The Writer's Thesaurus
By Dr Oliver Tearle
Where does the word ‘alphabet’ originally come from? Let’s begin by posing the question as a quiz. We’ll make it multiple-choice so it’s (potentially) a bit easier.
So, here goes: where does the word ‘alphabet’ come from? Continue reading “The Curious Origin of the Word ‘Alphabet’”
By Dr Oliver Tearle
The word ‘gaslighting’ has become an everyday term in the last few years, so a few words about its curious origins – and the precise meaning of the word – may be helpful (or, indeed, illuminating). The story of the word ‘gaslighting’ takes us into the world of 1940s cinema and, before that, early twentieth-century theatre. So let’s shed some light on that gaslight … Continue reading “The Curious Origin of the Word ‘Gaslighting’”
By Dr Oliver Tearle
The word ‘zealous’ is used to describe someone who has zeal: a passionate enthusiasm for, or devotion to, a particular cause, idea, or objective. Curiously, there is an etymological link between the similar words zealous and jealous: zealous is derived from zeal, of course, and that word is ultimately from the Latin meaning ‘jealousy, rivalry, or emulation’. Since someone might be described as jealously guarding something they support with zeal, one can see the link. Continue reading “24 of the Best Synonyms and Antonyms for ‘Zealous’”