13 Old-Timey Turkey Terms to Bring Back This Thanksgiving
Use them while you're talking turkey.
WORDS
Definition Detective Quiz #16
We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?
Living Room vs. Family Room vs. Den: What’s the Difference?
You can binge Netflix in any room you like, but there are some key differences between these living areas.
Where Does the Phrase ‘Beyond the Pale’ Come From?
To get to the answer, we need to discuss Latin, wooden stakes, Catherine the Great, and, of course, Shakespeare.
7 Words We Rarely (or Never) Use Without Their Prefixes
Solving the etymological mysteries of 'innocent,' 'disgruntled,' and other prefix-dependent words.
Why Does ’Phony’ Mean Fake?
The origins of the term come from the Irish word for “ring.”
The 20 Most Popular Baby Names of 2024
Parenting website BabyCenter has reported the latest news on the most popular names for boys and girls in 2024.
Definition Detective Quiz #15
We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?
Can You Match the Word to the Author Who Created It?
See if you can spot the laudable lexicography of these famous writers.
Where Does the Term ‘Willy-Nilly’ Come From?
It’s a compressing of an earlier phrase that also yielded variations like ‘nilling, willing’ and ‘william-nilliam.’
50 Verbose Verbs To Drop Into Everyday Conversation
If you’re grandiloquent, then you like to use extravagant, high-flown words—precisely like the 50 verbs listed here, which either refer to everyday activities or else can be used in place of everyday words.
Definition Detective Quiz #14
We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?
Can You Put the Most Popular Baby Names of 2023 in the Correct Order?
Let’s sort these babies out.
11 Rare Old Words for the Heinous and Villainous
Use these obscure terms to describe (or diss) the bad guy in your life.
Definition Detective Quiz #13
We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?
11 Words You Might Not Know Are Portmanteaux
Some words, like ‘motel,’ ‘brunch,’ and ‘sitcom,’ are obvious portmanteaux. But the portmanteaux on this list are undercover.
Why is 12 of Something Called “a Dozen”?
As with many words, we have Latin to thank.
Where Does the Phrase ‘May You Live In Interesting Times’ Actually Come From?
This common phrase is often used during times of political uncertainty, and has even been described as an ancient Chinese curse. History says otherwise, though.
The 10 Most-Searched Slang Terms in 2024
Are all these new slang terms confusing you? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
How All 50 States Got Their Names
Some state name origins are obvious—but others pose an etymological mystery.
Definition Detective Quiz #12
We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?
Why Do Ghosts Say “Boo”?
If linguistics is any indicator, it would appear that everybody in the spirit realm speaks Scots English.
10 Baby Name Trends for 2025, According to Nameberry
The trends range from “fast fashion” to “baby names, literally” and beyond.
Definition Detective Quiz #11
We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?