TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: Mysteries of Vernacular: Yankee
Is it a doodle dandy? A baseball team? The origins of the word yankee are unclear, though its usage in America as a pejorative is well-documented. Jessica Oreck and Rachael Teel track the varying levels of contempt that the word yankee...
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: Mysteries of Vernacular: Inaugurate
From avian omens to the beginning of a new policy or the reign of a new politician, Jessica Oreck follows the flight path of the word inaugurate. [2:08]
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: Mysteries of Vernacular: Tuxedo
How did tuxedo's roots extend from Native American history to black tie evening wear? Jessica Oreck reveals what the Delaware Indians and formal fashion have in common. [2:04]
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: Why Is There a "B" in Doubt?
Say the word "doubt" aloud. What is that "b" doing there? Does it have any purpose? Gina Cooke explains the long and winding history of "doubt" and why the spelling, though it seems random, is a wink to its storied past. [3:28]
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: Cognates (English I Reading)
Use your knowledge of cognates from other languages to help you understand unfamiliar words.
Other
Uncp: Using a Dictionary
Curious about what a dictionary might tell you beyond how to spell a word? This site will walk you through the basics of using any dictionary, as well as suggest why you might want to consult one on a regular basis. L.9-10.4c References,...
The Guardian
Guardian: Down With Meritocracy
This article was written by the man who coined the word, and explains what political system he was describing and how it has been enacted in British politics.
Other
Words Borrowed From Old French
Extremely high level of English competency is needed to use this site. Etymologists will enjoy it.
Other
The Seven Day Week and the Meanings of the Names
Ever wonder why Thursday is called Thursday? Find the answer to this and other word origins.
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: The True Story of 'True'
The older the word, the longer (and more fascinating) the story. With roots in Old English, 'true' shares etymological ancestors with words like betroth and truce, but also with the word tree. In fact, trees have been metaphors for...
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: Reference Materials: Printed and Electronic
You will learn how to use dictionaries, glossaries, and thesauri in order to determine meanings of words and phrases, including their denotations, connotations, and etymologies.
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: A Brief History of Melancholy
If you are a living, breathing human being, chances are you have felt sad at least a few times in your life. But what exactly is melancholy, and what (if anything) should we do about it? Courtney Stephens details our still-evolving...
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: Reference Materials Printed and Electronic
Find out how to use dictionaries, glossaries, and thesauri in order to determine meanings of words and phrases, including their denotations, connotations, and etymologies.
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: Reference Materials Printed and Electronic
Learn how to use dictionaries, glossaries, and thesauri in order to determine meanings of words and phrases, including their denotations, connotations, and etymologies.
Folger Shakespeare Library
"To Be or Not to Be": Close Reading Hamlet's Soliloquy
From the Folger Shakespeare Library, this lesson plan requires students to analyze Hamlet's soliloquy with an emphasis on word meaning and etymology. They then compare two film versions of the speech.
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: The Psychology of Accents
This Braincraft video, along with this lesson, are intended to get you thinking about why and how accents exist within languages.
Curated OER
Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Clip Art Etc: Petasus
The Petasus differed from the pileus or simple skull-cap in having a wide brim: the etymology of the word, expressed the distinctive shape of these hats. It was preferred to the skull-cap as a protection from the sun. - Smith, 1873