Archive for March, 2010
Word for the Wise : Family words
March 31st, 2010
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Author: On a recent program we lamented the lack of a term for the cozy place behind a waterfall. In no time at all we heard from a fellow who proposed the term cascave.
You won't find cascave in any dictionary, since the word was coined by the children of our correspondent. Cascave fits (or should we say falls) (more...)
Word for the Wise : Suppressive words
We heard from a fellow looking for the right word to describe the silencing and stopping of an uprising. He was torn between quell and squelch, but we came up with a few other terms, too. Let's take a look.
To quell is to overwhelm completely and reduce wholly to submission, to inactivity, or to passivity. It may be used in respect to people, to animals, or to things, even immaterial things. You might quell rioters, fighting dogs, and yes, even an uprising.
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Tags: overwhelm completely, Suppressive words, Word For The Wise
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Word for the Wise : Of mice and mouses
Today we investigate a question that has perplexed many a
computer user: what do you call more than one of those small mobile manual
devices that controls the movement of the cursor and selects computer functions?
Everyone knows that one of those computer input devices is called a mouse, Read the rest of this entry »
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Tags: investigate a question, Of mice and mouses, Word For The Wise
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Word for the Wise : Envelope
Supposedly, it was on this date in 1897 that the envelope
seal was patented. We have nothing to say about that historic event; instead, we
address the question of why the pronunciation \ahn-velope\ gets some
folks so steamed up.
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Tags: address the question, Envelope, historic event, Word For The Wise
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Word for the Wise : The Earl of Chesterfield
Today we remember Philip Dormer Stanhope, the British
statesman, wit, and diplomat who was born on September 22 in 1694. The man who
became the fourth Earl of Chesterfield is today remembered chiefly as the author
of Letters to His Son, a book dispensing advice on manners, the art of
pleasing, and the art of worldly success.
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Tags: a book dispensing, advice on manners, The Earl of Chesterfield, Word For The Wise
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Word for the Wise : Autumnal terms
Today we celebrate the start of the new season with a look at
three terms associated with this time of year.
It’s easy to understand how this season came to be known as
fall; after all, this is the time of year that leaves fall from the
trees. Back in the 16th century, the season was known as fall of the leafe;
the phrase didn’t lose its of the leafe wording until the early 18th
century.
The word autumn, which comes from the Latin name for
the season, is a bit older than fall; that term dates back to the 14th
century. Does that mean that the season was nameless before then? Hardly. Before
autumn Read the rest of this entry »
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Tags: Autumnal terms, entered the language, terms associated, the season comprising, Word For The Wise
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Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, Tenth Edition.
What makes this America’s best-selling dictionary?
Noah Webster wrote the Great American Dictionary, and Merriam-Webster turned it
into the second best-selling book in history, outsold only by the Bible! This is
the dictionary of choice in government offices, schools, the editorial offices
of major publishing houses, and homes around the world.
The dictionary that sets the standard. A treasury of
information about words, prepared by America’s foremost language experts.
One Day at a Time
The Word of the Day for December 2 is:
turbid • \TER-bid\
• (adjective)
1 : thick or opaque with or as if with roiled sediment
*2 : characterized by or producing obscurity (as of mind or
emotions) : confused, muddled
Example sentence:
Read the rest of this entry »
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Tags: One Day at a Time, Online Fraud, The Word of the Day, website
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Merriam-Webster FAQ
What is covered in this Q & A?
This Q & A includes brief answers to questions that are frequently asked about
Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. It is intended to offer a quick overview of the
company, its history, and its products. If you would like more information about
the topics covered here, use the text links to view more detailed articles.
What is Merriam-Webster?
Merriam-Webster is America’s foremost publisher of language-related reference
works. The company publishes a diverse array of print and electronic products,
including Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate® Dictionary, Tenth Edition,
America’s best-selling desk dictionary, and Webster’s Third New
International Dictionary, Unabridged.
Does Merriam-Webster have any connection to
Noah Webster?
Read the rest of this entry »
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Tags: America's best-selling desk dictionary, Merriam, Merriam-Webster, Noah Webster, Webster FAQ
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The Merriam-Webster Web Team
This site was put together by the staff of
Merriam-Webster, with help and guidance from some very dedicated and talented
folks from other companies. Of course, the dictionary and thesaurus were created
by the entire editorial staff at Merriam-Webster. The team below is the one that
wrote the rest of the copy, created the graphics, built and tested the programs,
and then pulled it all together.
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Tags: created the graphics, entire editorial staff, Merriam-Webster, Webster Web Team
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