Making The Case For Ten Underused Words

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 …

Conquering Mathematics By Definition

by Kevin Burton    Fear not, dear reader. Easy does it. This won’t hurt a bit.    For your attention today we bring terms and definitions from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary for elements of mathematics. But there will be no test.    Or, if you consider it a test, you are auditing this one. Take from …

“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 …

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 …

Where Your Favorite Cheeses Come From

by Dictionary Scoop     Whether you’re a cheese expert or just enjoy a good slice on your sandwich, you’ll enjoy this flavorful ride.    There are fascinating stories behind the cheeses we eat every day. So, let’s take a trip around the world—one cheesy stop at a time—and explore ten places that gave these famous …

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 …

Common Phrases With Grim Word Origins

by Dictionary Scoop    We toss around old sayings without thinking twice. But have you ever wondered where these phrases actually came from?    You might be surprised (and a little unsettled) to find out that many of them have pretty grim backstories. Even if we’re keeping things light and curious, you’ll never look at …

Million-Dollar Slang: In Other Words, Money

by Dictionary Scoop    Money makes the world go round, and in the U.S., there are more ways to talk about it than you might expect.      Americans have come up with a colorful range of slang and idioms to refer to cash. We look into 11 of them today. 1-Cash    The first entry on …

In Praise Of Mexico, Lettuce And Billy Joel

by Kevin Burton    On a tip from a new friend, I knocked on the door of Interlingua language school one day, and asked the good people there to employ me.    Shockingly, they took me up on it.    This was in the Reagan 80s. I was in somebody else’s country, Mexico, and somebody …

Avoid Confusion With These Tricky Word Pairs

by Dictionary Scoop    Some words seem interchangeable at first glance, but if you dig a little deeper, you’ll notice they have completely different meanings.    So in the interest of clarity in communication, let’s clear up some of the most commonly confused word pairs. 1-Anticipate vs. Expect    Both words involve thinking about the future, …