February 19, 2015
- whammy (audio pronunciation)
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1 a : a supernatural power bringing bad luck b : a magic curse or spell : jinx, hex
2 : a potent force or attack; specifically : a paralyzing or lethal blow more »
A Thing About Words: The Blog
Raising an Eyebrow on Fleek, PART TWO
This post is a follow-up to the February 3, 2015 post “Raising an Eyebrow on Fleek” here. There’s a coda to what I posted here last week: I was [...] more »
Emily Brewster
Trend Watch
"Comprise"
'Comprised of' or 'composed of'? One man has an answer ...
"Inclement"
Blizzard news coverage sent a flurry of lookups for this weather term ...
"Solipsistic"
Critics of Obama's new policies say the president's focus is too limited ...
"Alchemy"
George Clooney's declaration of love at the Golden Globes ...
"Satire"
French magazine Charlie Hebdo courted controversy with satire ...
"Epiphany"
A feast day which celebrates the Magi's visit ...
"Yuletide"
A Christmas word that wasn't always about Christmas ...
"Rapport"
The final Colbert Report led to some unusual dictionary research ...
"Torture"
The release of a Senate report on CIA interrogations ...
Recent Videos
"Fun, Funner, Funnest"
Why does it sound strange to say 'funner' or 'funnest?'
"2014 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes"
The inside scoop behind our 2014 Word of the Year selections.
"How the Months Got Their Names"
December comes from the Latin word for "tenth." So then why is it our twelfth month?
"Webster's Dictionary of 1864"
The landmark edition that transformed the way dictionaries are made.
"Old-School Grammar"
Many of today's grammar rules can be traced to the opinions of one 18th century writer.
"Schwa"
The most common vowel sound in English causes many spelling problems.
"'It is I' vs. 'It's me'"
Which is right? The answer is complicated. ...
"Cynic"
How an ancient philosophical movement devoted to the pursuit ...
"That vs. Which"
When to use each (and when not to get annoyed about their use).
"i.e. vs. e.g."
Often used, often confused. Here's some guidance and insight.
"Our Dictionary Through Time"
Webster's legendary editions - from 1828 through today.
"The Longest Word in the Dictionary"
It's not what you think, and here's the short, sweet reason why.
"Its vs. It's"
Some practical guidance, and interesting history, about a common mistake.
"Weird Plurals"
One goose, two geese. One moose, two... moose. What's up with that?
"Healthy vs. Healthful"
Why both words are equally good for you.
"Pictures in the Dictionary"
The story of those iconic illustrations.
"The Ampersand & More"
Where the "and" symbol comes from.
Quizzes
Quiz Leaderboard
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Words For Things You Didn't Know Have Names, Vol. 1
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Some of Our Favorite Quotations About Love
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