by Dictionary Scoop English is full of beautiful terms that we use every day, but it also holds many other gorgeous words that, unfortunately, we have stopped using over time. Here are ten 10 beautiful English words that we don’t use much anymore -but definitely should. 1-Murmuration “Murmuration” is a beautiful word in our language that …
Category Archives: language
A River Of Words, Words About Rivers
by Kevin Burton Residents of one Alaska neighborhood in my newspaper’s coverage area sought to correct a flooding problem by putting rocks in a river. Riprap, they called it, which is, as I would learn, “a foundation or sustaining wall of stones or chunks of concrete thrown together without order.” From that …
Penny For Your Thoughts, Feline Daughters
by Kevin Burton They have ways of expressing themselves, but my cats don’t speak any English or Spanish, so I don’t always know what they are thinking. Do I really want to know what they are thinking? Well, we can’t know, which is probably for the best. But I did stumble upon …
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“Charity” And Words That Changed Meanings
by Kevin Burton The first time I encountered “charity” in the King James Bible, it made me scratch my head. It didn’t seem to fit just right. Given time, words will do that to you. “Charity” in the King James most commonly means “love.” Here are more specifics on the Biblical definition …
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Why, Exactly, Is A Goose Called Silly?
by Dictionary Scoop Sure, sheep are obedient, and geese are loud. But when did we decide to start calling each other by animal names? Since Biblical times, we’ve been dragging innocent animals into our human drama to describe each other’s worst behavior. Is that fair? Read on to see some of the animal …
Countries That Have Changed Their Names
by Dictionary Scoop It is always a delicate matter when a country changes its name, as it signifies a shift not only for the geographical area but also for its inhabitants. The very identity of a nation is affected, which is why such changes are relatively rare. But they do happen. Not many …
Use A Variety Of Verbal Tools To Communicate
by Kevin Burton In my early studies in journalism I heard or read somewhere that a news reporter should write at a 10th-grade level. I never did that. I wouldn’t. I was very aware that I was talking to everyone, “broadcasting,” in the print news sense of the word, with the emphasis on …
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Healthy Phrases For A Healthy Vocabulary
by Dictionary Scoop Health is an important issue for everyone, and our language is proof of that! English offers us many health-related idioms with very interesting origins. To discover the meaning and roots of ten of them, read on! 1-An apple a day keeps the doctor away . You were probably just a child the first time …
Some Nursery Rhymes Not Exactly Kid Stuff
by Dictionary Scoop We all have nursery rhymes etched in our memory, verses that take us straight back to our childhood. But behind some of those catchy, cheerful tunes lie surprisingly dark and mysterious origins rooted in real-life history. Join us to discover the hidden stories behind the most popular nursery rhymes. 1-The …
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Bolster Your Vocabulary With Creative Insults!
by Kevin Burton I know I shouldn’t be doing this. But here’s my excuse up front: The dictionary made me do it! There is more than enough bad blood, ill manners, insincerity and name calling to go around these days. Nevertheless, Merriam-Webster dictionary provides you today with entirely new and creative ways to …
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