Harriet Tubman was born while John Adams was alive and died when Ronald Reagan was alive. Adams: 1735-1826 Tubman: 1822-1913 Reagan: 1911-2004 When Adams was born, Hydrogen had yet to be identified. When Ronald died, he could’ve been listening to Hoobastank.

We tend to make language shorter over time, except when we make it longer. www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/l...

These are your words of the week crucible empathy hate speech genocide preempt antifa lulu www.merriam-webster.com/wordplay/the...

“I'm down for it" means "I'm up for it.” Sure, why not.

Nobody will remember: - your salary - how “busy you were” - how many hours you worked People will remember: -An 'oxymoron' is an oxymoron. oxys (sharp, keen) + mōros (foolish) = oxymoron

We want it this way.

-cease and desist -null and void -aid and abet -free and clear -ways and means Why is law stuff like this always two words? These are called ‘legal doublets’ and we can once again blame the Normans. 🧵⬇️

“I’ll be 10 min late sorry!!!” -ashamed -fragile -unreliable “A thousand apologies. The relentless slog of time has overtaken my faculties.” -powerful -commanding -honest

Here is an interesting adjective quirk that you probably aren’t even aware you are doing. In English, adjectives seem to follow a specific order: opinion - size - age - shape - color - origin - material - purpose - noun ⬇️ www.merriam-webster.com/grammar/one-...

Some phrases are so well-known, you don't need to say the whole thing to be understood. E.g., you can say "birds of a feather" without saying "flock together." -“When life hands you lemons…” -“Great minds…” -“When in Rome…” Such partial phrases are called 'anapodotons.'

Words Nerds, it’s Video Q&A Time Question: What is a word you are brave enough to admit that you mispronounced for way too long? Send us your video answers here ⬇️ docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

toad = 🐸 toed = 🦶 towed = 🚗

PIN Number ATM Machine UPC Code LCD Display We regret to inform you that his phenomenon has a name: RAS Syndrome. Redundant Acronym Syndrome…Syndrome.

The name ‘Tiffany’ is many centuries old. To many people, it sounds like a stereotypical name for a Valley Girl in the 1980s. This has led to a phenomenon called “The Tiffany Problem,” which describes things that sound anachronistic, but actually aren’t.

The first known use of 'cap' meaning "capitalization" was in 1906.

More Misspelled Words Quiz www.merriam-webster.com/games/spot-e...

HOLP!

We're struggling to do anything but watch this video of the newly discovered bumpy snailfish today.

We all know ‘tragedy’ comes from Greek. ‘tragos’ = goat ‘aeidein’ = to sing So ‘tragedy’ originally meant “goat song.” Not to be confused with the GOAT song, which is probably “Fast Car” by Tracy Chapman.

Happy Monday. TIme to www.merriam-webster.com/slang/lock-in

Emmy | noun | a statuette awarded annually by a professional organization for notable achievement in television

These are your words of the week enigma gamine assassination rhetoric coup lemma www.merriam-webster.com/wordplay/the...

‘Booty’ and ‘butt’ are synonyms. ‘Call’ and ‘dial’ are synonyms. But, a ‘booty call’ and a ‘butt dial’ are VERY different things.

Laughter that comes from tickling is called gargalesis, and aside from primates, the only animal known to experience it is the rat. You’re laughing. You’re a rat getting tickled and you’re laughing.

AirPods Pro 3 feature live Gen-Z Slang Definitions

We don't want to scare you, but 'intimidate' comes from 'timid.'

American English - ize -realize -organize -specialize British English - ise -realise -organise -specialise The ‘ize’ ending is the older version.

Only true 90s kids will know that 'nostalgia' is a combination of words meaning "homecoming" + "pain."

Sorry we couldn't help you, Sam.

The Greek ‘gymnos’ means “naked.” So, next time you work out at a gymnasium...please wipe down the equipment after each use.

The Periodic Table Symbol for lead is 'Pb,' which comes from the Latin 'plumbum,' meaning "lead." Early pipes were made of lead, so people who worked with pipes became 'plumbers.'

How Do You Do, Fellow Kids: Gen Alpha Slang www.merriam-webster.com/wordplay/gen...

accept = 👐 except = 🚫

These are your words of the week posse comitatus monopoly funicular hoax charlatan philamot www.merriam-webster.com/wordplay/the...

six seven | interjection | a nonsensical expression connected to a song and a basketball player www.merriam-webster.com/slang/six-se...

There are actually two kinds of homonyms: homophones and homographs. Homonym = same name Homophone = same sound [to/too/two] Homograph = written the same [tear (rip) / tear (boohoo)]

enshittification | noun | when a digital platform is made worse for users, in order to increase profits

You only see ‘glom’ with ‘onto.’ If you see ‘fro,’ there’s probably a ‘to’ before it. If you’re ‘wreaking,’ 99% of the time it’s ‘havoc.’ If you want to ‘ebb,’ you will probably ‘flow’ immediately after. You only see ‘lop’ with ‘off.’ You only see ‘beck,’ with ‘and call.’

Our MO is to tell you things like ‘MO’ is short for ‘modus operandi’ which means “mode/method of operation.”

It's a little cruel that there is an 's' in 'lisp.'

Word(s).

‘Adamant’ and ‘diamond’ are related. Both are from 'adámas,' a Greek word that means “material of extreme hardness.” 'Adamantium' is a virtually indestructible man-made steel alloy controversially used in the Weapon X Program.

*crab-walked

Labor Day | noun | a day set aside for special recognition of working people

discrete = separate discreet = unobtrusive The 'e's' are SEPARATED by the 't' in "discrete."

These are your words of the week haboob engaged flabbergasted cracker-barrel cow college www.merriam-webster.com/wordplay/the...

We used to post etymologies. We still do, but we used to, too.

Someone needs to get all the Megans, Meagans, and Meghans, in a room and finally figure this mess out.