These 12 Words Have Anatomical Roots

by Merriam -Webster Dictionary Sarcasm: a keen or bitter taunt : a cutting gibe or rebuke often delivered in a tone of contempt or disgust    Sarcasm, that verbal flourish beloved by supercilious people the world over, has the sort of origin that makes other words jealous. It is descended ultimately from the ancient Greek …

Turnabout Not Always Fair Play With Words

by Dictionary Scoop.    If “nonverbal” is the opposite of “verbal,” shouldn’t “nonchalant” be the opposite of “chalant”?    As it turns out, it’s not so simple.    “Unpaired words” are terms we assume should exist, based on standard linguistic rules, but don’t. To test your knowledge and learn more about unpaired words, guess which of …