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Word History

The History of 'Cynic'

How an ancient philosophical movement devoted to the pursuit of virtue came to describe eye-rolling criticism.


How an ancient philosophical movement devoted to the pursuit of virtue came to describe eye-rolling criticism.

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play video cynic
The History of 'Cynic'

 

How an ancient philosophical movement devoted to the pursuit of virtue came to describe eye-rolling criticism.

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Hot Mess

 

Our research turned up two archaic literal meanings

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Why is there a 'd' in 'fridge' but not in 'refrigerator'?

 

Thawing one of the mysteries of English

play is none singular or plural video
Is 'none' singular or plural?

 

Or both? Or neither?

play video his or her
Is singular 'they' a better choice?

 

The awkward case of 'his or her'

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The True Story of the Backward Index

 

These people needed a computer