| Subject | Date Asked |
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| word entomology | 10/26/2007 |
Q: I am lookingfor the oldest use of the word geek inthe english (or old) language. Can you help?
A: Ben: "The Oxford English Dictionary" is the universally accepted resource for finding the earliest ...
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| Astralian slang term - crikey | 10/24/2007 |
Q: Could you please tell me where the Australian slang erm "crikey" came from, and what is it's ...
A: Eddie: "Crikey" is Australian slang, which some people find offensive, since it is a variation of ...
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| word origin | 10/15/2007 |
Q: where did the word compassion originate?
A: The word "compassion" was borrowed by the English from the French. The French word is originally ...
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| origins | 9/28/2007 |
Q: Where does the expression "high and dry" come from? As to leave someone "high and dry."
A: Paul: The phrase was originally used as a maritime or nautical expression, in reference to ships ...
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| A LION IN YOUR STOMACH | 9/27/2007 |
Q: SOME THOUGHT IT MEANT THAT YOU WERE REALLY HUNGRY AND YOUR STOMACH WAS GROWLING WHILE HE THINKS IT ...
A: It means that you are really "motivated and going places." One definition I found relates it to the ...
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| I fly | 9/25/2007 |
Q: I know what you mean about the lose of etiquette in this fast paced world. I am a dental technician. ...
A: Marianne: The Latin word [the infinitive] for "to fly" is "volare." The first person, singular is ...
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| teton | 9/21/2007 |
Q: I know how to say thank you! Thank you for reading my question and hopefully supplying a definitive ...
A: I started working on your question about five hours ago. Then a student, who is having personal ...
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| translation please | 9/18/2007 |
Q: Can you please translate Ecce novum astrum
A: Ruth: The word "ecce" means "behold." "Novum astrum" means "new star." "Novum can also mean "the ...
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| I will thank you often and quickly.... | 8/12/2007 |
Q: Ted, do you know the etymology of pea-brained or pea-brain? I realize that after you spent your ...
A: Your question made me curious, so I did the research. I guessed that the phrase has been around ...
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| Etymology, origin of phrase/word | 8/2/2007 |
Q: What is the origin of BULLSEYE in the context of Archery? Is it directly related to the appearance ...
A: Peter: The origin is rather unclear, specifically in relationship to archery. The phrase "bull's ...
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| weaving | 8/2/2007 |
Q: Im trying to find the etymology of the word "weaving' Id appreciate any help LaVerne
A: "The Oxford English Dictionary -- the ultimate authority on word origins in the English language -- ...
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| origin of the world "teenager" | 7/31/2007 |
Q: Our pastor has mentioned that he thought the world "teenager" originated around 1950. One site ...
A: Glen: I am pasting in below the entries from "The Oxford English Dictionary," the most ...
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| latin words interpret | 7/26/2007 |
Q: There are words on our Pioneers of Alaska 1907 certificate of enrollment "ecce novum astrum" and I ...
A: Please take a few seconds to complete the evaluation of this answer. The word "ecce" means ...
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| Rap | 7/18/2007 |
Q: hoping you can settle a dispute. We were talking about the word "Rap" and my collegue insists that ...
A: David: If I agree with you [rap or dialogue came before rap as music], then you'll give me a great ...
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| meaning of a phrase | 7/17/2007 |
Q: where does the phrase" drop your bundle" originate from?
A: First, I am going to beg you to complete the evaluation form that will be attached to my answer. I ...
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| Celitc/Gallic | 5/31/2007 |
Q: I understand this isn't your field of study and so I do apologize if this seems annoying or anything ...
A: Tom: This is FAR FAR away from the etymology of the English language, but there is an excellent ...
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| regional dictionaries for "bite me" | 5/14/2007 |
Q: You had told the original person who asked for the etymology of "bite me" that you would check the ...
A: Jared: It took me quite a while to look through the regionalisms dictionaries, along with many ...
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| language | 5/9/2007 |
Q: where does the word nightmare come from. What does the word "mare" mean?? And why is it associated ...
A: Gail: The word "mare" has its origins in MANY forms in MANY languages, with "mare" being the ...
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| Bite me? | 4/29/2007 |
Q: What is the origin of the retort "bite me"? An Aussie with North American friends, I am often ...
A: Sarah: Shakespeare used the express "bite me," but NOT in the sense that the slang phrase is used ...
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| Bernard Shaw | 4/29/2007 |
Q: Do you know if there is Morris' Dictionary of Word and Phrase Origins on-line? I have 50 phrases to ...
A: Morris' "Dictionary of Word and Phrase Origins" is NOT available online. You must use a library ...
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| Barbarians | 4/20/2007 |
Q: I certainly do appreciate any help you may be able to give me. So I will say Thank You in advance. ...
A: Joan: You are "partially" correct. The name originated with the Romans, in reference to the people ...
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| Curse of Lilith | 4/20/2007 |
Q: Just ran across this reference in a book and can find no direct reference to it on the Internet or ...
A: Don: This is not an etymological question, but I have an interest in mythology, so I thought I'd ...
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| derivation of a phrase | 4/13/2007 |
Q: In your opinion, what is the derivation of the phrase: "The whole nine yards." Thank you, Peter
A: Peter: I don't have "opinions" about word or phrase origins. I do my best to give the facts . . . ...
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| Sit up versus sit down | 4/10/2007 |
Q: Nesbitt, my family of origin has always used "sit up" as a call to dinner. Not as a posture ...
A: Because I have spent a great deal of time looking for your answer and trying to type this message, ...
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| Sorry to hear your instructions | 4/3/2007 |
Q: I just spent a delightful interlude reading questions and answers and enjoy your work so much I have ...
A: I checked several regional dictionaries for idioms in the United States, but I found nothing that ...
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| Derivation | 3/31/2007 |
Q: What is the derivation of pussy-foot? Curious how it entered the language.
A: Andrew -- According to "The Oxford English Dictionary" [OED] -- the "bible" of the etymological ...
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| verbal expressions | 2/6/2007 |
Q: How did the expression "pining for" originate?
A: The verb "pine" comes from the Old English "pinian," which was derived from the Latin word "poena," ...
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| English grammar | 2/4/2007 |
Q: Two questions really; firstly would you classify the word 'gunnery' as an abstract noun? Secondly, ...
A: "Gunnery" is an abstract noun. Check these definitions: An abstract noun refers to states, events, ...
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| Meaning of common saying | 1/16/2007 |
Q: When we want to crawl out of our skin we say, "That gives me the EBGBs." What does EBGB stand for?
A: Diane: The phrase has various spellings, but I have never seen it as "EBGBs." The usual spelling ...
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| etymology of ewe | 1/11/2007 |
Q: What is the etymology of the word ewe?
A: The English word "ewe," a female sheep, can be traced back to several ancient languages, most ...
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| meaning | 12/23/2006 |
Q: l want to know the meaning of "All glitters is not gold" and "Every cloud has a silver lining"
A: Here are the actual meanings of the expressions [sometimes called "adages"] -- All that glitters is ...
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| By all means | 11/10/2006 |
Q: Where did the phrase by all means come from and how was it originally used?
A: This phrase is very peculiar. The original version was "by all ways" and the NEGATIVE version was ...
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| pear-shaped | 11/6/2006 |
Q: Don't tknow whether this will get to you, given the above, but I'll try it anyway (with thanks in ...
A: I didn't respond when I first got your message, because I needed to do a little research. That ...
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| etymology | 10/31/2006 |
Q: etymology and origin of: Judgmental
A: "Judgmental" is the adjectival version of the word "judge," which is both a noun and a verb. The ...
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| Idiomatic use of "kumbaya" | 10/27/2006 |
Q: I'm a reporter trying to track down this idiom. Obviously, it's originally the title of a song. And ...
A: Jeffrey: Dear Jeffrey: I couldn't find a personal e-mail address for you at "The Dallas Morning ...
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| meaning of word | 10/9/2006 |
Q: It's the word 'prosthelytize' Ted. Am I spelling it right? If so, why is it so hard to track down a ...
A: Tony: THANK YOU for helping me. Your evaluation came through with no problems. I think that the ...
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| We confirm that no dues are lying to our company in your name. | 9/26/2006 |
Q: A company writes " We confirm that no dues are lying to our company in your name ". What does it ...
A: The company's statement is very strange. It certainly is NOT good English. The person who wrote ...
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| To die for | 9/24/2006 |
Q: Looking for the historical origin of "to die for"
A: Lisa: I once received a "9" for politeness, but the questioner followed that evaluation with an ...
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| when | 9/12/2006 |
Q: Ted, Although the site says you're available, the instructions say you're not taking questions. On ...
A: OK -- I have checked more than 20 slang, jargon, and dialect dictionaries. The phrase is mid-20th ...
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| idiomatic expression | 9/7/2006 |
Q: I am really sorry to read what you say about a rude questioner, and your unhappy response. If you ...
A: I don't know if I can tell you the exact "origin" of the phrase, since it most likely was used as an ...
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