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“Woof woof” and “iam fari”: divinity, humanity, dogs, and etymology behind first words in Michael Erard’s “Bye Bye I Love You”
The etymology of the word “infant” left me ‘speechless,’ thanks to Michael Erard’s enlightening and poetic new book about our first and last words. Read more.
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In life, and etymology, love is love
“Love” is related to the word “belief.” Isn’t that nice? Read more.
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My slang lexicography, now up on Merriam-Webster
I wrote about a wide variety of slang and trending terms for an impressive new section on Merriam-Webster. Read more.
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Newsy etymology: mercy, oligarchy, palisade, Greenland, emphysema, severance
“Greenland” originated as a sales pitch. “Merchandise” lies behind “mercy.” And little separates “severance” and “separation.” Read more.
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“Habitat”: a natural, and etymological, history
How a frequentative verb connects Jimmy Carter and Carl Linnaeus Read more.
Mashed Radish 