The Writer's Thesaurus
By Dr Oliver Tearle
‘Narcissism’ is a handy word: it conveys the idea of being self-absorbed and self-regarding, there is a handy word which combines these two aspects of selfishness in one. But where does this word come from? Continue reading “The Curious Origin of the Word ‘Narcissism’”
By Dr Oliver Tearle
The word ‘naked’ is so well-known, so familiar to us, that it’s easy to overlook its strangeness. It rhymes with no other word in English, and looks like a weird hybrid or cross between a verb and an adjective. How did the word naked come about, and what are its origins?
Let’s strip the word ‘naked’ naked, and explore its curious history. Continue reading “The Curious Origin of the Word ‘Naked’”
By Dr Oliver Tearle
What does the word orange literally mean? What is the derivation or origin of orange? The word’s etymology is interesting, and also more than a little mysterious, so let’s take a closer look at the origins of the word orange.
If you had to guess on the word’s origins, what would you say? Let’s make it easier. Which of the following four potential meanings of the word makes the most sense? Which of these might be the etymology of orange? Continue reading “The Curious Origin of the Word ‘Orange’”