If you “glom” something, or “glom onto” it, you’re taking it or occupying it. Although it sounds like a slang term, you can find it published in newspapers, magazines, and even Science Daily: “The nanoparticles ‘glom onto the flies,’ Rand noted while watching a video of flies in the test tubes.” Not only is “glom”… Continue reading

A prefix-root, many of which come from Greek and Latin roots, can be found in front of loads of different words. Take “neo-,” for example. “Neo-” comes from the Greek “néos,” and means “new.” There are dozens of English words beginning with “neo,” from the very specialized “neoblastic” (associated with new growth) to the common… Continue reading

Sometimes a root word or prefix ends up attached to a bunch of words that are particularly interesting to “logophiles,” or word-lovers. That’s certainly the case with the prefix “logo_,” which means “word” (from the Greek “logos,” same meaning). For instance, if you go a bit to far in “logophilia” you might be described as… Continue reading

In software development the word “deprecate” has come to mean “no longer to be used.” This is actually jargon; “deprecate” isn’t used that way in any other context. It originally comes from the Latin word “deprecari,” which means to “pray against.” “Deprecate,” when it appeared in the 1600s, meant a prayer — specifically a prayer… Continue reading

“Agony” is, today, severe discomfort or acute pain. But it wasn’t always that way. Agony comes from Ancient Greek — an “agon” was just a contest. They had loads of contests. There were hundreds of “gymnasiums” where athletes and others would train and practice various skills, and there were constant competitions in everything from wrestling… Continue reading

It’s not really roasted turkey season, but who cares; it’s time to discuss “drumsticks”, or legs. They only look a little bit like drumsticks, of course, so why did that name arise?  It was because not all that long ago, it was quite impolite to say the word “leg” out loud, particularly at the dinner… Continue reading

The 19th Century was something of a golden age for English oratory; audiences would listen attentively to speeches that today would seem absurdly long. Not only that, they were accustomed to listening to sentence structures considerably more complex than we generally cope with now — arguably, more complex than many of us are able to… Continue reading

“Autology” is a word that was fairly rare even when it was in use back in the 1600s. It meant self-knowledge, or the study of oneself. Some years later there was also the form “autological” for referring to things having to do with autology. Since Freud didn’t happen across the word, it probably would have… Continue reading

If you’re shopping for clothes, one option might be something made of “gabardine.” The dictionary says it’s a “firm, tightly woven fabric of worsted, cotton, polyester, or other fiber, with a twill weave,” which unfortunately does absolutely nothing to ensure that I’d be able to look at a coat and say “oh, that’s made of… Continue reading

Most people, at least in western cultures, have something in common with super heroes. No, it’s not the obvious thing you’re thinking (you immediately focused on your ability to deliver a wry quip while vanquishing a super villain, I assume). It’s all in your name. In the English tradition — or I suppose the tradition… Continue reading