| Subject | Date Asked | Expert |
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| meaning of the word center | 11/10/2009 | Carol Pozefsky |
Q: i was wondering where the word center came from. i know that cent comes from centum meaning 100 but ...
A: Here is the origin of the word 'center' from the Dictionary of Etymology: late 14c., from O.Fr. ...
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| etymology of | 11/2/2009 | Carol Pozefsky |
Q: I am analyzing a newspaper article that compares hedge fund mismanagement to the behavior of "second ...
A: The term 'sugar daddy' is used to depict the salacious older man who spends large amounts of money ...
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| etymology of "second wives" | 11/2/2009 | Carol Pozefsky |
Q: I am analyzing a newspaper article that compares hedge fund mismanagement to the behavior of "second ...
A: The expession 'second wives at a Jimmy Choo sale' means individuals who are spending money freely ...
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| Letter etymology | 11/1/2009 | Carol Pozefsky |
Q: Just a quick enquiry as to the origin of the word "letter", in relation to the form of message. Does ...
A: I hope you're having a fine weekend, The word 'lettre' meaning knowledge of reading and ...
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| Etymology of a phrase | 10/29/2009 | Carol Pozefsky |
Q: Despite much searching I cannot find any explanation for the phrase "tip-top", as in tip-top ...
A: I hope you're having a fine week, 'Tip-top' is beieved to be military slang which worked its ...
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| i want to know hte meaning of hte word "oor" | 10/17/2009 | Ted Nesbitt |
Q: i am from iraq and i am in the third class in translation dep. i am trying to translate an economic ...
A: You cannot find the word, because it doesn't exist. In the sentence you have quoted, there are two ...
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| mean of | 10/13/2009 | Carol Pozefsky |
Q: i have just read a few of your replies to various question, and found them very interesting could ...
A: I hope that you are having a fine week, There seems to be consensus that the term "Chinese ...
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| Origin of the phrase "Ol' buddy, ol' pal, ol' friend of mine" | 10/12/2009 | Carol Pozefsky |
Q: I am wondering about the origins of this common phrase "Ol buddy, ol' pal, ol' friend of mine" - I ...
A: I hope you're having a fine week. You probably are not finding 'Ol buddy, ol' pal, ol' friend ...
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| Question about etymology | 10/11/2009 | Carol Pozefsky |
Q: I am looking for a etymology of word hope. I need some really good information. Thank you!
A: Please forgive the delay. I didn't notice this question until just now. (10/12) Ernest ...
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| 18th century language | 10/11/2009 | Ted Nesbitt |
Q: What are the words used instead of yes in the 18th century? Thank you
A: I have spent some time searching various dictionaries and thesauri. "The Oxford English Dictionary" ...
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| derivation of a word | 9/26/2009 | Ted Nesbitt |
Q: I am sorry you were not thanked for your previous hard work. I promise I will not treat you so ...
A: You promised to reply, so I have spent the last two hours trying to find the information for you. ...
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| meaning of a word | 9/23/2009 | Ted Nesbitt |
Q: Does the word "Munkowurlie" have a meaning? It is a area name, and could have a meaning in two ...
A: Rob: I checked numerous geographical dictionaries and atlases, including "The Times Atlas of the ...
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| Mealagh | 9/19/2009 | Carol Pozefsky |
Q: I live in the Mealagh Valley near Bantry West Cork Ireland, and have been told the word mealagh ...
A: I hope you've had a fine weekend, My etymological sources did not find a connection between ...
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| pirate phrases | 9/17/2009 | Carol Pozefsky |
Q: What is the etymology of "All hands ahoy!"
A: I hope you're having a fine week, First, let's address the word 'ahoy'. A well documented ...
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| word meaning | 9/15/2009 | Ted Nesbitt |
Q: I've been reading a book that's set in Canada and have come across the word 'jeezledy'. From the way ...
A: "Jeezledy" is a slang expression [considered by many to be in poor taste]. It is an abbreviated ...
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| origin of phrase | 9/13/2009 | Carol Pozefsky |
Q: What is the origin of the phrase 'pear-shaped'? Thank you.
A: "It went pear-shaped" is used, in common English jargon, to refer to a project that resulted in ...
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| Phrase etymology | 9/12/2009 | Carol Pozefsky |
Q: What is the origin of "funny bone" ? Regards Charley
A: I hope you're having a fine weekend, Just to make certain that my notion was correct, I checked ...
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| Etymology | 9/11/2009 | Carol Pozefsky |
Q: Please which one of these two sentences is correct: If you are lead to bless me. If you are led to ...
A: I hope you are having a fine weekend, My specialty is etymology; the origins of English words ...
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| Please answer mine!! Please | 8/23/2009 | Ted Nesbitt |
Q: I'll say thanks in person if I could but I'll rate and thank you, promise! But I need your help with ...
A: The last few people who promised to "rate and thank me" did NOT do either, after I spend hours ...
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| origin of phrase | 8/22/2009 | Carol Pozefsky |
Q: What's the origin of "out the ying yang"? I assume it's a reference to the asian symbol yin yang ...
A: I hope you are having a fine week, We find the following information on 'out the ying yang' on ...
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| meaning of word | 8/21/2009 | Ted Nesbitt |
Q: what does the name "Amarantine" mean ?? The singer Enya has a song that is named that.
A: The word "Amarantine" comes from Greek mythology. "In Greek mythology, Amaranthus was a hunter of ...
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| Ted, please help.Gratitude in advance | 8/20/2009 | Ted Nesbitt |
Q: The derivation of "hysterectomized" is my question? I teach medical terminology and English as a ...
A: The verb "hysterectomized" is from the noun "hysterectomy." The derivations are from the Greek ...
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| Shenanigans | 8/16/2009 | Ted Nesbitt |
Q: Hey Ted, Hope you're well. I got an email about some "shenanigans" and got to thinking where on ...
A: When I read your message, I thought, "Of course, it's from Ireland. Shenanigans are those tricks ...
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| phrase I read in "Sister Carrie" = fire signs | 8/14/2009 | Ted Nesbitt |
Q: A few times in the book, the author Theodore Dreiser refers to "fire signs" over theaters and such. ...
A: The "fire signs" were like today's neon signs. Your interpretation is correct. They were the first ...
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| I respectfully ask you the meaning of a saying | 8/10/2009 | Ted Nesbitt |
Q: I was taught to have manners and am respectful to most people so I promise you that I will thank you ...
A: I can tell you what it means, but I have been unable to identify the country of origin, although the ...
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| Please help? | 8/7/2009 | Ted Nesbitt |
Q: August 7, 2009 Dear Mr. Nesbitt, I read that you are no longer accepting questions . . . but I ...
A: I will do "one" more. Your question intrigues me. First, about "utmost" and "upmost." I have no ...
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| Ted Come Back! | 8/2/2009 | Ted Nesbitt |
Q: I recently discovered your expert answers and enjoy reading them aloud to my coworkers during our ...
A: Fortunately, for you and your coworker, neither of you is correct. [But, she is closer than you ...
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| latin or greek word which means thanks or giving thanks | 8/1/2009 | Carol Pozefsky |
Q: can u please refer some words from Greek or Latin orgin which means "THANKS" Or "GIVING THANKS"
A: My specialty is etymology; the origins of English words and phrases. But I'll take a stab at this ...
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| HOUSE NAMES | 7/31/2009 | Carol Pozefsky |
Q: My mother's house in Broadstairs in Kent is called 'MARSHAM'. We woul love to know the derivation ...
A: I hope you are having a fine week, I wish there were more our research could find about the ...
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| origin of a phrase | 7/30/2009 | Carol Pozefsky |
Q: What is the origin of the phrase " death before dishonor " ?
A: I hope you are having a fine week, My research shows that the phrase was an ancient cry used by ...
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| wine | 7/30/2009 | Carol Pozefsky |
Q: What is meaning + origin What is meaning +orign of wine oorigin of the word"wine"
A: I hope you are having a fine week, According to Barhart's Dictionary of Etymology, the word ...
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| why | 7/29/2009 | Carol Pozefsky |
Q: Why are the forms of the verb "read" pronounced in different ways? The answers like "due to the ...
A: I hope you're having a fine day, The forms of the verb read are pronounced differently to ...
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| low and below | 7/27/2009 | Carol Pozefsky |
Q: I am trying to find out the origin of the expression "low and below" or "lo and below" and the real ...
A: I hope you're having a fine week, Could it be that the expression you're interested in is "lo ...
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| Origin of "partner" | 7/27/2009 | Carol Pozefsky |
Q: I understand the basic meaning/roots of the word, but I am curious as to when/how it was adopted by ...
A: I hope you're having a fine week. The word partner has a venerable history descending from the ...
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| That smarts. | 7/26/2009 | Ted Nesbitt |
Q: One of my friends recently used the phrase "That smarts" after he hurt himself. I thought it was a ...
A: Although it seems that the phrase "it smarts" or "that smarts" is colloquial in nature, its origin ...
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| Curious phrase | 7/24/2009 | Carol Pozefsky |
Q: Where did the phrase "looking to" come from? I think it is funny for people to say, "I'm looking to ...
A: I hope you're having a fine weekend, Using the word 'looking' in the way you specify is a ...
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| Phrase origins | 7/23/2009 | Ted Nesbitt |
Q: My father used to say to me, when he was somewhat annoyed, "You're giving me the pip." Would you ...
A: Michael: Accord to "The Oxford English Dictionary [OED]," the word [spelled pippe] was first used ...
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| meaning of the word "follow" | 7/21/2009 | Carol Pozefsky |
Q: I heard recently that the original meaning of the word "follow" means "back". I would like to know ...
A: I hope you're having a fine week, Barnhart's Dictionary of Etymology is considered the bible of ...
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| "you can do this" | 7/12/2009 | Carol Pozefsky |
Q: I don't know if I'm the only one who has noticed this and not sure when it started, but the ...
A: Your question is "Since they (the expressions) both mean the same thing, why has one replaced the ...
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| kognoscere | 7/5/2009 | Carol Pozefsky |
Q: I am interested in etymology of the word "cognition" Etymological dictionary speaks of the Latin ...
A: I hope you are having a fine weekend, For the first time in approximately 25 years, I will have to ...
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