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Word History

Words of the Year: 1066

Why is pig meat called 'pork' and cow meat called 'beef?' Because English took on a big serving of French words following the Norman Conquest.


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play video title words of the year 1066
Words of the Year: 1066

 

English was never the same after the Norman Conquest

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There, They're, Their

 

There, there. We'll sort it out.

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Webster's Dictionary of 1864

 

The landmark edition that transformed the way dictionaries are made.

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Video: Why is there a 'c' in 'indict'?

 

And who put it there, anyway?

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Affect vs. Effect

 

Here's the lowdown on what may be the most confusing pair of words in the English language.

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Some Odd Words with ISMO: "The One-derful Won"

 

Comedian ISMO tries to figure out 'one' and 'two'

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On Contractions of Multiple Words

 

You all would not have guessed some of these