Teach history, lukewarm engineer!

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A scolding? A loving wish? A whispered hope? A field of blank snow, or ten perfect flakes? The ether asks you which you are.

Splendid! Is there a link to it yet? And please make a database of your slang collection. It would be invaluable.

You! How are you doing? I haven't seen your name in a while. Looks like Greek for "thistle." New one to me. I'll look into it if you remember to remind me when I don't.

Bombshell: Etymonline in Epstein Files | etymonline Get more from etymonline on Patreon

Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. We've been spotted in the Epstein files. www.patreon.com/posts/149679...

Andrew's right. Doug from 2001 or so, Talia came on to help in a regular way about 2023.

"As fear is the principle of despotic government, its end is tranquility ; but this tranquility cannot be called a peace : no, it is only the silence of those towns which the enemy is ready to invade."

[Montesquieu, "The Spirit of the Laws," 1748, Hafner Library translation]

"As virtue is necessary in a republic, and in a monarchy honor, so fear is necessary in a despotic government : with regard to virtue, there is no occasion for it, and honor would be extremely dangerous."

[Montesquieu, "The Spirit of the Laws," 1748, Hafner Library translation]

Building the Online Etymology Dictionary, with Doug Harper Podcast Episode · Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing · 01/15/2026 · 34m

Etymonline's Doug Harper sat down recently with Grammar Girl's Mignon Fogarty and we nerdified about words. See what you think! "Grammar" is top of the etymonline trending list today. Take it as a sign.

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Sunday, Naughty Sunday | etymonline Get more from etymonline on Patreon

It's not what you think.

One hopes not but "trendings" is such a drawn-out snivel of a word. Trendies was best word for the job. Social media posting is trawling for eyeballs, anyhow, not writing, says me.

Today's Trendies | etymonline Get more from etymonline on Patreon

Today's Trendings parsed on Patreon

The Ex Appeal Podcast Relationships Podcast · Host Miriam Katz interviews every person she has ever been romantic with on any level, from a 5th grade pizza date to an orthodox rabbi to a stripper she once hooked up with. E...

This recommendation is out of etymonline's lane. Except that love like English also is a language and both involve tongues. If you crave a cove of humanity, there's one in this podcast, which is knife-sharp and human-soft all at once. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

yes it is. Highly annoying.

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just mucking about in history.

Yes, friends, soon it might be time for another Etymonline Fireside Chat, brought to you by Old Rabbit Hole beer: 'Fall down one and get lost!'

Or it might not. But you won't know unless you follow us on Patreon. You'll also know a few other things.

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This morning's etymonline Trending Words list. Thanks to the London tabloids and somehow a Kardashian we dumped merkins in everyone's breakfast feed. Also, apologies to this morning's classroom spelling teachers.

In Halloween season 2025, is it acceptable to speak of "spooks" and "spooky?" Don't ask us; we live in the past. But those words have twisty history:

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Today's Etymonline weather report and daily Jumble clues.

"And the fire and the rose are one." Cut 5 and 8 and it flows top to end like a sermon heard from a distant room.

Today's etymonline weather forecast and Emily Dickinson rough draft. Feels more cheerful than usual. "Hello, enigma!" "Good morning, Science!" Do you like this hat? No.