http://www.languagemonitor.com/ Word nerds would do best to take a deep breath before plugging through this site; Its devotion to language is as strong as its aversion to grammar and punctuation.
Category Archives: Linguistics
Sidetrack | Define Sidetrack at Dictionary.com
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=sidetrack&x=37&y=8 Here’s a Word of the Moment that’s commonly used, but whose origins I had never before considered: Sidetrack , v. 1. to move from the main track to a siding, as a train. 2. to move or distract from the main subject or course. [Origin: 1825-35, Americanism]
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http://www.bartleby.com/61/images/indoeuro.jpg I’m finding myself in the middle of another themed StumbleDay. Here’s a well-mapped, fascinating look at the evolution of language in Western Eurasia; A genealogical chart for tongues.
Resources for Learning French
http://www.fourmilab.ch/francais/lfrench.html Foi faith foie liver fois time, occasion It’s amazing what the mind can dredge up. I remember hearing a rhyme once (ONCE!) as a kid, that reasserts itself quite violently in my brain anytime a variant of Foi/Foie/Fois is mentioned: Il
Glimpse | Define Glimpse at Dictionary.com
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=glimpse Glimpse, n. 1. a very brief, passing look, sight, or view. 2. a momentary or slight appearance. 3. a vague idea; inkling. 4. Archaic. a gleam, as of light. [Origin: 1350-1400; ME glimsen (v.); c. MHG glimsen to glow; akin to glimmer] One of the less pleasant words in the English language to pronounce, […]
Fantastic | Define Fantastic at Dictionary.com
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=fantastic Fantastic, adj. 1. conceived or appearing as if conceived by an unrestrained imagination; 2. fanciful or capricious, as persons or their ideas or actions; 3. imaginary or groundless in not being based on reality; 4. extravagantly fanciful; 5. incredibly great or extreme; exorbitant; 6. highly unrealistic or impractical; outlandish; 7. Informal. extraordinarily good. [Origin: […]
Jeremiad | Define Jeremiad at Dictionary.com
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=jeremiad Jeremiad, n. A literary work or speech expressing a bitter lament or a righteous prophecy of doom. French j
Terrorist | Define Terrorist at Dictionary.com
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=terrorist Terrorist, n A radical who employs terror as a political weapon; usually organizes with other terrorists in small cells; often uses religion as a cover for terrorist activities.
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http://www.petebevin.com/archives/2006/07/22/buffalo_buffalo_buffalo_buffalo_buffalo_buffalo_buffalo_buffalo.html My brain is on fire!
Wiseacre | Define Wiseacre at Dictionary.com
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=wiseacre Wiseacre, n. Slang A person regarded as being disagreeably egotistical and self-assured. Alteration by folk etymology from Middle Dutch wijsseggher, soothsayer, translation of Middle High German wissage, from Old High German wissago, seer, alteration (influenced by forasago, sayer beforehand, prophet), of wizago from wizag, knowledgeable.