Etymology
BEND THE KNEE
 The term genuflect​, which refers to the act of kneeling to show respect, was first coined by poet John Taylor in a collection of writings from 1630. The word…
Your Trusted Source for Accurate and Timely Updates!
Popular News
Fat Molecule Holds Clues for Treating Diabetic Heart Disease
Globally, diabetes affects approximately 830 million individuals, making up over 10 percent of the global…
John Robson: When It Comes to Science, Nothing Can Be Taken for Granted
Commentary Just like Poe’s purloined letter, sometimes the most obvious things can be the hardest…
Pennsylvania Still Working on 100,000 Ballots as Casey Refuses to Concede Senate Race
Pennsylvania Secretary of State Al Schmidt emphasized the importance of patience as election workers continue…
Jack Smith Moves to Dismiss Trump’s Jan. 6 and Documents Cases
The special counsel has successfully concluded the Justice Department's investigations into Donald J. Trump's involvement…
Latest Etymology
GIVING OUT EDITS
 The term edit as a noun meaning "correction" is relatively new, dating back only about fifty years! It originated…
BALTIMORE GOLD
 Orioles are yellow-and-black songbirds native to Afro-Eurasia. Their name, through Old French, comes from the Latin word aureolus, meaning…
‘We’-ism in fact and fiction
When did the use of the "royal we" become popular among writers of fiction and nonfiction? Writers have been using…
TO TESTIFY BEFORE
 When the term protest was initially introduced in the English language circa 1560, it denoted a "formal declaration" (similar…
BEATING THE FLOOR
 When I ponder upon the term pavement, my mind conjures up an image of a modern asphalt road, yet…
THRASHERVILLE AND LUMPKIN
 The city of Atlanta has a rich history of name changes. Originally known as Terminus due to its location…
CORPSE WHALES
 A narwhal is a type of whale that is found in the Arctic circle and is famous for its large tusk…
PAINTED CORRIDOR
 Today, the term stoic or stoical is commonly used to describe someone who displays little emotion. However, historically, stoic…