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Word History

The History of 'Cynic'

How an ancient philosophical movement devoted to the pursuit of virtue came to describe eye-rolling criticism.


How an ancient philosophical movement devoted to the pursuit of virtue came to describe eye-rolling criticism.

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The History of 'Cynic'

 

How an ancient philosophical movement devoted to the pursuit of virtue came to describe eye-rolling criticism.

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'Mischievous,' 'nuclear,' and other words to pronounce with caution.

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Webster's Dictionary of 1864

 

The landmark edition that transformed the way dictionaries are made.

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'Between you and __'? Simple guidance for a tricky pronoun.

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How a Word Gets into the Dictionary

 

What our editors are looking for when they enter words in Merriam-Webster.

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How a Ghost Word Appeared in the Dictionary

 

An imaginary word that snuck into the dictionary

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How to Read a French Menu

 

How to 'amuse-bouche' without begging pardon for your French