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Word History

Words of the Year: 1066

Why is pig meat called 'pork' and cow meat called 'beef?' Because English took on a big serving of French words following the Norman Conquest.


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play video title words of the year 1066
Words of the Year: 1066

 

English was never the same after the Norman Conquest

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How to Use a Dictionary

 

The best way to find information in the dictionary

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Sneaked vs. Snuck

 

How the irregular 'snuck' sneaked into the dictionary

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A Look at Uncommon Onomatopoeia

 

Some imitative words are more surprising than others

play there theyre their video
There, They're, Their

 

There, there. We'll sort it out.

play merriam-webster eggcorns title page
What Is an Eggcorn?

 

And how did it get that name?

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'Nip it in the butt' or 'Nip it in the bud'?

 

We're gonna stop you right there