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  2. List of common false etymologies of English words - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_common_false...

    The word means "to utter forcefully" and appeared as early as the year 1541. [37] Shit: see under "Profanity" Swag is not an acronym for "stuff we all get," "secretly we are gay," or anything else. It comes from early-19th-century slang for a thief's booty or loot. [38] [39] Tip is not derived from the phrase "to insure promptness" (prompt ...

  3. Malapropism - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malapropism

    A malapropism (/ ˈ m æ l ə p r ɒ p ɪ z əm /; also called a malaprop, acyrologia or Dogberryism) is the incorrect use of a word in place of a word with a similar sound, either unintentionally or for comedic effect, resulting in a nonsensical, often humorous utterance.

  4. Profanity - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Profanity

    Profanity is often depicted in images by grawlixes, which substitute symbols for words.. Profanity, also known as swearing, cursing, or cussing, involves the use of notionally offensive words for a variety of purposes, including to demonstrate disrespect or negativity, to relieve pain, to express a strong emotion, as a grammatical intensifier or emphasis, or to express informality or ...

  5. Albatross (metaphor) - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albatross_(metaphor)

    Jeff Williams' song "Bad Luck Charm" contains the line "I'm a cursed black cat, I'm an albatross, I'm a mirror broken, Sad to say, I'm your bad luck charm". Josh Ritter refers to a lingering albatross in his song "Monster Ballad". The characters are lost in the desert after having been lost at sea.

  6. Fuck - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuck

    Hobbs considers users rather than usage of the word and sub-divides users into "non-users", for whom "the word belongs to a set of taboo words, the very utterance of which constitutes an affront, and any use of the word, regardless of its form (verb, adjective, adverb, etc.) or meaning (literal or metaphorical) evokes the core sexual meanings ...

  7. Bloody - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloody

    Use of the adjective bloody as a profane intensifier predates the 18th century. Its ultimate origin is unclear, and several hypotheses have been suggested. It may be a direct loan of Dutch bloote, (modern spelling blote) meaning entire, complete or pure, which was suggested by Ker (1837) to have been "transformed into bloody, in the consequently absurd phrases of bloody good, bloody bad ...

  8. Dysphemism - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dysphemism

    The pejorative use of the word terrorist is a salient example, as definitions of the word terrorist may vary across cultures and even among individuals in the same culture. Typically, the word "terrorist" refers to one who uses violence and fear as a means to pursue political, religious or ideological aims.

  9. Surreptitious - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surreptitious

    Search for Surreptitious in Wikipedia to check for alternative titles or spellings. Start the Surreptitious article , using the Article Wizard if you wish, or add a request for it ; but please remember that Wikipedia is not a dictionary .