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docket
The United States Supreme Court recently began its new term. The first item on its docket has been deciding the cases it will put on its docket. This docket, it turns out, is a low word in a high place–etymologically, that is. Docket In the 15th century, a docket was a “summary,” much like the minutes of a meeting–and quite the royal one, if we Read more.
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job
The word job has a big job in our language. Primary school teachers reinforce their pupils with “Good job!” stickers on homework assignments. When we meet somebody new, jobs are among our first questions. And monthly jobs reports have the power to shift political landscapes. We land first jobs, which are often summer jobs. Told not quit our day jobs, Read more.
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quarantine
As Ebola rages on, you may be hearing a lot of numbers in the news: 1976, marking the year when the virus was first identified Over 7,000, registering the total number of cases documented Over 3,000, the number of lives the outbreak has claimed 21 days, indicating the disease’s incubation period But one number you Read more.
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yes
Scotland may have voted “no” a week ago, but the voice of “yes” was definitely heard. Indeed, etymologically, yes has some strong pipes–and, like aye and nought, not a few tricks up its sleeve. Yes Historically, yes was a stronger affirmation than yea. Perhaps we can compare the yea of old to today’s yep. Yes was also relied upon to answer negative questions: “Don’t you want to see a Read more.
Mashed Radish 