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 …
Tag Archives: etymology
Autumn Begins Monday, Bring On The Colors!
by Kevin Burton Autumn is the time of year when the greenery explodes into myriad colors. It’s a feast for the eyes, an art show by God, defying description. Meriam-Webster is in the business of descriptions, so the dictionary is going to have its say. Yesterday we went with them, beginning a list …
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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 …
Common Words With Uncommon Histories
by Dictionary Scoop Most words we use in everyday life have interesting stories to tell. Behind the facade of triviality, the history of whole languages (and the people who spoke those languages) unfolds like a rich tapestry of meaning and social threads. English is a language with a long history, and over the …
Finding Joy In The Everyday Journey
by Kevin Burton One of my English as a Second Language students once asked me, “Can I say ‘enjoy your joy?’” She and I both laughed. Peeling apart the quirks of somebody else’s language is great fun and can give you some insights into your own first language. I wonder though if …
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