Five ways Dickens expanded the English language
After Shakespeare, Charles Dickens has been the writer who most expanded the vocabulary we use.
Posts
Why is English not the official language of England?
58 countries have English as an official language - but not the USA or the UK.
What is the Rorschach test?
Hermann Rorschach (1884–1922) invented the 'ink blot' personality test. This uses ten standard black or coloured inkblot designs to assess personality traits and emotional tendencies.
What is Iconoclasm?
The word Iconoclasm has its origin in A dispute over the use of religious images (icons) in the Byzantine Empire in the 8th and 9th centuries.
What is the longest word in English?
Longest words in English? The Oxford University Press English Dictionary disqualifies the word nominated by The Readers Digest with this withering put down:
Origin of nepotism?
— nep · o · tis · tic \ ˌ ne-pə- ˈ tis-tik\ adjective This satirical cartoon by Robert Cruikshank an alleged network of personal connections between those then running Guys Hospital in London in 1830. The subtitle is 'Sevilty Rewarded'
Why 'Dutch courage'?
To have Dutch courage is to lose fear or inhibition by drinking alcohol. There are two main theories as to it origin
Where does the word shampoo come from?
Shampoo is the Hindi/Urdu word chāmpo for a head massage with oil. The first known usage in English was in 1792 from a surprising source.
