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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

play hot mess
Hot Mess

 

Our research turned up two archaic literal meanings

play video schwa
The Schwa

 

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

play video between you and i or me
I vs. Me

 

'Between you and __'? Simple guidance for a tricky pronoun.

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'Nip it in the butt' or 'Nip it in the bud'?

 

We're gonna stop you right there

play backward index mystery
The True Story of the Backward Index

 

These people needed a computer

play video websters video of 1864
Webster's Dictionary of 1864

 

The landmark edition that transformed the way dictionaries are made.