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Word History

The History of 'Cynic'

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


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

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play video cynic
The History of 'Cynic'

 

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

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Fun, Funner, Funnest

 

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

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Words of the Year: 1066

 

English was never the same after the Norman Conquest

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Some Odd Words with ISMO: "The One-derful Won"

 

Comedian ISMO tries to figure out 'one' and 'two'

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Ending a Sentence with a Preposition

 

An old-fashioned rule we can no longer put up with.

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Is 'none' singular or plural?

 

Or both? Or neither?

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Hot Mess

 

Our research turned up two archaic literal meanings