Erin McKean, co-founder of wordnik.com and former editor-in-chief for American Dictionaries at Oxford University Press, returns to discuss more buzz-worthy words you hear in the news and on the street.
Today: H1N1 related words
Comments [6]
Ha--I read "flublogia" on Brian's Facebook inset on this page, & w/no indication it was related to the flu, I read it as "flub-logia"! Which makes it sound like a tendency to make mistakes in speech or writing. Now I know better!
On an earlier topic in Ms. McKean's segments here, the dual meanings of "sanction," something very similar in Hebrew dates back to the Torah, in which "chait" (w/"ch" as in Chanukah) means both a sin & the sacrifice brought to expiate a sin. And years ago, I noticed that the French word for "to wound" is "blesser" & wondered if/how it could be related to English "bless." Sure enough, Merriam-Webster gives this etymology: "Middle English, from Old English "blētsian," from "blōd" blood; from the use of blood in consecration."
"Swine Flu" IS an appropriately descriptive name; the first reported cluster of cases in Mexico was near a large pig farm which was suspected to be an incubator of disease.
Every day, huh?
OK that's just stupid! I hate acronyms!
I have heard the word "It's Official" from a guy in his early 20s. I think he was a black hispanic from Manhattan.
I was at an art gallery opening and was standing with him on line waiting to get a beer. They were serving Bud Lime beer (I guess to compete with Corona). I asked him how did he like it, he said "It's Official, It's Official." I assumed he liked it.
Brian - Speaking of words, but why don't you guys use part of the drive money to buy a dictionary and look up the word "match". You are not "matching" the fall drive donations, you are half-matching them, for want of a better description. This kind of shoddy use of the English language is below the purported standards of this station.
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