| Subject | Date Asked |
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| what does "slainte mhath"... | 5/7/2006 |
Q: what does "slainte mhath" mean? i dont even know where it comes from. thank you for your time
A: It is an expression used in some areas of Ireland and Scotland -- it's from the Gaelic language. ...
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| ne plus ultra | 11/6/2005 |
Q: I heard that ne plus ultra was inscribed on the spanish coins in Columbus day, and ne was x'd out ...
A: Jerry: They weren't really "Xed" out, but new coins reflected the discoveries of Columbus. You ...
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| Stevedore | 11/2/2005 |
Q: What is the origin of the word "Stevedore"? Thanks.
A: Jim: The word "stevedore," once spelled "stowadore," is from the Spanish words "estivador," the ...
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| "I'll go he" | 9/17/2005 |
Q: I have always been curious about the origin of the expression "I'll go he", which is popular among ...
A: FOLLOW-UP Two librarians from Australia have responded, and I have the source of the phrase . . . ...
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| Mr. Nesbitt, what about the word GOLF? | 9/11/2005 |
Q: I'd like to know about the etymology of the name of this sport: GOLF. Thanks for paying ...
A: First, there is a fictional account about the origin of the word "golf," to the effect that it was ...
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| Kensa: origin and definition | 7/14/2005 |
Q: It is our understanding that the word kensa has several origins...one of which is japanese and means ...
A: Kate: My expertise is "etymology of the English language." I specialize in the origins of words ...
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| Language | 7/11/2005 |
Q: I am looking for the meaning of the word "tashi". Can you tell me what it means?
A: Josh: I volunteer as an expert in the study of ENGLISH word origins. TASHI is not an English word. ...
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| Latin Translation | 6/22/2005 |
Q: I asked a while ago about the Latin for fate etc, can you please just confirm that " Vis Fati" ...
A: Steve: I don't remember sending you this phrase, but it is correct. I am pasting in below, a ...
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| Sleeping your head into train oil | 6/21/2005 |
Q: My mother, whom I sadly lost this year, used this expression when we were younger to imply we were ...
A: This expression is almost always used by Scots -- or those who have migrated to other countries, ...
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| doctor | 6/17/2005 |
Q: Easy question Could you help me with the origin of the word Doctor Thank you for your time Mark
A: Mark: Here is the information from "The Oxford English Dictionary" [OED] -- the "bible" of the ...
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| English Aussie Slang? | 6/16/2005 |
Q: I have an English friend (London) and an Aussie friend, who both use the phrase "Crickey" or ...
A: Carla: It's spelled so many different ways, I'm not going to attempt listing them all. The most ...
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| damehood | 4/24/2005 |
Q: Google has 883 instances of "damehood", but the word does not seem to be in any dictionary. Is it a ...
A: Nick: "Damehood" is a "contrived word." It does not appear in dictionaries, because it is not ...
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| Meaning of Latin Phrase | 4/13/2005 |
Q: I'm trying to find the meaning of the phrase Filius Nobis. I have found an attribution in the ...
A: Mark: Since you already know the meaning of the phrase and you have found the reference to the book ...
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| meaning | 4/12/2005 |
Q: Okay, I know this may seem stupid of me, but I was hoping you could give me a clear interpretation ...
A: Your question is certainly not "stupid." Thank you for sending it, especially since I learned a few ...
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| Meaning of word | 4/11/2005 |
Q: meaning of the word 'Majani' or 'Majannie'
A: The word is correctly spelled "majani." It is a Swahili word meaning "green," particularly the ...
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| Where does the expression... | 3/2/2005 |
Q: Where does the expression "having a chip on his shoulder" come from?
A: George: Placing a chip on one's shoulder is a "dare" -- if you're man enough to knock it off! Look ...
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| Meaning of saying 'RABBIT' | 2/28/2005 |
Q: Why do people in England say the word 'RABBIT' first thing when they wake up on the first day of ...
A: Lynn: This is not a question of etymology -- the study of word origins. But it is an interesting ...
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| servatis a periculum servatis a maleficum | 2/20/2005 |
Q: This chorus line from Evanescence´s Whisper, sounded familiar, is there a chance that this was also ...
A: Neil: I have received many questions about these phrases, which could very well appear in any ...
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| What does Phi Beta Lambda... | 1/29/2005 |
Q: What does Phi Beta Lambda mean?
A: In the Greek alphabet, Phi is the 21st letter, Beta is the 2nd, and Lambda is the 11th. It is the ...
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| Translation | 1/20/2005 |
Q: can you tell me the correct latin word for "destiny" many thanks steve
A: I tried to add a footnote to my previous message, but I couldn't get it posted into the answer box. ...
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| etymology of etymology | 1/9/2005 |
Q: My question for you, as I am writing a paper for school, is what exactly is the etymology of ...
A: Brad: Fifth and last attempt tonight -- If you are going to be studying etymology, you'd better ...
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| Latin words website | 1/5/2005 |
Q: My biology teacher gives a lot of latin suffixes and prefixes. Do you know of a web site that I can ...
A: I'm going to give you the very best site -- but, unfortunately, it is not that good for Latin. The ...
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| Tradition | 12/28/2004 |
Q: What is the history of the word "tradition"?
A: The English word "tradition" is originally from the Latin word "traditio," which means the ...
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| Etymology | 12/20/2004 |
Q: I have searched in vain for the origin of the word: JIST As in: "Do you get the jist of what I'm ...
A: Your problem is with the spelling of the word. It is "Gist." It is from the Latin word "jacere," ...
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| Origin of the word heroic | 12/11/2004 |
Q: In today's Houston Chronicle crossword puzzle, the clue was "symphony nickname". The answer was ...
A: "Eroica" is the French word for "heroic." [It's interesting that it has a "feminine" connotation -- ...
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| looking for a word | 12/6/2004 |
Q: There is three words in the english language that end in 'gry' one is angry the other is hungry what ...
A: Marlene: Here is the comprehensive web site that gives the complete history of the "-gry" puzzle! ...
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| etymology of the word no one | 11/24/2004 |
Q: I am absolutely positive that in the 1950's and 60's we were taught to spell the words "no one" and ...
A: Linda: My answer is going to disappoint you, but you want the truth, right? I think the reason you ...
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| etymology | 11/17/2004 |
Q: I've been told that there's a word for when you can't remember a word - but then he said he couldn't ...
A: I recently had this question. Here's the answer, in some detail: You are talking about a condition ...
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| Latin Languag | 11/15/2004 |
Q: What is the meaning of the latin word "aurigae"?
A: "Auriga" is the Latin word for "charioteer." Its plural form is "aurigae." "Auriga" is the ...
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| Meaning of a word | 10/17/2004 |
Q: I have come across an archaic English word 'wrostling'. Do you have any idea of it's meaning?
A: Please send me the context in which you found the word. If you came across it online, please send ...
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| Literature | 9/29/2004 |
Q: I need examples of how to identify voice in literature.
A: Adan: I'm not sure what you mean, but I have the feeling that the "accepted" literary term you are ...
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| word origin | 9/26/2004 |
Q: Maybe you can help me. I am trying to find out the history of the word FOMITE. I know what it ...
A: Paul: "The Oxford English Dictionary" [the "bible" of etymology] and "Stedman's Medical Dictionary" ...
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| Agape | 9/16/2004 |
Q: I know agape means love. I want to know from what language the word was derived. Thank you Sabra ...
A: AGAPE is from the Greek language. The Greeks had three different words for love, depending on the ...
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| Definitions | 9/9/2004 |
Q: I have not found a dictionary which gives me the definition for "simple majority" as may apply to a ...
A: Don: To the best of my knowledge, "simple majority" is just another way of saying "majority." ...
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| English to latin translation | 9/8/2004 |
Q: if you don't mind, i really need a english to latin translation for an upcoming tattoo: "family ...
A: Garrett: I am averaging one of these questions per week! What's with the Latin tattoos? Etymology ...
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| Meaning/Origin | 9/7/2004 |
Q: I'm a bit confused. AllExperts provides a link to you stating you'll answer questions regarding the ...
A: Barbara: I have taken a leave of absence from Allexperts, for two reasons: (1) the rudeness of ...
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| Etymology of certain Idiom | 8/27/2004 |
Q: What is the etymology of the phrase "put your money where yout mouth is" ? I know what it means, but ...
A: Janet: The simplest explanation is that its origin is uncertain. The phrase appears in a few ...
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| excessive tea drinker | 8/23/2004 |
Q: I think you're the only person who can answer this question so I really hope you'll consider ...
A: Jill: It is a beautiful day here, finally, so I had a pleasant drive through the countryside. I ...
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| Pear Shaped | 8/11/2004 |
Q: Would you be able to explain the origins of using the phrase 'pear-shaped' to mean things going ...
A: The expression -- according to The Oxford English Dictionary -- began as slang in England, shortly ...
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| meaning of I N R I found on crosses with jesus | 7/16/2004 |
Q: what does I N R I stand for
A: "INRI" is the abbreviation for "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews." The words were "Iesvs ...
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