Vocabulary.com Blog
Articles about Word Origins
There is so much more to fathers than a bunch of words, but these terms at least cover the tip of the word-berg that describes the changing culture of fatherhood.
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How do vocabularians observe National Fudge Day? With a play on words, of course. So rather than (or perhaps in addition to) stuffing yourself with the gooey confection, how about exploring what it means to "fudge it"? In other words, the language of lies.
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Dept. of Word Lists
Sgt. Pepper's: The Language of the Lonely Hearts Club Band
50 Years Later, the Lyrics and the Music Endure
June 1st marks the 50th anniversary of one of The Beatles' greatest albums, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. On this album, The Beatles proved beyond that they were not limited to love songs, or constrained by any topic at all. It is this freedom of expression that makes Sgt. Pepper's so interesting to talk about from a linguistic point of view.
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This is one of two holidays that honor veterans. Veterans Day honors everyone who served in the military, while Memorial Day specifically honors veterans who died during their service. Still, it's hard not to think of veterans in general on Memorial Day. As we all take a day to honor sacrifices that are hard to comprehend, here's a look at some of the words you're most likely to hear and see around Memorial Day.
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The lexicon of motherhood isn't always kind. We mock mom jeans and mommyblogs. Headlines recently covered the U.S. dropping the so-called "mother of all bombs," which is a bizarre turn of phrase, given that mothers tend to create and nurture life rather than wipe it out. Here's an appreciative look at some of the top verbs of motherhood.
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Sure, Star Wars launched plenty of original words—like Jedi and Wookiee. But what better way to observe National Star Wars Day on May the 4th than to brush up on existing words featured in the film series? The following lexicon will serve you well in any galaxy.
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Dept. of Word Lists
Words From Lee's "General Order No. 9" at Appomattox Court House
His Brief and Eloquent Farewell Conveys Gratitude and Uncertainty
Lee's General Order No. 9, an address to his troops one day after the surrender that effectively ended The Civil War, contains vocabulary that conveys just how long and bitter the battle had been, and communicates both Lee's gratitude and uncertainty.
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