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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 Read a French Menu

 

How to 'amuse-bouche' without begging pardon for your French

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How a Ghost Word Appeared in the Dictionary

 

An imaginary word that snuck into the dictionary

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Some Odd Words with ISMO: "Junk in the Trunk"

 

Comedian ISMO on what separates a boot from a trunk

play video ending a sentence with a preposition
Ending a Sentence with a Preposition

 

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

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Affect vs. Effect

 

Here's the lowdown on what may be the most confusing pair of words in the English language.