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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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Webster's Dictionary of 1864

 

The landmark edition that transformed the way dictionaries are made.

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What is a Malaprop?

 

We'll tell you all the perpendiculars

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Literally

 

A word that (literally) drives people nuts

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Video: Why Is There a 'C' in 'Indict'?

 

And who put it there, anyway?

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Old-School Grammar

 

Many of today's grammar rules can be traced to the opinions of one 18th century writer.