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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?

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play backward index mystery
The True Story of the Backward Index

 

These people needed a computer

play is none singular or plural video
Is 'none' singular or plural?

 

Or both? Or neither?

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Sneaked vs. Snuck

 

How the irregular 'snuck' sneaked into the dictionary

play videos pictures in the dictionary
Pictures in the Dictionary

 

The story of those iconic illustrations.

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

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