This challenging quiz will test your knowledge of when various English words were first used. Spanning centuries from medieval times to the modern era, you'll encounter words related to emotions, objects, actions, and concepts. Each question will present a word, and your job is to choose the correct century of its first recorded use. So, sharpen your historical linguistic skills and dive into the fascinating evolution of the English language. Don't forget to look at our explanations in the end when looking at mistakes, we have lots to explain about the origins of these words.
The word dates from the late 19th century and is named after Nicolas Chauvin, a Napoleonic veteran noted for his extreme patriotism, popularized as a character by the Cogniard brothers in Cocarde Tricolore (1831).
In 1985, Walter G. Rosen first coined the term 'Biodiversity'. It is a compound word of the longer form 'Biological diversity' which was coined by Lovejoy in 1980 to denote the number of species present in a group.
The English word helicopter is adapted from the French word hélicoptère, coined by Gustave Ponton d'Amécourt in 1861, which originates from the Greek helix (ἕλιξ), genitive helikos (ἕλῐκος), "helix, spiral, whirl, convolution" and pteron (πτερόν) "wing".
20th century
15th century
17th century
19th century
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When did we start using the word: Flabbergast
OED's earliest evidence for flabbergast is from 1773, in Annual Register 1772. Flabbergast is of unknown origin...
15th century
18th century
20th century
13th century
16 of 17
When did we start using the word: Insulin
20th century
16th century
17th century
19th century
17 of 17
When did we start using the word: Electron
(The term "electron" was coined in 1891 by G. Johnstone Stoney to denote the unit of charge found in experiments that passed electrical current through chemicals
20th century
16th century
17th century
19th century
Try Again...
You’ve got some learning to do! While you showed effort in tackling this challenging quiz, your score indicates that... READ MOREYou’ve got some learning to do! While you showed effort in tackling this challenging quiz, your score indicates that there's room for improvement. Don’t be discouraged—understanding the rich history of English words takes time. Review your answers, do a bit of research, and try again. With a little more study, you'll be mastering the centuries of word origins in no time!
Great job! Your impressive score reflects a solid understanding of the origins of English words. You have a keen eye... READ MOREGreat job! Your impressive score reflects a solid understanding of the origins of English words. You have a keen eye for historical linguistic trends and clearly know your stuff. Keep honing your etymological skills, and you'll continue to uncover the fascinating stories behind the words we use every day. Share your results and challenge your friends to see if they can match your impressive knowledge!
Outstanding performance! You are truly a Word Historian, demonstrating an exceptional grasp of when English words first... READ MOREOutstanding performance! You are truly a Word Historian, demonstrating an exceptional grasp of when English words first appeared. Your deep knowledge of etymology and historical linguistics is remarkable. Whether it's words from the medieval period or the modern age, you know their stories and origins. Celebrate your expertise and continue exploring the rich tapestry of the English language. Bravo!
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