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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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How a Ghost Word Appeared in the Dictionary

 

An imaginary word that snuck into the dictionary

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Fun, Funner, Funnest

 

Why does it sound strange to say 'funner' or 'funnest?'

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A Look at Uncommon Onomatopoeia

 

Some imitative words are more surprising than others

play video title attorney generals
Is It 'Attorney Generals' Or 'Attorneys General'?

 

'Poets laureate'? 'Court-martials'? The curious history of postpositive adjectives in English.

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Further vs. Farther

 

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

play illustrated notebook that says everyday vs every day
'Everyday' vs. 'Every Day'

 

A simple trick to keep them separate