Truffle – Podictionary Word of the Day
The podictionary word of the week is “truffle”.
Stealing thunder… OK? The origins of everyday words and phrases
In celebration of the latest edition of The Concise Oxford English Dictionary, we reveal the origins of some everyday words and phrases.
Who’s Mindful of Who’s Apostrophes’?
Anatoly looks at apostrophes.
To Bailout, or Not
Ammon Shea ponders the word “bailout”.
Beef – Podictionary Word of the Day
A teenager I know was recently at a weekend party up at a lake. Two of the girls there had an altercation and one pushed the other off the wharf and into the water. This was reported to me in the following terms: “Suzie and Nancy really had beef.” This was a new one on me. Did they share a steak?
Monthly Gleanings
Anatoly answers questions.
Hardcore Dictionaries
Ammon Shea wonders what makes a dictionary “hardcore”.
Croissant – Podictionary Word of the Day
The podictionary word of the week is “croissant.”
Lite Beer and Donuts, or, Does Spelling Reform Have a Chance?
Anatoly finds the appropriate sustenance for spelling reformers.
Free OED will Travel to Pasadena
At Book Expo America 2008 in LA, OUP held a raffle to win a free OED. Many enthusiastic attendees assured us they had sturdy a shelf that could hold the voluminous set. Let’s hope Angel Castellanos of Distant Lands, Traveler’s Bookstore & Outfitters in Pasadena, CA actually has a good sturdy bookshelf because he is […]
A Celebration of Making Old “Make” New
Ammon Shea looks at the word “make.”
Cyberspace – Podictionary Word of the Day
Our podictionary podcast of the week.
Germanic Hermaphrodites
Hermaphrodites are born rarely, and it is far from clear why their mythology achieved such prominence in Antiquity. Reference to cross-dressing during certain marriage rites does not go far, but the cult of Hermaphroditus is a fact, and Ovid’s tale of the union in one body of the son of Hermes and Aphrodite is well-known.
An Affair With Petrichor
Noa Wheeler responds to Ammon Shea’s column on Petrichor.
Kettle – Podictionary Word of the Day
A look at the word “kettle”.
Etymology, Serendipity, and Good Luck
Anatoly gives a candid take on etymology.