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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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Further vs. Farther

 

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

play ismo merriam webster trunk boot
Some Odd Words with ISMO: "Junk in the Trunk"

 

Comedian ISMO on what separates a boot from a trunk

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When Body Parts Are Also Verbs

 

Head, shoulders, metaphors, and toes

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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I vs. Me

 

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

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On Contractions of Multiple Words

 

You all would not have guessed some of these