All it takes is a simple S to make most English words plural. But it hasn't always worked that way (and there are, of course, exceptions). John McWhorter looks back to the good old days when English was newly split from German -- and...

Why do we call women ladies? Well, etymologically-speaking, the word comes from the Old English words for hlaf (bread) and daege (maid), which, combined, mean the female head of the household and eventually indicated high social...

Now known for its beauty and green hue, the stone jade was previously thought to espouse magical properties, such as kidney treatment. Jessica Oreck and Rachael Teel explain the word's travels from 15th century to Spain to today. [2:07]

From whirlpools and ravines to superlative beauty, what is the trajectory of the word gorgeous? Jessica Oreck and Rachael Teel reveal the surprising variations in meaning. [2:00]

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]

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]

In this lesson learners will develop a "what if" poem using strong word choice and vocabulary.

This article explains techniques to increase how much exposure your social media posts receive. The author discusses word of mouth, social media influencers, the use of contests, calls-to-action, and other strategies.

Dictionary.Com is an online dictionary. It provides definitions, syllabication, pronunciation, word origin, and part of speech. It also provides a word of the day, word games, and much more.

Read about the origins of jazz music as it began in New Orleans before 1895. With its unique history and culture, New Orleans provided many opportunities for the development of jazz to thrive and grow.

Today, we recognize the word hearse as a vehicle that carries a coffin to a funeral. Jessica Oreck explains how this word has, at various times, described a wolf, a rake, and a frame, eventually landing at its meaning today. [2:13]

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...

An earwig is neither an ear nor a wig; it is an insect. Jessica Oreck and Rachael Teel explain how folklore gave this bug its name, combining entomology with etymology. [2:16]

Miniature's root may be Latin, but its meaning is rooted in books, where red pigment was used to denote chapter breaks. Jessica Oreck explains how we got from there to the meaning of miniature today: something smaller than others of its...

Whether we're talking all things unusual or mathematical, the origins of the word odd point to the Indo-European root uzdho, which means pointing upwards. Jessica Oreck and Rachael Teel explain the evolution from the term for a triangle...

In 1920, Czech writer Karel Capek wrote a play about human-like machines, thereby inventing the term robot from the Central European word for forced labor. Jessica Oreck and Rachael Teel explain how the science fiction staple earned its...

A very detailed look at the development of the field of sociology. Looks at its historical roots, the earliest sociologists, and explains major theories that it was based on, and theories and schools of thought that evolved from those....

This page focuses on April Fools' Day with extensive word lists, vocabulary puzzles, and information about the origin of April Fools' Day. L.11-12. 6 Vocabulary

This lesson plan teaches young scholars to create an original poem based on select words and phrases from a prose piece. Also encourages students to model poetic forms after found poems.

How did venom get its poisonous meaning? Jessica Oreck and Rachael Teel follow venom from something to desire to explicit reasons for avoiding a snake. [2:02]

A lesson plan which has students understanding the impact that Rome had on history, from things as diverse as city planning to our everyday vocabulary.

This site shares a context clues worksheet. Students will read each sentence, write original definitions of bolded terms, and then write the clues that help them determine the bolded words' definitions. Links for an answer key,...

Learn many of the elements which Shakespeare used, or took into consideration, as he wrote the original manuscripts of his plays. How did he shape the English language with new words, how did he evoke settings when plays used few or no...

The Dare Stones have long been a thorn in the mystery surrounding the Lost Colony of Roanoke Island. The first stone was found in 1937 and had an inscription that was originally thought to have been carved by Eleanor Dare, daughter of...