Fun with etymology

The word “fascinating” comes from witchcraft

The etymology of the word “fascinating” comes from witchcraft. That explains why people say “fascinating” slowly, as though one is in a spell. I looked up “fascinating” because my three-year-old asked me what that word meant. I thought that “fascinating” would be related somehow to facets. Like the facets of a diamond are fascinating. But …

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Third place trophy

The NFL consolation game could outdraw the Super Bowl this year

This year both NFL conference championship games ended with controversies. The New Orleans Saints lost to the Los Angeles Rams in overtime. Some say the Saints should have won due to some officiating mistake. The Kansas City Chiefs lost to the New England Patriots. Honestly, who wants to see the Patriots in another Super Bowl? …

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Volute stairs

Volute is related to the word revolve

The curly thing at the end of a staircase handrail is called a volute. Any architecture ornament that is a spiral is also called a volute. Today volute is dictionary.com’s Word of the Day. Volute. Why are curly, spiral things called volutes? Is volute based from some other word? TO THE ONLINE ETYMOLOGY DICTIONARY! The …

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Poster 1: Science Fiction is totally cool

Science fiction is totally cool

  [button link=”http://spudart.deviantart.com/art/Science-fiction-is-totally-cool-589672191?purchase=print” size=”large” color=”orange”]» Art prints and canvas available[/button] Giant alien robots invade Chicago! Death rays shoot out of their eyes. The campy setup makes for a great B-movie sci-fi thriller poster. What could be more fun? Swap out the killer robot from Venus; and put in a giant mole with death rays shooting …

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Tortoise means animal of a sunless abyss

The word tortoise is quite a mystery. Tortoise is a weird word. Tortoise. Tortoise. Just look at it. Tortoise. Tor-toise. It almost sounds dainty. But it’s for a clunky turtle. Etymonline.com doesn’t reveal much: 1550s, altered (perhaps by influence of porpoise>) from Middle English tortuse> (late 15c.), tortuce> (mid-15c.), tortuge> (late 14c.), from M.L. tortuca> …

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What to write for a congratulations note in a wedding card

Looking to write something unique in a wedding card? Congratulations. Congratulations. Congratulations. You see it so often. But what does it really mean? At work a card was being passed around for a former coworker who is getting married. “Congratulations” appeared many times in people’s wishes, so I looked it up on etymonline.com: Congratulations mid-15c., …

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Etymology app for the iPhone

Etymology. There’s no app for that. Dear iPhone developers, Please give the world an app for etymology. Much love, matt

The word Styrofoam has origins in trees

What does styrofoam mean? Styro. You’d think that’s made up, right? Styrofoam is a trademark name by Dow Chemical Co. in 1950. It’s based from the word polystyrene. (see polystyrene) What does polystyrene mean? Etymonline.com says: 1927, so called because it is a polymer of styrene (see styrene). What does styrene mean? In 1885, they …

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The meaning of joy

The etymology of joy reveals that joy means to cause a person to be in a state of gladness.