CHEST OF DRAWERS VS. BUREAU: WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE( 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 m... read more
LAMBAST VS. LAMBASTE( education / language / english )
While the exact derivation of the word is not definitively known, the OED posits that it's a combination of lam and baste, both of which bear the sense (now archaic for both words) to beat soundly. Other sources agree. And lambaste is the older form. In historical Google Books searches, lambast is almost nonexistent before 1850.... 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.com/dictionary/fascismMerriam Webster online , it means: a political philosophy, movement, or regime... that exalts nation and often race above the individual... In Italian... read more
FOREIGN WORDS WE USE IN ENGLISH( education / language / english )
This first one, lexico.com/explore/foreign-words-and-phraseslexico.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). altalang.com/beyond-words/2... 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 cour... read more
COOL WEBSITE: WORDNIK( education / language / english )
titleflyclipart.com/kids-writing-clipart-writing-journal-clipart-325865 hrefwordnik.com/words/whatever%20floats%20your%20boatWordnik . Cool website for those who like words. I love how they provide samples from articles on the internet. And they provide an explanation/definition to links (if yo... 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&... 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... read more