Monthly Gleanings: February 2009
Anatoly answers questions.
Comfortable – Podictionary Word of the Day
The podictionary word of the week is “comfortable”.
Grass Widows and Straw Men
Anatoly considers the origins of the phrases ‘grass widow’ and ‘straw man.’
Stimulusing
Ammon Shea looks at the word “stimulus”.
Laundry – Podictionary Word of the Day
The podictionary word of the week is “laundry”.
Q. What does the Oxford Dictionary of English have in common with
Harry Potter, A-Z Maps, and anything written by Terry Pratchett?
The Oxford Dictionary of English is one of the UK’s ten most stolen books.
Akimbo: An Embarrassment of Riches
A word, some scholars say, can have several etymologies. This is a misleading formulation. Various factors contribute to a word’s meaning and form. All of them should be taken into account and become part of the piece of information we call etymology, because words are like human beings.
I say Bonus, you say Bonum
Ammon Shea looks at bonuses.
Flora and Fauna – Podictionary Word of the Day
The podictionary words of the week is “flora and fauna”.
Monthly Gleanings: January 2009: Part 2
Anatoly’s second installment of January gleanings.
The Enormity Of It All
Ammon Shea responds to his website visitors.
Cuckoo for Snowclone Puffs: An Essential Part of an Insane Vocabulary
Mark Peters explores the phrase “I’m cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs.”
Dumbbell – Podictionary Word of the Day
The podictionary word of the week is “dumbbell”.
Monthly Gleanings: January 2009
Anatoly’s January gleanings.
Boggle – Podictionary Word of the Day
The podictionary word of the week is “boggle”.
The Oddest English Spellings, Part 12
Or, One, Two, Buckle Your Shoe
Anatoly Liberman looks at the oddest English spellings.