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@MerriamWebster

Word of the Day, facts and observations on language, lookup trends, and wordplay from the editors at Merriam-Webster Dictionary.

Springfield, MA
Merriam-Webster.com
Joined December 2009
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  1. 2 hours ago

    Do you have an inkling of where 'inkling' comes from? Hint: it isn't related to ink.

    7 replies 43 retweets 113 likes
  2. 2 hours ago

    'Tetris' comes from the Greek 'tetra-' meaning "four" because each block is made of four adjoining cubes.

    15 replies 94 retweets 243 likes
  3. 4 hours ago

    'FLOTUS' may have originated as the Secret Service's code name for Nancy Reagan.

    12 replies 36 retweets 113 likes
  4. 4 hours ago

    📈 'FLOTUS' is trending because FLOTUS is wearing a hat that says 'FLOTUS.'

    123 replies 481 retweets 1,664 likes
  5. 7 hours ago
    Replying to

    So feel free to ignore the dotted red line.

    10 replies 52 retweets 425 likes
  6. 7 hours ago

    Not only is 'minorly' a real word, but it's likely older than its more accepted sibling, 'majorly.'

    5 replies 63 retweets 229 likes
  7. 8 hours ago

    A 'spit take' was originally called a 'spit gag' . . .

    9 replies 85 retweets 212 likes
  8. Retweeted
    10 hours ago

    Never forget: 3 years ago today, the most looked-up word was 'sartorial' because President Obama wore a tan suit.

    29 replies 335 retweets 847 likes
  9. 11 hours ago

    Good morning! Today's is 'coalesce'

    17 replies 419 retweets 991 likes
  10. 21 hours ago

    'Emissary' is today's Word of the Day

    28 replies 813 retweets 1,124 likes
  11. Retweeted
    Aug 28

    'slur' (vb) prob from Low German 'slurrn' "to shuffle, drag one's feet" when you slur your speech, you're dragging your words

    4 replies 97 retweets 399 likes
  12. Retweeted
    Aug 28

    Webster's Second definition for hurricane. If only Texas was having the second definition instead.

    12 replies 43 retweets 248 likes
  13. Aug 28

    Is it a 'desert island' because it's covered in sand? Or because it's deserted?

    22 replies 69 retweets 277 likes
  14. Aug 28

    📈Lookups for 'bayou' spiked 10,000% over the weekend from Texas storm reports.

    5 replies 61 retweets 131 likes
  15. Aug 28

    "Language changes just fast enough that we notice, and we usually hate the changes we notice." From

    2 replies 78 retweets 232 likes
  16. Aug 28
    Replying to

    Some mass nouns (like 'water') have plurals that are like tuxedoes: only taken out on special occasions.

    18 replies 88 retweets 236 likes
  17. Aug 28

    You can't have a single mud or four honesties. But what about a plural for 'money'?

    18 replies 43 retweets 129 likes
  18. Aug 28

    Good morning! Today's is 'emissary'

    23 replies 236 retweets 542 likes
  19. Retweeted
    Aug 27
    Replying to

    And use of 'technical knockout,' apparently from before term was formalized in boxing: San Fran. Chron., 13 Jan, 1900

    2 replies 19 retweets 57 likes
  20. Aug 27
    Replying to

    The fight was reportedly delayed for 20 minutes because of problems with the pay-per-view stream.

    3 replies 10 retweets 96 likes

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