Curated Video
A Midsummer Night's Dream 5.1.046 Eunuch
The term "eunuch" refers to a castrated man. It was originally used in ancient kingdoms where eunuchs served as guards for the ruler's harem, ensuring they would not engage with the women they protected. Additionally, there was a...
Curated Video
A Midsummer Night's Dream 4.1.55 Word Nerd: Orient Pearls
Titania places a flowery wreath on Bottom's head, and Oberon remarks that the dewdrops on the flowers, resembling tears, suggest the flowers are lamenting their dishonor in adorning Bottom's donkey head. He compares these to pearls,...
Curated Video
A Midsummer Night's Dream 3.2.214 Heraldry
In A Midsummer Night's Dream, Helena uses wordplay and heraldry to symbolize the deep connection between herself and Hermia, likening them to "two seeming bodies but one heart," indicating their close friendship. She references heraldry,...
Curated Video
A Midsummer Night's Dream 3.2.203 Word Nerd: Artificial
The term "artificial" originates from the Latin "artificium," meaning craftsmanship or artistry, which was its initial meaning in English. Nowadays, "artificial" typically refers to anything man-made, often carrying a negative...
Curated Video
A Midsummer Night's Dream 3.2.158 Word Nerd: Conjure
The word "conjure" comes from the Latin words for "with" and "oath," initially meaning to accomplish something through a sacred oath. By Shakespeare's era, it evolved to refer specifically to summoning devils or spirits by using a sacred...
Curated Video
A Midsummer Night's Dream 3.1.126 Cuckoo
The cuckoo bird is named after the sound it makes. Its behavior of the female laying eggs in the nests of males other than her partner has led to the term "cuckold," referring to a man whose wife has been unfaithful. In A Midsummer...
Curated Video
A Midsummer Night's Dream 2.1.84 Word Nerd: Purple Grain
Before the advent of modern chemistry in the 19th century, one of the most unusual natural coloring agents was a red dye made by grinding up the bodies of insects living on cacti in Central America. This dye was known as "purple in...
Curated Video
A Midsummer Night's Dream 2.1.195 Word Nerd: Adamant
The word "adamant" originates from the Latin word "aramas," meaning a hard stone, and has evolved to denote anything unbreakable. In Shakespeare's era, "adamant" specifically referred to a lodestone or naturally occurring magnet,...
Curated Video
A Midsummer Night's Dream 2.1.158 Word Nerd: Vestal
The term "vestal" originates from Vesta, an ancient Roman goddess, and was initially associated with the Vestal Virgins who served her temple in Rome, pledging thirty years of chastity. By Shakespeare's time, "vestal" had broadened to...
Curated Video
A Midsummer Night's Dream 2.1.100 Imagery: Flooding
In Shakespeare's time, excessive rain posed as much risk to agriculture and livestock as drought did, leading to crop rot, washaways, and livestock drowning. This not only affected farmers negatively but also disrupted recreational...
Curated Video
A Midsummer Night's Dream 1.1.71 Word Nerd: Mew
The word "mew" originates from the Latin word "mutate," which means to change, and is the root of the English word "mutate." However, "mew" is specifically used to describe the molting process of a bird. This term has been extended...
Curated Video
A Midsummer Night's Dream 1.1.19 Word Nerd: Triumph
The term "triumph" originally comes from the Latin "triumpus," signifying the highest honor bestowed by the Roman Empire for a significant military victory. By Shakespeare's era, "triumph" had evolved to denote any public celebration, as...
Curated Video
A Midsummer Night's Dream 1.1.033 Word Nerd: Gaud
This video explores the etymology and historical context of the use of the word "gaud," relating it to a Latin word "gaudere," meaning to rejoice, and its association with a special kind of bead on a Catholic Rosary. It also touches on...
PBS
Why Does "Straight" Mean Heterosexual?
When did we start defining sexual orientation and how did that result in "straight" becoming a synonym for "heterosexual"? Today Danielle follows the winding history of the word through medical terms, lavender linguistics, and community...
Curated Video
Why Do We Say "African American"?
Language is constantly changing and ethnonyms are no exception. From "Negro" to "Colored" and "African American" to "Black," the people and cultures of African origin living in the United States have had many names. Today Danielle looks...
Curated Video
Egg Corns: Uncovering Linguistic Mishearings and Language Evolution
This video explores the linguistic phenomenon of egg corns, which are misheard versions of terms that have become popularized. The term "eggcorn" was coined by linguists to describe these quirky mishearings, which often make their own...
Curated Video
Etymology
“Etymology” describes the way to research and determine the origins of words.
Curated Video
Tracking "Democracy"
Political theorist John Dunn (Cambridge) highlights the importance of investigating the etymology of "democracy" in order to better appreciate the evolution of our political beliefs.
Curated Video
Uncovering Meaning
Historian David Armitage, University of Harvard, relates how examining the historical evolution of key terms and phrases can uncover the many sedimented meanings associated with them, thereby pointing the way to deeper historical...
Curated Video
Tracing A Path
Intellectual historian Darrin McMahon (Dartmouth) details how investigating the etymology of "genius" naturally led him to a deeper understanding of what he had previously thought was primarily an 18th-century phenomenon.
Curated Video
Sedimented Meanings
Historian David Armitage (Harvard) describes the importance of trying to unpack the various layers of meanings that have accrued to words and concepts over the course of history.
Nature League
Nurse Sharks and Other Strange Names
On this episode of Nature League, Brit investigates how the nurse shark and other species got their intriguing English names. Written, edited, and presented by: Brit Garner Graphics and illustrations by: Tamar Ziri Original concept art:...
Curated Video
Resurrecting Medieval Words
In this video, the teacher introduces viewers to a collection of wonderful medieval words that have been lost to time. They discuss the meanings and origins of these words, and the teacher shares their thoughts on whether or not these...
Vlogbrothers
The Most Popular Word in the World
Is OK the most popular word in the world? That depends on how you look at it. It's been argued that it's the most /spoken/ word in the world, but I have to call BS on that. The most spoken word has got to be "the" or "I" or the...