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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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Why did Yankee Doodle call a feather 'macaroni'?

 

What's with his feathered cap?

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How a Word Gets into the Dictionary

 

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

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And is one way more correct than the others?

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How a Ghost Word Appeared in the Dictionary

 

An imaginary word that snuck into the dictionary

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The True Story of the Backward Index

 

These people needed a computer

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The Serial Comma Explained

 

Why don't they call it the Merriam-Webster comma?

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