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Oxford Dictionaries Wants to Know the Worst Word in the English Language
Is it moist? It’s probably moist.
WORDS
9 Old-Fashioned Words for the Fickle
Make sure to use them the next time you dither.
16 Buggy Ways to Say Mosquito
You might be one of a lucky type who rarely attract bites, or you might be someone skeeters love to feast on—in which case, you’ll want plenty of ammunition for name-calling. Here are a few choice terms for mosquitoes courtesy of the Dictionary of America
The Etymology of 15 Weird and Wonderful Olympic Words
Wow your friends during your Olympic watch party with these winning, weird, and wonderful Olympic words and their origins.
7 Words That Mean The Opposite Of What They Used To
While 'awesome' was going on its journey from bad to good, 'awful' was going in the opposite direction.
You Won't Find the Letter "E" in Either of These Two Novels
It's difficult enough to write a sentence that doesn't contain the popular vowel. (There are eight right there.)
12 Arm-Twisting Words for Bullies
The long tradition of bullying means a long list of words for bullies, many of which are lost in the mists of time. Though some words show traces of the wide-ranging history of bully—which originally was a tear of endearment—most of the following terms wo
Scholars Have Been Working on a Dictionary of Old English For 46 Years
The University of Toronto-based project aims to define every English word used between 600 CE and 1150.
21 Pulpy Pieces of Lumberjack Lingo
It pays to know your timber beasts from your savages.
How Star Trek Boldly Made The Split Infinitive Acceptable
Gene Roddenberry taught the world that infinitives are ripe for splitting.
‘Mom Jeans’ and ‘Ghosting’ Among New Terms Added to Dictionary.com
Finally!
14 Old Words for Stinky Stuff That We Should Bring Back
The vast history of English has more than a few options for describing the non-musical kind of funkiness.
Oxford English Dictionary Adds ‘ROFL’ and ‘Scooby Snacks’
1000 new words were added in this latest update.
Replace the Word Very with One of These 128 Modifiers
We're really, truly, highly interested in helping you improve that lazy vocabulary.
The Origins of 19 'Skin' Expressions
The skin is the largest organ in the human body, covering a surface area of nearly 2 square meters. Skin covers a great deal of the English language, too, if we look to its many skin-related words, expressions, and idioms.
What's the Difference Between a Coffin and a Casket?
Though the terms are often used interchangeably, there is a difference between the two. And it's all in the shape of things.
12 One-Word Famous Last Words
These famous folks managed to convey a great deal of meaning through just one word.
10 Naïve Words for the Gullible
Some people are sweet and innocent, believing in the truth and virtue of everyone they meet. Such easily hornswoggled folks are often described as naïve and gullible, but there are also many rare and forgotten words for the credulous.
12 Words from Ulysses to Help You Celebrate Bloomsday
Illuminate your otherwise-ordinary Bloomsday observances by citing from among Joyce’s apt yet archaic trove of word choices.
8 Terms for Enjoying Something (And the Subtle Differences Between Them)
English conveniently offers a long list of nouns you can use to describe what kind of enjoyer you are: aficionado, enthusiast, buff, connoisseur, fanatic, fan, freak, nut. But they aren't all just interchangeable synonyms. Each carries connotations that y
15 Pudding Cups of British Pudding Terms and Idioms
In the U.S., pudding has a relatively small life, nutritionally and lexically. But when you look back at jolly old England, this seemingly one-dimensional word has lived a vibrant life in metaphors and idioms.
5 Essential Types of Words That Some Languages Do Without
Some languages lack what we might consider the most fundamental words—yet somehow manage to get by without them.
10 Terms That Came From Theater
Let's raise the curtain on 'barnstorming,' 'catastrophe,' and other terms that have their origins in the theater.
Watch Weird Al Perform 'Word Crimes' Live
"You'd better slow down and use the right pronoun." -Weird Al