Tag: language
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Etymology of the day: uncouth
Uncouth originally meant “unknown,” from the Old English cuth (known), past participle of cunnan (to know), source of can. Its sense evolved from “unknown” to “strange” to “clumsy” to “unsophisticated.” m ∫ r ∫
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The sneaky, slinking roots of “mooch”
Mooch may ultimately derive from an old Indo-European root meaning “darkness” or “silence.” The new White House Communications Director, Anthony Scaramucci, drew many people to dictionaries last week for his distinctive surname. Scaramucci is indeed related to scaramouch, “cowardly braggart,” originating as a stock character in Italian comedy and familiar to most of us from…
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Etymology of the day: accolade
#EtymologyOfTheDay: ACCOLADE 1st referred to bestowing knighthood with sword tap on the shoulders. Via French for EMBRACE, lit. TO THE NECK. pic.twitter.com/2njVFmBWvY — John Kelly 🕳️🐇 (@mashedradish) July 24, 2017 m ∫ r ∫
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Let the prisoner “talk”: the origin of “parole”
Parole comes from the French for “word” or “speech.” After nine years in prison, OJ Simpson was granted parole on Thursday, releasing him early from his 33-year sentence for armed robbery. Parole comes with a strict set of terms, conditions, and supervision, of course, but it’s grounded, essentially, in the prisoner’s word of honor that…
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Etymology of the day: wilderness
#EtymologyOfTheDay: WILDERNESS goes back to the Old English for WILD DEER, originally any sort of WILD ANIMAL or BEAST. pic.twitter.com/ksMLGGJWP7 — John Kelly 🕳️🐇 (@mashedradish) July 20, 2017 m ∫ r ∫
Mashed Radish 