Etymology
MERCHANT PROJECTION
The Mercator projection is a cylindrical map projection often criticized for distorting landmasses near the poles but nevertheless frequently used in websites like Google Maps. It was created in 1569 by…
Your Trusted Source for Accurate and Timely Updates!
Popular News
Where Is Trump’s Plan To Cut Spending?
Former President Donald Trump was asked about the possibility of eliminating the federal income tax…
Is Krill Oil All It’s Hyped up to Be? Exploring the Benefits and Drawbacks
Krill oil, with its abundance of omega-3s and potent antioxidants, is gaining popularity as a…
Watch What You Say, or Think
A Scottish Law Restricts Activities Near Abortion Clinics In September, a new Scottish law was…
Are Elon Musk and Vladimir Putin Talking?
The billionaire has allegedly maintained consistent communication with the Russian president, raising further questions about…
Latest Etymology
The Grammarphobia Blog: When ‘like’ means ‘lack’
Q: Is it common in the South, specifically in Kentucky, for people to use “like” to mean “lack”? For example,…
CASSEROLE PAN
The term casserole was adopted in the early 1700s from French, where it denoted a "sauce pan." The suffix…
‘Words From Hell’ Emerges from the UnderWord, Exposing Etymology Horrors for All to See – Useless Etymology
Plus, 5 haunting etymology facts to celebrate the book’s Halloween release. Something wicked—and wordy—this way comes. Today, Oct. 31, 2023,…
SUBLIME LIMITS
The origin of the English word "limit" can be traced back to the Latin noun limes, meaning "path" or…
‘You had your will of me’
In James Joyce's "The Dead," the mention of "The Lass of Aughrim" raises questions about the use of the word…
The Grammarphobia Blog: How unnatural is ‘preternatural’?
Q: Why is the word “preternatural” so commonly used, especially in The New York Times? It seems to be more…
A Brief, Etymological History of Christmas Elves – Useless Etymology
In Old English, your average elf (or ælf or ylfe) belonged on the naughty list: They were malicious, imp-like creatures,…
Wanna look like a chumbolone?
Q: Have you encountered the term “chumbolone”? It’s new to me. I came across it on John Kass’s website. He…