Others believe that it is based on the straw that would
be lain out atop strawberry patches.
80: Itch and Scratch Feb 26, 2015
Hello all, the difference between 'scratch' and 'itch' is too often
confused. Both are nouns and verbs. A scratch may itch, and one can
scratch an itch. Many people wrongly say, "I itched my itch". The reason
this is incorrect it that 'itch' is not a reflexive verb. To remember,
just think:
You can't itch yourself but you can yourself itch.
You can't itch yourself but you can yourself itch.
79: hogwash Feb 25, 2015
Hello everyone, the word 'hogwash, unlike 'malarkey' (see Word Facts January 30, 2015) is fairly old, having been created in the 1500's. The word
is derived from the words 'hog' and 'wash', but the word has never
connoted the washing of pigs. Rather, it refers to the scraps of food
that would be fed to pigs.
78: vintage Feb 24, 2015
The adjective, 'vintage' is thrown around a lot. Some thrift stores and
second hand stores will display near worthless items as 'vintage'.
People even use it to describe things such as clothes and other items
that were freshly made, depending on its style. The word is defined in
the dictionary as, "denoting something of high quality, esp. something
from the past". The way that some people use the word today, however,
could mean that in a little while, the definition may change.
77: baroque Feb 23, 2015
There are constantly new changes in styles of music and art. Some will
be seen by people as revolutionary, and some, revolting. Baroque style
art and music is seen to be fairly elegant, but it was not always this
way. That style, in the 17th century, was quite shocking for many. For
this reason, the word, 'baroque' means 'contorted' or 'grotesque'.
76: Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Feb 22, 2015
Many of you may have heard the sentence, "Buffalo buffalo buffalo
buffalo buffalo". This same thing type of repetitious sentence can
happen with words that exist as a noun, a verb, and an adjective. For
example, the sentence, "right rights right right rights" is a fine
sentence, and means something different to "right rights right rights".
The difference between the first two sentences is that the first one has a plural subject, and in this case, the plural, 'rights' usually refers to a moral or legal entitlement. If this definition is used in the singular, it must have an article. The subject of the second sentence is singular, and has no article. That means the second sentence's 'right' would have a definition of "that which is morally correct".
The difference between the first two sentences is that the first one has a plural subject, and in this case, the plural, 'rights' usually refers to a moral or legal entitlement. If this definition is used in the singular, it must have an article. The subject of the second sentence is singular, and has no article. That means the second sentence's 'right' would have a definition of "that which is morally correct".
75: Relish Feb 21, 2015
The word 'relish' is more commonly used in the sense of a condiment one
puts on hotdogs and such, rather than its other meanings, but that does
in no way mean they aren't in use. 'Relish' connotes great enjoyment,
and this meaning of the word be used as a noun and a verb. This means
that the sentence, "I relish relish with relish", however redundant,
makes sense.
74: viking Feb 20, 2015
Hello
everyone, today's word is 'viking'. The origin of this word is slightly
debated. Some etymologists believe it originated from Old Norse by the
word 'víkingr', from the word 'vík' which means ‘creek’. Others claim
the word comes from the Old English word, 'wīc', meaning 'camp' or
'dwelling place'.
73: procrastinate Feb 19, 2015
Hello everyone, today's word is something very close to all of our
hearts. The word, 'procrastinate' comes from the Latin, 'cras', which
translates to 'tomorrow', for if one procrastinates, one will be putting
it off until the future.
72: battery Feb 18, 2015
Hello everyone, today is Alessandro Volta's 270th birthday. He is
credited for creating the first electric battery. The word 'battery'
comes from Latin the 'battuere'. The original sense was metal, and metal
products being wrought and warped by hammering. Later the connotation
changed to mean, "a number of pieces of artillery used together". This
was where the sense of Leyden jars connected such that they would
discharge simultaneously, thus operating as an electric battery, came
from.
His name, in addition, is where the word 'volt' comes from.
His name, in addition, is where the word 'volt' comes from.
71: cabbage Feb 17, 2015
Happy
National Cabbage Day. The word 'cabbage' came to English with the
Normans from the Old French 'caboche' which meant ‘head,’ a variant of
Old French 'caboce'.
70: inaugurate Feb 16, 2015
Hello everyone, and happy President's Day. The word today is
'inaugurate'. It comes from the Latin, 'inaugurat-', which means
‘interpreted as omens', particularly based on the flight of birds, which
was used as a signal for many things, both human and in superstitious
instances.
69: conference Feb 15, 2015
Hello everyone, today's word is 'conference'. It comes from the Latin
compound word, 'conferre', which comes from 'con', meaning ‘together’
and 'ferre' which means ‘bring’. Combined, not surprisingly, 'conferre'
means ‘bring together’.
68: chocolate Feb 14, 2015
Happy Valentine's Day everyone. Today's word is 'chocolate'. Some of you
may have noticed and wondered why the word for chocolate in many
European languages is similar. The reason is that at the time when
Europeans had come upon chocolate, global trade was not only possible,
but common and easily done. This is why many languages do not have
vastly different words for especially modern technologies, with some
exceptions (such as the French word for computer, 'ordinateur'). When
chocolate was brought back from the Americas, Europeans kept a similar
word to the Nahuatl [Aztec] word 'chocolatl'.
67: desperation Feb 13, 2015
Happy Friday the 13th, and unhappy desperation day everyone. The word
despair came to English from the verb out of Old French 'desperer',
which comes from Latin desperare, from 'de-', meaning ‘down from’ +
'sperare' which means ‘to hope'. This 'down from' indicates a lacking
of, and in this case what is being lacked, is hope.
66: casino Feb 12, 2015
We spend much of our lives in our homes, and unfortunately, gambling
addicts spend a lot of their time in casinos. The word 'casino' comes
from the Latin 'casa' meaning 'house'.