by Merriam-Webster Dictionary Over the centuries, certain Latin phrases have been used widely enough in English to get included in the dictionary. This list contains some of our favorites: In Vino Veritas Definition – “there is truth in wine”: The classy thing to say when you’ve had too much to drink and have just …
Category Archives: language
Sun Dogs And Other Weather Mysteries
by Dictionary Scoop If you’ve ever stood out in the open witnessing a double rainbow, a scary gathering storm, or stroll-stopping halo, you know how surprising nature can be. It can leave us gaping at the sights as if we were in a movie, or beholding a supernatural scene. Some of the terms …
Friending Shakespeare And His Word Creations
by Kevin Burton Today we continue a sampling of words and phrases coined by William Shakespeare compiled by the Dictionary Scoop website. Five words and phrases Sunday, five more today. The first one on today’s list is a good description of me. The last one is a word I am sure you thought …
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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 …
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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 …
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, …
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 …
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Who’s Hungry For Some Tasty Food Idioms?
by Dictionary Scoop Food idioms have a way of adding flavor to our speech. We have internalized these phrases and no longer notice their edible main characters. What are the origins of these funny lines? Did their meanings evolve over the centuries? Grab a snack and read on to learn the history of food-related …
Italian Words That We Use (Most) Every Day
by Dictionary Scoop The beautiful Italian language includes terms that perfectly encapsulate the meaning of things other languages need more than one word to define. Since food and classical music are two very successful Italian exports, it should come as no surprise that many words we use in English-speaking countries relating to these …
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What’s For Dinner Fido? Ten British Phrases
by Dictionary Scoop Speaking the same language doesn’t always guarantee effective communication. For example, the elderly and the young share a language but not a code. In the case of our fellow English speakers across the Atlantic, some words and phrases are quite specific to their culture. Here are ten British expressions and their origins: 1-Bagsy …
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