Did You Know?
‘Shambles’ originally meant a table for selling meat.
From medieval meat markets, where tables ('shamel') displayed goods, the word came to mean a place of carnage and then any scene of disorder. This evolution shows how specific terms can become generalized.
Did You Know?
The word ‘nerd’ first appeared in Dr. Seuss’s book ‘If I Ran the Zoo’ in 1950.
Dr. Seuss invented the word as the name of a grumpy fantasy creature, but it quickly evolved to...
Did You Know?
‘Emoji’ doesn’t come from ’emotion’ but from Japanese words meaning ‘picture letter.’
Despite popular belief, 'emoji' combines the Japanese 'e' (picture) and 'moji' (character), not the English word 'emotion.' This...
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The word ‘testify’ has its roots in ancient Rome, where men swore on their testicles.
In ancient Rome, men would take oaths while holding their testicles, considered a symbol of virility and truthfulness....