1. Grubbling (v) Definition: “Like groping, except less organised. Usually refers to pockets, but can also be used for feeling around in desk drawers that are filled with nicknacks and whatnot.” Example: He was grubbling around in his pocket to find his car keys. 2. Snollygoster (n) Definition: “A …
From Winston Churchill to John Lennon, some of the most celebrated writers of all time have found solace and satisfaction in crafting short stories. These concise narratives, often imbued with dark fantasy, detective intrigue, or personal reflection, have captivated readers for centuries. In a bygone era, there was no shame …
As a group, the Nine Muses get a lot of words: museum (a shrine to the Muses), mosaic (a work of the Muses), music, bemused (devoted to the Muses); although weirdly they seem to have no etymological connection to the verb muse. As a recap, the nine muses and their …
In the realm of presidential speeches, a stealthy yet potent rhetorical weapon reigns supreme: chiasmus. This linguistic device, which involves flipping the order of words or phrases, has been surreptitiously employed by presidents for centuries to inject a touch of zip into their addresses. Chiasmus’s power lies not just in …
The figures of rhetoric were a series of formulas devised by the Ancient Greeks for writing beautiful, memorable lines. They weren’t plucked out of nothing, of course. They started out by looking at lines that were already famous and seeing what they had in common. So you take: Bond, James …
The word “telegraph” is a fascinating example of how language evolves through the blending of different linguistic roots. The term is composed of two distinct elements: “tele” and “graph.” “Tele” is derived from the Greek word “tēle,” which means “far away” or “distant.” This root is found in a variety …
In the realm of human perception, the line between hearing and understanding can be surprisingly blurred. This is where mondegreens come into play – those delightful auditory illusions that transform the lyrics of songs into something entirely different. The term “mondegreen” was coined by Sylvia Wright in 1954, inspired by …
The English language is a dynamic and ever-changing entity, with words constantly evolving their meaning over time. One such word is “handsome,” which has undergone a fascinating journey from its original meaning to its current usage. In its earliest form, “handsome” was synonymous with “handy,” referring to something that was …
Slogans, those catchy phrases that permeate our lives from billboards to social media, have a surprisingly ancient lineage. Their roots can be traced back to the battlefields of ancient Gaelic warriors, who would raise their kilts and unleash earsplitting battle cries as they charged into battle. These war cries, known …
The appalling Roman emperor Caligula (12 – 41 AD) had a somewhat novel approach to foreplay according to the historian Suetonius in his De Vita Caesarum (121 AD). Caligula would invite attractive aristocratic couples to dine with him. Then during a pause in conversation he would sidle over …
