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How the word “climate” has changed
Rooted in a Greek verb meaning “to slope,” climate originally referred to seven latitudinal zones spanning the Earth. On Thursday, President Trump withdrew from the Paris Agreement, a 2015 landmark effort to combat climate change joined by nearly 200 countries—minus Syria, Nicaragua, and, now, the US. Where does the word climate come from it, and how… Read more.
John Kelly
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Channeling the roots of “channel”
The word channel may have a secret back channel to a Semitic or Arabic root. When it comes to Russia, Trump just can’t change the channel. The Washington Post reported last Friday that Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and close adviser, talked about setting up a secret back channel of communications with Russia this past December. As… Read more.
John Kelly
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Ensnared by “scandal”
Scandal ultimately comes from the Greek for a “spring trap.” With smoke continuing to billow from the White House over the Trump-Russia investigation, there’s something else in the air: the word scandal. What’s the etymological fire behind this word? Read more.
John Kelly
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Why does news “break”?
The past few weeks have bombarded us with breaking news out of Washington, dishing up scoop after scoop on President Trump’s ongoing scandals. But for as much it can feel like the White House is breaking, why do we call it breaking news? Read more.
John Kelly
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What is the “peach” in “impeachment”?
The word impeach begins—and can end up—in “shackles.” The political nature of Trump’s firing of former FBI Director James Comey, coupled with Comey’s memo that Trump asked him to “let go” of the investigation of former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn, are prompting a lot of talk about the I-word—impeachment—over concerns that Trump may have obstructed… Read more.
John Kelly
Mashed Radish 