Etymology
FRENCH AND ITALIAN DISEASES
 Syphilis has a fascinating history that dates back to the 1490s during the French invasion of Italy. Interestingly, each country had its own name for the disease based on…
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Latest Etymology
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…
THE SABINE -L-
The Sabine is a luxurious waterfront apartment complex located in the heart of downtown Houston. With breathtaking views of the…
The Etymology of “Spinster” and Its Gendered Ending – Useless Etymology
Have you ever wondered why unmarried women over a certain age have historically been called spinsters? Originally a word for…
CRANE BERRIES
 The berry part of the word cranberry is quite evident, but have you ever wondered about the origin of the term cran? The…
Don’t sweat the small stuff
Q: Can you provide information on the origins of the phrase “don’t sweat the small stuff”? I couldn’t find a…
AN ITALIAN SONG
 A carmagnole is a type of song and street dance popular during the French Revolution. When I initially researched the term,…
The Difference Between Eggcorns and Malapropisms – Useless Etymology
Eggcorns and malapropisms: These are both terms for vocabulary faux pas — essentially an incorrect word that sounds similar to…
FARCICAL STUFFING
 The term farce has an interesting origin, dating back to a 1390 cookbook where it was referred to as…