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EtymologyRules
EtymologyRules

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Jan 30, 2022

Money Talks: Almighty Dollar pt. 2

A recap from the previous money talk: the word dollar comes from the German word thaler referring to silver. Thus, the original dollar itself was silver. Over a century later, the paper dollar emerged, although still backed by gold or silver for many years. Fast forward to The Great Depression…

4 min read

4 min read


Jan 1, 2022

All About Race

The word race is ubiquitously known throughout the Western world, particularly the United States. Most people recognize that humans are classified by a social construct that is mistakenly seen as biological (although many people are not aware of this misconception). A good number of people recognize the inequities members of…

7 min read

All About Race
All About Race

7 min read


Dec 13, 2021

Money Talks: Almighty Dollar Pt. 1

As an etymologist, I tend to frame everything through a linguistic lens. It is hard for me to simply take a word at face value because I know that nine times out of ten, the word’s modern-day understanding differs from its original meaning (connotation vs. denotation). And while some may…

Etymology

4 min read

Etymology

4 min read


Apr 3, 2021

Matriarchy and gynocracy are the words of the day.

Matriarchy comes from the Latin mater meaning mother (the genitive form being matris) and the Greek arkhien meaning “to rule”. A matriarchal system is one in which women, specifically mothers, rule or lead, particularly in familial, tribal, community, organizational, and societal structures. …

Africa

5 min read

Matriarchy and gynocracy are the words of the day.
Matriarchy and gynocracy are the words of the day.
Africa

5 min read


Mar 20, 2021

9 New Terms That Have Emerged From the Pandemic

As with any major historical event or phenomenon, life during COVID calls for new terms. For the majority of Americans, “sheltering-in-place” and “social distancing” are novel experiences that no pre-existing term can describe. So naturally, the English language has experienced a deluge of neologisms during the pandemic. …

Pandemic

9 min read

9 New Terms That Emerged As A Result of the Pandemic
9 New Terms That Emerged As A Result of the Pandemic
Pandemic

9 min read


Nov 21, 2020

Is DC Chillin’ or DC Changing?: Revitalization versus Gentrification of the Nation’s Capital

By B. Selah Lee-Bey Note: This piece was originally published on August 24, 2018 on DiversePatriots.com Ask any native Washingtonian what’s happening in DC, and the first thing they’ll say is gentrification. Their families and friends are being pushed out of the homes they have called home for generations. Ask…

Gentrification

5 min read

Is DC Chillin’ or DC Changing?: Revitalization versus Gentrification of the Nation’s Capital
Is DC Chillin’ or DC Changing?: Revitalization versus Gentrification of the Nation’s Capital
Gentrification

5 min read


Aug 5, 2020

The Story of Blackfishing

Blackfishing: a trend in which non-white people alter their appearance in order to present themselves as Black. (Source: theweek.co) The setting is virtual debate camp. The question was what is something new you have tried during the stay at home order? I was expecting responses like “catching up on my…

Blackfish

5 min read

The Story of Blackfishing
The Story of Blackfishing
Blackfish

5 min read


Jul 27, 2020

Etymological Musings 2: Spinsters

Spinster was originally a female spinner of thread (14th century); it became a legal designation of an unmarried woman, as unmarried women were expected to sit home and spin fibers into thread. By the 18th century, it became a pejorative for any unmarried woman past a certain age. Reading Helen…

Spinster

2 min read

Spinster

2 min read


Jul 24, 2020

Etymological Musings 1: Meditate or Mediate?

What do the following word pairs have in common: attitude and aptitude; advent and adventure; busy and business; and apparently, people’s personal favorite mourning and morning? The words in the pairings have a similar look and sound. Attitude and aptitude only differ by one letter. Advent and adventure share a…

Meditate

2 min read

Meditate

2 min read


Jun 5, 2020

The Language of A Riot

“A riot is the language of the unheard. What is it that America has failed to hear?” - Martin Luther King Jr. The Other America I came across this quotation several times on Tuesday after the wave of protests and riots throughout America against police brutality, racism, and the killing…

Anti Racism

5 min read

The Language of A Riot
The Language of A Riot
Anti Racism

5 min read

EtymologyRules

EtymologyRules

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Etymology: the truth about language and words

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