Word Origins
Some of our English words have very unique and surprising origins. Find out where some of your favorite words came from.
Words Popularized by Shakespeare That We Still Use
The Frabjous Words Invented By Lewis Carroll
Foxy, Catty, Fishy: Traits for Animals or Humans?
-
Speak of the Devil! 15 Infernal Names for The Evil One
-
From “Witch” to “Ghoul,” Here’s How These Spooky Figures Got Their Names
-
Why Do We Say “Trick or Treat”?
-
’90s vs. Now: How These Words Have Evolved
-
Booyah — Dictionary.com Is 30! A Trip Back to 1995
-
Why Is Friday the 13th Unlucky?
-
Which Overachiever Is August Named For?
-
Words Popularized by Shakespeare That We Still Use
-
What’s So “Good” About “Good Friday”?
-
Cheesy Names: Do You Know These Cheese Toponyms?
-
What Makes Holi the Most Colorful Event of the Year?
-
The Major Facts About The Month of Ramadan
-
-
The Complexity Of African American Vernacular English
-
What Do Shrove Tuesday, Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday, And Lent Mean?
-
Where Does the Name “Winter” Come From?
-
12 Names for Santa Claus From Around the World
-
“Autumn” vs. “Fall:” What Was the Season Called First?
-
Is Your Name in the Dictionary? Proper Names With Other Meanings
-
Old English Words We Can Use Again
-
Portmanteau and Other Cool Words About How We Use Words
-
Why Do Babies Around The World Say “Mama”?
-
Where Did the Word “Achoo” Come From? Why Do We Say “Bless You”?
-
12 Mythic Words From Mythologies Around The World
-
The Curious Name Origins of World-Famous Vacation Destinations
-
-
17 English Words That Derive From Sanskrit
-
The Mysterious Origins of the Month of April’s Name
-
Does March the Month Have Anything to Do With Marching?
-
How Did the Month of February Get Its Name?
-
Where Did the Word “Vegan” Come From?
-
Where Does the Name “January” Come From?
-
What Does “Auld Lang Syne” Actually Mean?
-
Celebrate the Season with These Words for Capricorns
-
How the Month of December Got Its Name
-
What Does the Name “November” Mean?
-
The Meanings Behind These (In)Famous Potion Ingredients
-
Where Your Favorite Halloween Candy Got Its Name
-
-
16 Spanish-Derived Words That Highlight Hispanic Cultures
-
Where Does the Name “October” Come From?
-
The Story Behind “It Was A Dark And Stormy Night”
-
Why Does September Come From The Word “Seven”?
-
What’s So “Sinister” About The Left Hand?
-
Treat Yourself To The Origins Of 11 Food Toponyms
-
The Origin of July and the Jubilant Holidays It Holds
-
“Evoke” Vs. “Invoke”: Time To Call Forth Their Differences
-
How Did the Month of June Get Its Name?
-
These Popular Auto Racing Terms Will Fuel Up Your Vocabulary
-
Words That Every Gemini Should Know
-
How Did the Month of May Get Its Name?
