Does ‘Quarantine’ Originate from the Word ‘Forty’ (Days) in Italian?
A "quarantine" separates and restricts the movement of people who were exposed to a contagious disease to see if they become sick.
Latest in Language
Was the First Known Use of ‘OMG’ Written in a Letter to Churchill?
Many may assume the term "OMG" originated with teens and smart phones.
Why Is It ‘Cancelled’ in the UK, But ‘Canceled’ in America?
Is it true that extraneous letters were dropped from certain words in American English because newspapers charged by the letter for advertising?
Etymology of ‘Tag’
How factual is the claim that the name of the children's game 'tag' originated as the acronym of 'touch and go'?
Fascism, Corporations, and Merriam-Webster
A popular meme repeated confused and inaccurate claims about the purported links between fascism and modern corporations.
Did the Phrase ‘a Shot of Whiskey’ Originate in the Old West?
Anecdotal reports say the expression "a shot of whiskey" came into being when cowboys traded bullets for liquor in Old West saloons.
Is ‘Covfefe’ a Word in Arabic? Yiddish? ‘Antediluvian’?
After President Donald Trump mistyped (then deleted) a tweet, some hurried to ascribe meanings to the mistyped word "covfefe."
The Origins of 420
The story of how the code '420' entered drug parlance as a term signifying the time to light up a joint.
Origins of the Guillotine
Dr. Joseph Guillotin neither invented the guillotine nor was executed with one of those machines.
Etymology of Sirloin
The cut of steak known as "sirloin" is not so named because an English king once knighted a piece of beef.
The Definition of ‘Trumpery’
Spoiler alert: The dictionary definition of the word 'trumpery' employs such expressions as 'deceit,' 'fraud,' and 'showy but worthless.'
The History of the Middle Finger
The 'middle finger salute' did not derive from the defiant gestures of English archers whose fingers had been severed at the Battle of Agincourt.
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Did Republicans Actually Say These Things About Rape?
A list purportedly offers controversial and embarrassing statements about rape made by Republican politicians.
Is Kentucky AG Daniel Cameron Married to Mitch McConnell’s Granddaughter?
Cameron and McConnell are both prominent politicians in Kentucky and have previously worked together.
Discarded Military Ballots for Trump Found in Pennsylvania Raise Questions
A decision by the U.S. Department of Justice to make details public in an ongoing investigation drew strong rebuke.
Are These Giant Human Skeleton Photographs Real?
According to the Old Testament, the Nephilim were were the offspring of the "sons of God" and the "daughters of men" before the Deluge.
Exclusive: Facebook Groups Removed for Trump Train, Candace Owens, and Ivanka Trump
Three pro-Trump Facebook Groups with more than 1.6 million total members all disappeared in September 2020.