play video title words of the year 1066
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

play contractions
On Contractions of Multiple Words

 

You all would not have guessed some of these

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How Do You Pronounce 'Vase'?

 

And is one way more correct than the others?

play video lay vs lie
Lay vs. Lie

 

Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.

play further vs farther video
Further vs. Farther

 

They started as same word, but their meanings have drifted apart over time.

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

 

The awkward case of 'his or her'