The Genius Of Shakespeare Still Evident Today

by Dictionary Scoop    It’s not always possible to attribute the origin of a word to a particular person. However, it is believed that William Shakespeare contributed more than 1,700 terms and expressions to the English language, many of which we still use today.    The way Shakespeare invented, reused, and modified words is a living testament …

Living Dogs And Dead Lions From Ecclesiastes

by Kevin Burton    If I say, “God knows the heart” you know just what I mean, right?  Because you know the heart, somewhat, sometimes.    Much of the time people speaking to you in the name of a corporation will lie to you outright for the sake of profit. Or, they will emphasize the …

These Words Come From France With Love

by Dictionary Scoop    English is part of the Germanic language family, while French is a Romance language. At first glance, one would think that they don't have much in common, right? But this is not the case; French has influenced our language in many ways, including our vocabulary. Today, ten common English words that have …

Cincinnati Baseball Icon Pete Rose Dead At 83

by Kevin Burton    This is a story about baseball cards and the souls of men.    Or maybe it’s about crime and punishment and fleeting youth.    Or maybe this is a Joni Mitchell song in the making; I’ve looked at Pete Rose from both sides now, from glory and shame and still somehow …

Quibbles And Bits Sports Edition: Royals!

by Kevin Burton    Do you believe in Miracles? Yes!    Led by major league batting champion Bobby Witt Jr. (.332 batting average), the Kansas City Royals qualified for the playoffs!  I’m still a little bit in disbelief.    The Royals bubbled up into the playoffs in 2014 and I said what I am saying …

Making Two Words Into New Words

by Kevin Burton    Great stews and new sandwiches are born of imagination and the proper use of resources at hand. Sometimes we get words that way too.    Two words combine, in whole or in part, to form a whole new word that though previously not a word, is immediately understandable.    For example, …

Trust In God 100 Percent Of The Time

by Kevin Burton    Have you heard of the 37 percent rule?    It’s a method for making choices. I just heard of it Friday.    Say you need to decide which house to buy, which person to marry, which secretary to hire. Here’s how to go about making that decision,  according to Jack Murtagh, …

Funny-Sounding Words With Serious Meanings

by Dictionary Scoop    Words like “cattywampus” and “frou-frou” are more than just fun to say. Sometimes, etymology can take unexpected twists and leave us with gems like “erf” and “dragoon.”    To some, these are everyday words in areas like cuisine or urban planning, for others they are a random assortment of letters that might …

The Psychology Of Color Determines A Lot

by Melanie Davis-McAfee interrestingfacts.com    Most of us are familiar with common color-themed turns of phrase, such as “feeling blue” when we’re sad, “seeing red” when we’re angry, or “being green” with envy.    Phrases such as these can be traced back to a scientifically substantiated phenomenon known as color psychology, a practice that has …

Adorable Animals That Are Secretly Vicious

by Kristina Wright interestingfacts.com    Beneath the adorable exteriors of many wild animals lies a beastly side that’s anything but sweet.    The traits that can make an animal seem endearing can also mask a more aggressive nature, one that’s driven by their survival instincts and the protection of their young. When we think of …