Etymology
TEACHING DOCTORS
Have you ever wondered why individuals with non-medical degrees are referred to as doctors? This question sparked my curiosity and led me on a fascinating journey through history. The…
Your Trusted Source for Accurate and Timely Updates!
Popular News
Hurricane-Relief Camp in Western North Carolina Draws Volunteers From Around the Country
"Camp Unknown" is overseen by a local couple who witnessed an increase in citizen disaster…
Where Is Trump’s Plan To Cut Spending?
Former President Donald Trump was asked about the possibility of eliminating the federal income tax…
Texas Federal Judge Dismisses $847 Million Verdict Against Verizon for Patent Infringement
A federal judge in Texas has dismissed a previous $847 million verdict against Verizon alleging…
1 Person Killed and at Least 12 Wounded in Shooting at Oklahoma City Party
A tragic incident occurred at a party hosted at an event center in Oklahoma City,…
Latest Etymology
CAMP AROUND
The term beleaguer was first introduced into the English language in the 1580s, originally meaning "to surround with troops"…
6 Fancy Words for Sexy Things – Useless Etymology
In my upcoming book Words from Hell (Chambers 2023), I delve into a chapter dedicated to exploring the origins of…
SIGHT EVERYWHERE
Recently, I had the realization that the word panorama immediately meant "wide view" to me throughout elementary and middle…
The Grammarphobia Blog: The first exclamation point!
In a recent discussion, the topic of the increasing use of exclamation points was brought up. The origin of this…
JACKS AND POTS
The origin of the word jackpot can be traced back to the late nineteenth century, originating from various games that…
The Word “Outrage” Technically Doesn’t Include “Out” or “Rage” – Useless Etymology
Note: This is an excerpt from my forthcoming book Words from Hell: Unearthing the darkest secrets of English etymology (Chambers,…
A CURSORY GLANCE
Before the term "cursors" became synonymous with the moving indicators on our computer screens, it originally referred to a…
A tale of two suffixes
Question: Why did the noun/verb “impact” turn into an adjective by adding “-ful” instead of “-ive”? Answer: Both “impactive” and…