WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A CHEST OF DRAWERS AND A BUREAU
( education / language / english )

Because I keep wondering what to call that thing we have in our entryway/foyer (another term I go back and forth on)! Here is an explanation:The main difference between the chest of drawers and the bureau is that a chest has multiple compartments while a bureau has only one large compartment. A bureau also has a mirror, while a chest doesn't.... read more

WORD OF THE DAY: FASCISM
( education / language / english )

Fascism is not an ideology, it's a means to power -- Benito Mussolini According to Merriam Webster online, it means: a political philosophy, movement, or regime... that exalts nation and often race above the individual... In Italian, the word fascio (plural fasci) means literally bundle, and figuratively group.Replace nation and race wi... read more

FOREIGN WORDS WE USE IN ENGLISH
( education / language / english )

This first one, lexico.com, is a great site on this subject, though a LOT of the words they list are never used by anyone but dilettantes (from the French and, surprisingly, not listed there). 20-best-foreign-loanwords-in-englishenglish-words-from-other-languagesforeign-words-used-englishsomething-borrowed-english-words-with-foreign-originsenglish-... read more

AMERICAN-ENGLISH WORDS THAT SEEM TO BE UNIVERSAL
( education / language / english )

Judging by foreign-language TV shows/movies I've watched, here are a few English and/or American-English words / mutterings / phrases that now seem universal, no matter which language you speak: Mm-hmm or uh-huh -- meaning yes;OK or okay;Hey;Super pronounced supah -- meaning great; Of course, the Italian word ciao has been... read more

WORD OF THE DAY: DINKUM
( education / language / english )

(DING-kuhm)Dinkum, also dinky-di, fair dinkum, adjectiveTrue; honest; genuine. Etymology: Probably derived, like many other Australian words, from English dialect. The counties of Lincolnshire and Derbyshire had a word or dincum meaning work; a fair share of work. The word was first recorded in Australia in Rolf Boldrewood's Robbery Under Arm... read more

WORD OF THE DAY: PARSIMONIOUS
( education / language / english )

Our word of the day is parsimonious(par-si-MO-nee-uhs)adjective: Excessively sparing or frugal. Etymology From Middle English parcimony, from Latin parsimonia, from parcere (to spare). First recorded use: 1598. Usage President Calvin Coolidge was so with words that he became known as 'Silent Cal'. -- Rob Christensen; Interesting, But Not ... read more