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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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Healthy vs. Healthful

 

Why both words are equally good for you.

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How Do You Pronounce 'Groceries'?

 

Is there one standard way?

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How a Word Gets into the Dictionary

 

What our editors are looking for when they enter words in Merriam-Webster.

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What Is 'Semantic Bleaching'?

 

How 'literally' can mean "figuratively"

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Further vs. Farther

 

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

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The Serial Comma Explained

 

Why don't they call it the Merriam-Webster comma?