play backward index mystery
Words Matter

The True Story of the Backward Index

These people needed a computer


There it sits, hidden in plain view on a set of shelves in the basement of the Merriam-Webster offices: the Backward Index. But why would anyone type out 315,000 words spelled in reverse?

Up next

play backward index mystery
The True Story of the Backward Index

 

These people needed a computer

play video hopefully
Hopefully

 

We believe the popular usage of this word is correct

play video cynic
The History of 'Cynic'

 

How an ancient philosophical movement devoted to the pursuit of virtue came to describe eye-rolling criticism.

play image1815466723
How Do You Pronounce 'Vase'?

 

And is one way more correct than the others?

play body parts video
When Body Parts Are Also Verbs

 

Head, shoulders, metaphors, and toes

play contractions
On Contractions of Multiple Words

 

You all would not have guessed some of these