Word of the Week
Word history and etymology
Have you ever wondered when certain words started to be used in certain ways? Or how they even came about? If they’re related to other, similar-sounding words?
I wonder these things all the time. And so, for years I’ve been gathering interesting words together, looking at the etymology, and posting them in fun, bite-sized posts called Word of the Week. Here you’ll find everything from which definition of a word pre-dates another, to how certain holiday words came about, to what the original meaning was of something we use a lot today but in a very different way. And of course, the surprising words that we think are new but in fact are pretty ancient, like “wow”!
Word of the Week – Shampoo
Did you know that “shampoo” originally had nothing to do with soap for the hair?
Word of the Week – Stigma
Let’s take a look at the history of the word “stigma.”
Word of the Week – Appointment
Ever wonder if “appointment” and “point” have anything in common? Turns out, they do!
Word of the Week – University
This week, let’s look at the history of the word “university”!
Word of the Week – College
Ever wonder about the origins of the word “college”? As my daughter heads back to hers, I thought it would be fun to look it up!
Word of the Week – Cataclysm
A Great Cataclysm befell the people in my fantasy world…
Word of the Week – Apocalypse
“Apocalypse” didn’t always mean “end of the world”…
Word of the Week – Abibliophobia
This word might be a modern creation, but it’s a REAL THING, man!
Word of the Week – Biblioklept
“Apocalypse” didn’t always mean “end of the world”…
Word of the Week – Obey
This is at once an “of course” and a “really”?
Word of the Week – Book
Did you know that the word “book” shares a root with the word “beech”?
Word of the Week – Library
Book lovers, take note of the etymology of “library”!
Word of the Week – Gorgeous
Ever wonder if “gorgeous” and “gorge” are related?
Word of the Week – Scorcher
It’s getting hot out there! Let’s look at the history of the word “scorcher.”
Word of the Week – Muggy
My summers get “muggy”…but where did the word come from?
Word of the Week – SPF
Did you know that the first sunblock was created not for the beach, but for the ski slopes?
Word of the Week – Recruit
Ever wonder why we don’t “cruit,” but we “cruit again” (“recruit”)?
Word of the Week – Fantasy
I’m celebrating the release of my first romantasy by looking at the history of “fantasy”
Word of the Week – King
The history of the word “king” is actually rather murky…
Word of the Week – Queen
Did you know that “queen” means “wife”? Well…sort of.
Word of the Week – Wife
“Wife” has been around for a long time…but what are its roots?
Word of the Week – Husband
“Husband” has been around for a long time…but what are its roots?
Word of the Week – Moon
Let’s take a look at all the words that come from the same root and mean “moon” or “month”!
Word of the Week – Resurrect
Did you know that “resurrect” didn’t exist as a word until the 1770s?!
Word of the Week – Palm
In honor of Palm Sunday, let’s look at the history of “palm”
Word of the Week – Peruse
Did you know that “peruse” is its own opposite?
Word of the Week – -spire Words
Let’s take a look at the words that have -spire (breath) in them
Word of the Week – Muscle
Well I didn’t guess this one. “Muscle” is from “mouse”? Say whaaaaat?
Word of the Week – Green
Believe it or not, the “once more” definition of “again” was not part of it’s original meaning!
Word of the Week – Again(st)
Believe it or not, the “once more” definition of “again” was not part of it’s original meaning!
Word of the Week – Lent
As we enter the Liturgical season of Lent, let’s look at the history of the word.
Word of the Week – Cadet
The militaristic meaning of “cadet” is really only secondary!
Word of the Week – Alcohol
Did you know that “alcohol” has its roots in…cosmetics?
Word of the Week – Phony
Let’s explore the history of the word “phony”!
Word of the Week – Interest
The history of the word “interest” is, well, rather interesting…
Word of the Week – Wicked
Do you know the history of the word “wicked”?
Word of the Week – Catalog
This word has ancient Greek roots!
Word of the Week – Muffle
Another cold-weather word!
Word of the Week – Winter
“Winter” is a pretty ancient word, but it’s linked to both “wet” and “white.”
Holiday History – Spruce
Do you know the history of one of our favorite kinds of Christmas trees?
Holiday History – Gingerbread
Do you know the history of gingerbread?
Holiday History – Sugar-Plums
Do you know the history of sugar-plums?
Holiday History – Jingle Bells
Do you know the history of the song “Jingle Bells”?
Word of the Week – Thank
Did you know that “thank” and “think” are related?
Word of the Week – Susurrous
Need a word to describe the rustling of leaves in the wind? Gotcha covered!
Word of the Week – Sweater
Sweaters may seem like a basic to us today, but they’re shockingly new!
Word of the Week – Tea Bag
Ever wonder when tea bags were invented?
Word of the Week – Elegant
Let’s take a peek at the history of the word “elegant.”
Word of the Week – Pumpkin
Ever wonder what “rude” and “rudimentary” have in common? Answer: a lot!
Word of the Week – Cozy
Ever wonder what “rude” and “rudimentary” have in common? Answer: a lot!