merriam webster Posts

These Bygone Terms for ‘Happy’ Need to Be Brought Back

The first known use of chirk was in 1843, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary . Example Sentence: “But--" "Well, I think," said Mis' Jane Moran, "that we've hit on the only way we could have hit on to chirk each other up over a hard time." – From ‘Christmas’ (1912) by Zona Gale 3.

Was There Ever a Real Uncle Sam?

Uncle Sam may have been a real person Source Uncle Sam's definition by the Merriam-Webster dictionary is as follows: "the U.S. government"; "the American nation or people." Simply put, it is an "expansion of U.S., abbreviation of United States."

12 Oddly Specific and Often Funny Terms You Didn’t Know

The dot in a lowercase "i" According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the "tittle" is that dot above a letter "I" or "J" in lowercase. It is thought that the phrase "to a T" has its origins in the word tittle because long before "to a T" became popular, the phrase "to a tittle" was used. 8. 

11 English Words You Didn't Know Were Actually Spanish!

Stampede The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines stampede (noun) as "a wild headlong rush or flight of frightened animals; a mass movement of people at a common impulse." It is derived from the Spanish noun with the same meaning - estampida .

11 Surprising Facts About Dictionaries You Never Knew!

For example, the word ‘phantomnation’, which showed up in an 1864 edition of Webster's, was the result of a missing hyphen. Then, in 1934, Webster’s New International Dictionary included a word called ‘dord’ which was defined as density, the result of confusion over spacing.

16 Confusing Words That Even Intellectuals Get Wrong

H/T: Mental Floss , Merriam-Webster 16 Confusing Words That Even Intellectuals Get Wrong words, confusing, complicated, linguistics, speaking, phrases, English language, difficult, spelling mistakes, useful to know Find out the difference between these difficult word pairs, and don’t let them confuse

Meet 10 Teachers Who Made Our World a Better Place

Noah Webster (1758-1843) Webster was an American textbook author, lexicographer, word enthusiast, spelling reformer, and editor, and is considered to be the Father of the American Scholarship and Education.

Portland: Fall in Love with America’s Weirdest City

Breathe in Some Art Source: Tony Webster Portland is famous around the nation for the creative juices flowing through it. Spend half a day in the Portland Art Museum and the Center for Contemporary Art & Culture and take in some of the artistic spirit that makes Portland delightfully weird. 5.

9 Small American Towns that Are Prettier than a Postcard

Biwabik, Minnesota Source: Tony Webster If this small town in northern Minnesota has a certain old-timey European feel to it, it isn’t by accident, as Biwabik was founded by a mix of various northern European people, mostly Scandinavian.

The MOST Shocking False Etymologies in English

References: Mental Floss , Insider , Merriam-Webster 14 Surprising False Etymologies family and parenting, history facts, English language, old English, debunking myths, etymology, word definition, origins explained If a word's history sounds too good, it probably is.

Which Cities Have the Most Vegan Options for Tourists?

Source: Tony Webster The 8 Most Vegan-Friendly Cities in the World Thailand, berlin, vegetables, vegetarian, Bali, Israel, Hong Kong, portugal, vegan, Amsterdam, Oregon, Portland The cities that have the most vegan options for tourists and residents.

Nourishing vs Toxic Pleasure: What is the Difference?

According to Marriam-Webster, pleasure is ‘a state of sensual gratification, frivolous amusement, or a state of delight or joy.’ Naturally for each individual, there are different experiences which lead to pleasure.

Calm and Heal Your Inner Self with this Meditation Guide

What is meditation The Webster dictionary defines meditation as “the act or process of spending time in quiet thought: the act or process of meditating”. Many people meditate without even knowing that they’re doing it.

From Food to Science - The WORST Misnomers You’ll Find!

References: Mental Floss , Merriam-Webster , RD , San Diego Union-Tribune , Nacel Open Door From Food to Science - The WORST Misnomers You’ll Find!

The Many Dangers and Pitfalls Of Home Ancestry DNA Tests

Tony Webster What about ancestral predictions? If a genetic company cannot improve your health and wellbeing, can it at least tell you where your ancestors are from? Well, kind of.

The 1900s Had Some STRANGE Predictions About Today...

As a matter of fact, efforts to simplify the English spelling have been made at least since the founding of the United States, with Noah Webster and Benjamin Franklin both attempting to conduct a spelling reform centuries ago.

These Common Words Began as Mistakes - Unbelievable!

References: Etymonline.com , Merriam-webster.com , Mental Floss 15 Mistakes That Changed the English Language Forever grammar, English language, ancient history, spelling mistakes, medieval times, etymology, fascinating history, origins explained Some spelling and grammar mistakes change a student’s

16 Smartphone Apps That Can Help You Deal with Anxiety

The Miriam Webster Dictionary defines anxiety as: An abnormal and overwhelming sense of apprehension and fear often marked by physiological signs (as sweating, tension, and increased pulse), by doubt concerning the reality and nature of the threat, and by self-doubt about one's capacity to cope with

Can You Believe These Words Didn’t Exist Before the 1970s?

You might think of Gigabyte as strictly a 21st-century word, but according to Marriam-Webster, it was first minted in 1975. Gigabytes, sometimes abbreviated "gigs," are often used to measure storage capacity.

Do You Know How to Act in a Medical Emergency?

Know When to Use an EpiPen for a Person with Extreme Allergies Tony Webster Extreme allergic reactions and asthma can bring about a life-threatening condition called anaphylaxis , where the swelling of the tissue obstructs breathing and can cause death.