Category Archives: language

Nine Words You Might Think Came from Science but Which Are Really from Science Fiction??

Jeff Prucher looks at words that come from science fiction. Continue reading

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Why Don’t We Know the Origin of the Word Ghetto?

Anatoly reviews possible origins of the word ‘ghetto.’ Continue reading

Posted in A-Featured, Change, Dictionaries, Italian, Lexicography, Oxford Etymologist, Reference, Uncategorized, etymology, ghetto, language, language change, origins, word, word origins | Leave a comment

Oxford’s Word Window: Week One

Think you are good with words? See if you know what the definition for this week’s “Word of the Week”. Continue reading

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Monthly Gleanings: January 2009: Part 2

Anatoly’s second installment of January gleanings. Continue reading

Posted in A-Featured, Americanisms, Change, Dictionaries, Internet, Internet language, Lexicography, Oxford Etymologist, Reference, Uncategorized, anatoly, anatoly liberman, buzzwords, disappearing, disappearing words, etmology, family, family names, language, language change, liberman, names, origins, separate, separate words, texting, word, word origins, words | Leave a comment

Helpmeet, Or Can Stillborn Words Prosper?

Anatoly Liberman looks at the story on the word “helpmeet.” Continue reading

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Jolly Yule

Anatoly’s post has seasonal cheer. Continue reading

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Best Sellers

Ammon Shea looks at best seller lists. Continue reading

Posted in A-Featured, Dictionaries, History, Lexicography, Media, Uncategorized, ammon shea, best sellers, book, language, library, oed | Leave a comment

Vilipendious Pig-dog! Balatronic Dastardling! Contemptibly Obscure Words

Mark Peters looks at the 263 words in the Oxford English Dictionary with contemptible in the definition. Continue reading

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Conundrum: A Cold Spoor Warmed Up

Anatoly looks at the possible origins of the word “conundrum”. Continue reading

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For The Love Of Language

Ammon Shea wonders about our fear of reference books. Continue reading

Posted in A-Featured, Dictionaries, Lexicography, Reading The OED, Uncategorized, ammon shea, dictionary, language, oed, reference books | Leave a comment