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The origin of the Ancient Greek word συκοφάντης (sykophántēs) is a matter of debate, but disparages the unjustified accuser who has in some way perverted the legal system. [ 1 ] The original etymology of the word ( sukon / sykos / συκος 'fig', and phainein / fanēs / φανης 'to show') "revealer of figs"—has been the ...
The word's true origin is unknown, but it existed in the Middle Scots period. [32] [33] News: The word news has been claimed to be an acronym of the four cardinal directions (north, east, west, and south). However, old spellings of the word varied widely (e.g., newesse, newis, nevis, neus, newys, niewes, newis, nues, etc.).
Reverend William Harrison, in A Description of England (1577), complained that when men lived in houses of willow they were men of oak, but now they lived in houses of oak and had become men of willow and "a great manie altogither of straw, which is a sore alteration [i.e. a sad change]." [21] The phrase men of straw appears to refer to ...
Etymological Bibliography of Take Our Word For It, the only Weekly Word-origin Webzine; Indo-European Etymological Dictionary (IEED) at Leiden University; Internet Archive Search: Etymological Dictionary Etymological Dictionaries in English at the Internet archive
A false etymology (fake etymology or pseudo-etymology) is a false theory about the origin or derivation of a specific word or phrase. When a false etymology becomes a popular belief in a cultural/linguistic community, it is a folk etymology (or popular etymology). [1]
Sarcasm is the caustic use of words, often in a humorous way, to mock someone or something. [1] Sarcasm may employ ambivalence , [ 2 ] although it is not necessarily ironic . [ 3 ] Most noticeable in spoken word, sarcasm is mainly distinguished by the inflection with which it is spoken [ 4 ] or, with an undercurrent of irony, by the extreme ...
Donald Trump has branded Stephen Colbert “very boring” as he continues to air his latest grievance: late-night show hosts.. In an irate post on Truth Social, the presidential candidate ...
The Online Etymology Dictionary or Etymonline, sometimes abbreviated as OED (not to be confused with the Oxford English Dictionary, which the site often cites), is a free online dictionary that describes the origins of English words, written and compiled by Douglas R. Harper. [1]