Oxford Etymologist Archives

Coming to Grips With One’s Intelligence

Anatoly explains the key to “understanding”.

Anatoly looks at the connection between the words “robber” and “robe.”

Anatoly responds to comments on spelling reform.

Anatoly considers the addition of suffixes.

Is the spellchecker compromising language history? Anatoly weighs in on spelling reform.

Anatoly looks at everyday buzzwords.

Anatoly looks at the origin of the word “blizzard.”

Anatoly answers questions that have come up throughout the month.

Anatoly divulges how seasons make up the year.

Anatoly looks at strong and weak past participles.

Anatoly takes a look at negative prefixes.

Anatoly answers readers’ questions and looks at the origins of bigot.

Anatoly explores pretty’s myriad of meanings from unlikely origins.

Anatoly uncovers how sneaked became snuck.

How did we ever come up with the spelling for scythe? Anatoly looks at the history of conjoined letters “sc”.

Anatoly answers this month’s questions and explains the intriguing history of the words element and hocus pocus.