Mashed Radish

Mashed Radish

Etymology at the intersection of news, life, and everyday language.

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  • Dismantling “mantle”

    I’ve been thinking about the word mantle recently. During the latest Republican debate, Donald Trump trumpeted that he “will gladly accept the mantle of anger” about the problems, at least in his and his supporters’ view, that the US faces. Meanwhile, the Iran deal went into effect after “the country followed through with its promises to dismantle large Read more.

    John Kelly
    January 19, 2016
    Uncategorized

  • Introducing Shakespeare Confidential

    So, I’ve started a new yearlong project. Shakespeare died in 1616. I’m going to read everything he wrote in 2016 and write about it. I’m calling it Shakespeare Confidential. It’s going to be accessible, personal, and human, so don’t worry if Shakespeare feels Greek to you. You can find it – and follow it – at www.shakespeareconfidential.com and @bardconfidensh. Read more.

    John Kelly
    January 18, 2016
    Uncategorized

  • Cancer

    This week, we lost two greats to cancer: David Bowie and Alan Rickman. Their passing so sudden, the news hit many hard, but cancer, as so many know too well, can be such a creeping foe. In its own small way, the etymology of cancer bears this out. Cancer Cancer spread into English from French and Latin, both Read more.

    John Kelly
    January 15, 2016
    Uncategorized

  • What is the “jack” in “jackpot”?

    Most people – normal folks, I imagine – are excited by the size of the Powerball jackpot: It has reached a record $1.5 billion at the time I write this. (I’ve already had to revise it up from $1.4 billion since I began this post.) But nerd that I am, I am wowed by the word jackpot. To me, its Read more.

    John Kelly
    January 12, 2016
    Uncategorized

  • “They”: Singular present, Scandinavian past

    On January 8, the American Dialect Society (ADS) voted for “they used as a gender-neutral singular pronoun for its Word of the Year for 2015.” As its official announcement continues: They was recognized by the society for its emerging use as a pronoun to refer to a known person, often as a conscious choice by a person rejecting the Read more.

    John Kelly
    January 9, 2016
    Uncategorized

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