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Words Matter

Pictures in the Dictionary

The story of those iconic illustrations.


The story of those iconic illustrations.

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play videos pictures in the dictionary
Pictures in the Dictionary

 

The story of those iconic illustrations.

play video schwa
The Schwa

 

The most common vowel sound in English causes many spelling problems.

play hot mess
Hot Mess

 

Our research turned up two archaic literal meanings

play video lay vs lie
Lay vs. Lie

 

Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.

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

 

English was never the same after the Norman Conquest

play video cynic
The History of 'Cynic'

 

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