Have you pondered questions such as where did the expression "OK" came from, or what the longest word in the English language is? Ponder no more, because one of the world authorities on the English language, the Oxford Dictionary, has released a series of videos that give some fascinating insight. Take a look:
1. Where did the expression "OK" come from?
2. What is the longest word in the English language?
3. Exactly how many is a billion?
4. Is the letter Y a vowel, a consonant, or both?
5. The Origins of "Nicotine", "Silhouette" and "Leotard"
5:23
What Made the Merriam-Webster Dictionary Last So Long
How do new words get added do the dictionary? Watch the surprising history of the Merriam-Webster Dictionary to find out...
12 Unique and Beautiful Words That Charm and Delight
Take a look at this list of some weird and wonderful words that you are unlikely to have read in your language course in school.
English Vocab History: Few Can Pass This Vocabulary Quiz?
These 14 words have really strayed away from their original meaning, can you guess what words like 'girl' and 'clue' used to mean?
This is the Cheekiest Dictionary
If you think dictionaries were dry and pedantic, you'd be right. That is, they were, until these cheeky definitions came along.
What is the Troxler Effect and How Does it Affect You?
Learn about Troxler's effect and the optical illusions it creates in life.
Funny: When Words Sound Alike With Different Meanings
Homophones are words that sound exactly the same, but aren't spelled the same and mean something different. Here are 20 that are the wordiest of words.
The Encyclopedia Won’t Tell You These Unique Facts
Here are 12 unique and curious facts about the world that will definitely surprise you.
The Fascinating Last Words of Famous Historical Figures
Some of the most important figures in world history, along with some of the most notorious, had some fascinating things to say just before they left this world.
Wow! These People Had Someone Looking Over Them!
These lucky people had some guardian angel looking over them that day!
The Streets of Rome: 15 Illustrations of Daily Life
Here are 15 artistic depictions that offer a glimpse into what life was like in ancient Rome.
These Greetings Are For Wishing a Fantastic NEW YEAR!
A New Year is the time for resolutions, a fresh start and general optimism. Share these sentiments with a loved one with one of our amazing greetings.
Can You Believe These Words Didn’t Exist Before the 1970s?
When a new words spreads it seems it's been around forever. But in reality, many of the words we use everyday are quite new. These didn't exist before the 1970s.
The Fascinating Histories of 7 Towns That No Longer Exist
These 7 largely-forgotten towns have been abandoned for years. These are their fascinating stories.
6:24
Wow! It's Amazing What This Man Can Do On a Bike!
In this video, Danny MacAskill explores the rural landscape around Edinburgh on his trusty mountain bike. Check out some of the amazing tricks in this video.
19:01
How Islam Separated Into Sunni and Shia: The Full Story
What happened, and why did it cause Islam to split into two factions?
These Facts Are Some of the Most Interesting You'll Read
Have a read through these intriguing worldly facts.
11 Clever Contronyms - Same Word, Opposite Meanings
Have you ever heard of contronyms? Here’s a hint - these are words that contradict themselves.
These Alternate Versions of History Will Blow Your Mind...
Our world is full of 'what if?' questions, since we just love to speculate about how things could have turned out differently. Here are 10 of the best!
5 Classic Suspense Books That Will Mess with Your Mind
These classic suspense thrillers should be a must on every book lover's shelf.
23 Unbelievable Facts That Show Our World’s Bizarre Side
These incredible facts will change how you see the world.
These Inventions Changed the World Beyond All Recognition
Some inventions meant that the world changed beyond all recognition. In this interactive video post, you'll see nine of the greatest.
9:40
The Different Origins of Fruit: A Fascinating Discovery...
Where does fruit come from? Find out here.
The Most Famous Acts of Revenge in History
Each of these 5 stories reveals how far people have gone to right perceived wrongs – changing the world around them, for better or worse, in their relentless pursuit of retribution.
14:44
Former FBI Agent Explains Basics Of Body Language Reading
Former FBI agent teaches you how distance, gestures and other nonverbal elements can reveal information about a person you're talking to
Let’s Learn About 7 of the Longest Words!
Did you know that the longest word to appear in literature clocks at a staggering 183 letters? Find out about more such longest words.
2:10
God Thought Long & Hard Before Creating the Dog...
They do say dogs are our best friend, and there is a reason for that.
These Mysterious Cases of Exorcism Are Infamous...
History is full of demon possession and ecorcism stories, which will make your spine crawl. Here are three such mysterious cases.
1:40
The Man Who Saved 669 Children
Sir Nicholas Winton organised the rescue and passage to Britain of about 669, Czechoslovakian children, mostly Jewish, destined for the Nazi death camps before World War II in an operation known as the Czech Kindertransport. This video is the BBC Pro
These 10 Facts Prove Amelia Earhart Was Extraordinary
To cleberate the legacy of the pioneer aviator, we gathered 10 fats on the life of Amelia Earhart you must know.
These Beauty Practices of the Past Look Strange Today…
17 fascinating photos of beauty procedures, treatments, and practices from the first half of the 20th century that look strange and curious today
21 Fascinating Things You Never Gave Much Thought To
Take a look at 21 strange things that will change the way you see the world.
9:37
What Did the Future Mean to 1958 High Schoolers?
Peep into a high school debate from 1958 about the teenager's future. Are their arguments still relevant today?
14:18
10 of the Longest Reigning Monarchs in World History
If you're judging a monarch's success by the number of years they reign, these 10 monarchs are the absolute best!
If You Have Old Toys Laying Around, You Might Be Rich
If you've got any of these toys from the 1980s laying around, then you might just be sitting on a goldmine!
19:11
18 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Medieval Times
Watch Medieval Literature Dr. Dorsey Armstrong answer all the important questions related to the Middle Ages.
59:00
The History Behind Halloween Isn't Quite What You Think...
If you've ever wondered what the origin of Halloween is and what all the fuss about pumpkins, fancy dress, and trick-or-treating is all about, then you should definitely give this documentary a watch.
The 1900s Had Some STRANGE Predictions About Today...
People from the past centuries have made some very bizarre predictions of the 21st century, even famous scientists and writers got things completely wrong!
15 Common Words You Are Pronouncing WRONG
Here is a list of some of the most common English words that are generally mispronounced by a majority of us.
Famous Moments in History that Never Happened
Chances are you've accepted these nine occurrences as historical fact. But, they are actually, completely false.
14 Charming Photos of Schools from Back in the 1950s
Peek inside 1950s classrooms with these charming photos.
27:39
5 Terribly Disastrous First Contact Stories from History
Each story is a lesson in misread intentions, power struggles, and the high stakes of meeting the unknown. Watch how these pivotal moments shaped the world.
20 Safety Fails That Will Make Your Heart Skip a Beat
You'd be surprised to see how often people just throw safety regulations to the wind with these 20 heart-stopping images
These Max Shows Will Keep You Glued to Your Screen
Looking for something new to watch? Check out our latest recommendations...
2:29
CDs Become Magic Tools in This Mind-Bending Act
Watch this mind-bending magic act by Florian Sainvet in America's Got Talent.
These Museum Items Give Us a Glimpse of a Fascinating Past
In these pictures, you will get to see some fascinating ancient artifacts that are well-preserved in museums.
The Real Bonnie and Clyde: 7 Facts About the Outlaw Couple
Media depicts them as glamourous, fearless outlaws. But what was behind the myth of Bonnie and Clyde? These 7 lesser-known facts tell their story.
These Everyday Optical Illusions Are Truly Mesmerizing!
Optical illusions can be found all around us, as these 15 photos well and truly prove.
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