Mess – Podictionary Word of the Day
The podictionary word of the week is “mess”.
Bare or Bear, or, the Story of Berserk
Anatoly Liberman looks at the word “Berserk”.
Help Ammon Shea: Gossypiboma
Ammon wonders about the word Gossypiboma.
Yacht – Podictionary Word of the Day
The podictionary word of the week is “yacht”.
Big Problems with the Little Finger, or, A Story of Pinkie
Anatoly looks at the word “pinkie”.
Garner’s Usage Tip of the Day: Jingoist v. Jingo
The Olympics can always bring out the Jingoist, (or is it Jingo?), in just about anyone. For ‘jingoist’ and ‘jingo’, the former has come to displace the latter as the agent noun corresponding to ‘jingoism’. A jingoist is a belligerent patriot and nationalist who favours an aggressive foreign policy.
Climax – Podictionary Word of the Day
The podictionary word of the week is “climax”.
The Haberdasher Displays His Wares and Escapes
Anatoly looks at the word “haberdasher”.
Architecting a Verb?
Last Sunday, in the NY Times, I read a book reviewer taking an author to task for her word use. The reviewer stated that “the last time I checked the American Heritage Dictionary, in spite of how computer trade journalists might choose to use the word, “architect” was not recognized as a verb”.
Post-traumatic snowclone disorder
You don’t have to be an MD or a sick puppy to appreciate the enormous family of humorous medical terms, including ‘peanut butter balls’ (phenobarbitol), ‘horrendoplasty’ (an operation without a sunny forecast), or ‘duck’s disease’ (‘being short’, so-named for the non-NBA-ready stature of quackers).
Anathema – Podictionary Word of the Day
The podictionary word of the week is “Anathema.”
American Nicknames Part 2: Hoosier
Anatoly looks at the nickname “Hoosier”.
Challenge Oxford!
Test your wordpower against Oxford’s experts.
Keeping Notes
Ammon reflects on note-taking.
Mildew – Podictionary Word of the Day
The podictionary word of the day is “mildew”.
Advice to the Etymologist: Never Lose Heart, or, The Origin of the Word Galoot
Several times a year I speak on Minnesota Public Radio (MPR), a guest of Kerri Miller’s program “Midmorning News.” We usually advertise some general topic in advance, but, while I am in the studio, listeners are requested to ask any questions they like about word origins, regardless of the overarching theme. Sometimes I […]