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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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Video: Why is there a 'c' in 'indict'?

 

And who put it there, anyway?

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What is a malaprop?

 

We'll tell you all the perpendiculars

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Hot Mess

 

Our research turned up two archaic literal meanings

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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What Is 'Semantic Bleaching'?

 

How 'literally' can mean "figuratively"

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

 

The awkward case of 'his or her'