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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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Sneaked vs. Snuck

 

How the irregular 'snuck' sneaked into the dictionary

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Ending a Sentence with a Preposition

 

An old-fashioned rule we can no longer put up with.

play video how a word gets into the dicionary
How a Word Gets into the Dictionary

 

What our editors are looking for when they enter words in Merriam-Webster.

play video lay vs lie
Lay vs. Lie

 

Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.

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

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The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
swan-with-a-cygnet
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