Our Word for Wednesday theme for 2023 is tricky spelling words. This year, after sharing the definition and etymology of each week’s word, we will end every blog post with some tips and tricks to help you spell it. So far in May, we've looked at the words embarrass, minute, and neighbo[u]r. Our fourth word for the month is opportunity. An opportunity is a possibility that comes about due to a favourable combination of circumstances. Another word for opportunity is chance. Here is the word opportunity used in some example sentences: You will have the opportunity to learn the words before the spelling test. If the weath...
Our Word for Wednesday theme for 2023 is tricky spelling words. This year, after sharing the definition and etymology of each week’s word, we will end every blog post with some tips and tricks to help you spell it. Last week, we looked at the word embarrass. Our second word for May is minute. A minute (pronounced min-it) is a unit of time equal to sixty seconds. Sixty minutes make up one hour. Minute (pronounced my-newt) is used to describe something that is very small. Here are both versions of the word minute used in some example sentences: There are sixty seconds in a minute and sixty minutes in an hour. The test ...
Our Word for Wednesday theme for 2023 is tricky spelling words. This year, after sharing the definition and etymology of each week’s word, we will end every blog post with some tips and tricks to help you spell it. So far this month we've looked at the words immediately and ceiling. Our third word for April is decide. If you decide to do something, it means you choose to do it over another option. Here is decide used in some example sentences: We decided to go for a walk. When will you decide which university to go to? The teacher decided to let us go to lunch early. Decide dates to the late-fourteenth century ...
Our Word for Wednesday theme for 2023 is tricky spelling words. This year, after sharing the definition and etymology of each week’s word, we will end every blog post with some tips and tricks to help you spell it. Our first tricky spelling word for April was immediately and today's word is ceiling. A ceiling is the upper surface of a covered space. The word is also used metaphorically to describe the upper limit on what is allowed or possible. Here is ceiling used in some example sentences: An ornate chandelier hung from the ceiling. We are going to paint our ceiling blue. I want to smash the glass ceiling by becoming head of the co...
Our Word for Wednesday theme for 2023 is tricky spelling words. This year, after sharing the definition and etymology of each week’s word, we will end every blog post with some tips and tricks to help you spell it. So far in March, we've looked at words beautiful, because, and business.Our fouth tricky spelling word of the month is definitely. The word definitely is used to describe something that will happen without doubt or question. Here is definitely used in some example sentences: It will definitely rain later. Are you definitely coming to my party? My spelling has definitely improved since I started practising every...
Our Word for Wednesday theme for 2023 is tricky spelling words. This year, after sharing the definition and etymology of each week’s word, we will end every blog post with some tips and tricks to help you spell it. In February, we looked at the words receive, necessary, separate, and extremely. Our first tricky spelling word for March is beautiful. If something is beautiful, it means it is pleasing to the eye or delightful to the senses. The word is also used to describe prefect weather conditions. Here is beautiful used in some example sentences: My new dress is a beautiful shade of green. The sound of beautiful music filled th...
Our Word for Wednesday theme for 2023 is tricky spelling words. This year, as well as sharing the definition and etymology of each week’s word, we will end every blog post with some tips and tricks to help you spell it. So far in February, we've looked at the words receive, necessary, and separate. Our fourth word of the month is extremely. Extremely is used to emphasise the description that comes after it. Here is extremely used in some example sentences: I am extremely good at spelling. The weather is going to be extremely wet tomorrow. We’ve known each other for an extremely long time. The word ext...
Our Word for Wednesday theme for 2023 is tricky spelling words. This year, as well as sharing the definition and etymology of each week’s word, we will end every blog post with some tips and tricks to help you spell it. So far in February, we've looked at the word receive and necessary. Our third word of the month is separate. If you separate two or more things, it means you split them up or put a barrier or distinction between them. The word is used to describe things that are not joint to something else. Sometime parts of a matching outfit (like a suit) are called separates. Here is separate used in some example sentences: The tea...
Our Word for Wednesday theme for 2023 is tricky spelling words. This year, as well as sharing the definition and etymology of each week’s word, we will end every blog post with some tips and tricks to help you spell it. So far in February, we've looked at the word receive. This week's word is necessary. If something is necessary, it means it is essential or a requirement. Here is necessary used in some example sentences: Please bring the necessary protective clothing on the school trip. It is necessary to get a good night’s sleep. If necessary, I will do my homework before playing with my friends. Necessary has been used in English since the &...
Our Word for Wednesday theme for 2023 is tricky spelling words. This year, after sharing the definition and etymology of each week’s word, we will end every blog post with some tips and tricks to help you spell it. In January, we looked at the words beginning, believe, friend, and quiet. Our first tricky spelling word for February is receive. If you receive something, it means you accept something that is given to you. Here is receive used in some example sentences: Did you receive my letter? They received some good news. We will receive our spelling test scores later today. Receive dates to around 1300 and comes from the Old N...
Our Word for Wednesday theme for 2023 is tricky spelling words. This year, after sharing the definition and etymology of each week’s word, we will end every blog post with some tips and tricks to help you spell it. So far we've looked at the words beginning, believe, and friend. Our final tricky spelling word for January is quiet Quiet is the absence of sound. The word is often used to describe things that are calm, still, or silent. Here is quiet used in some example sentences: The teacher asked the class to be quiet. We heard the hum of quiet talking. There was a quiet stillness after the storm. The word dates to ...
Our Word for Wednesday theme for November is other words for funny. If something is funny, it means that it provokes laughter. The word has been used in English since 1756 and comes from the word ‘fun-‘ and the suffix ‘-y'. 'Fun' comes from the Middle English ‘fonnen’ meaning ‘befool’. So far we’ve looked at the words amusing and droll. This week’s word is hilarious. If something is hilarious, it means it is extremely funny. Did you watch the hilarious video of the goat that sounds like a screaming man? They couldn’t stop laughing at the comedian’s hilarious jokes. Hi...
Our Word for Wednesday theme for September is Latin expressions used in English. Over September we've looked at the terms et cetera, de facto, and ad hoc. Our final Latin expression for the month is the E.g. is commonly used in English as an abbreviation for exempli gratia and means ‘for the sake of example’. Here is e.g. used in some example sentences: The Spellzone course includes a range of spelling activities, e.g. word lists, spelling tests, word games. There is likely to be a range of extreme weathers, e.g. rain, snow, and heavy wind. We will be serving light snacks (e.g. sandwiches, crisps, and fruit) at the party...
What does each word mean? A pair is a set of two. If you pair two things, it means you put them together. Here is pair used in some example sentences: They bride and groom make a wonderful pair. I need to pack a spare pair of socks. Can you pair the knives with the forks? Look up pair in the Spellzone dictionary. If you pare something, it means you trim it. Here is pare used in some example sentences: He pared down the overgrown plant. This essay is too long – you need to pare down some words. Use a knife to pare away the skin from the pear. Look up pare in the Spellzone dictionary...
Our Word for Wednesday theme for September is Latin expressions used in English. So far we’ve looked at the phrases et cetera and de facto. Today’s Latin expression is ad hoc. Ad hoc translates to ‘for this’, and describes something that is created or done for a specific and immediate purpose. Something that is created ad hoc, by definition, usually cannot be planned for in advance, because it responds to unexpected needs Here is ad hoc used in some example sentences: The company hires new staff on an ad hoc basis. Normally I work from home, but I do go into the office for ad hoc meetings. They formed an ad hoc committee to ...
Our Word for Wednesday theme for September is Latin expressions used in English. Last week we looked at the term et cetera and today we are looking at the term de facto. De facto is a Latin term with legal roots. The expression means ‘in fact’ or ‘in reality’ and it refers to something that exists but may not necessarily be legally ordained. Here is de facto used in some example sentences: She was the de facto leader of the group. The de facto official language was English. They are not legally married, but they’ve been together so long they are de facto spouses. De facto is often used to contrast ...
Our Word for Wednesday theme for September is Latin expressions used in English. Our first Latin expression of the month is et cetera. Et cetera, often abbreviated to etc., is commonly used at the end of a list as a way of saying ‘and other similar things’ or ‘and so on’. Here is et cetera used in some example sentences: The Spellzone course uses a range of spelling techniques: word lists, spelling tests, word games, et cetera. Please pack for a range of weathers: rain, snow, wind, et cetera. We will be serving light snacks (sandwiches, crisps, fruit, et cetera) at the party. If you are abbreviating et cetera to etc., you will need a full stop ...
Our Word for Wednesday theme for July is portmanteau words. A portmanteau word is made up of two or more existing words that have been blended together. The term was coined by Lewis Carrol in his 1871 novel Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There. A portmanteau is a type of suitcase which had two compartments and so Carroll used it as a metaphor for a term that made of two separate words merged together. In the novel, the character Humpty Dumpty explains to Alice: “You see it’s like a portmanteau – there are two meanings packed up into one word.” Over July we’ve looked at the words blog, brunch, a...
Our Word for Wednesday theme for June is words that derive from Greek mythology. Last week we looked at the word atlas and today’s word is chaos. The word chaos is used to describe a state of extreme confusion or disorder. Here is chaos used in some example sentences: The performance was utter chaos – no one knew what they were supposed to do! My bedroom may seem like chaos to you, but I find it a very relaxing space. The school predicted that the snow would cause chaos on the roads and so decided to close for the day. In Greek mythology, the god Chaos personifies the void that preceded the creation of the universe. Today the wor...
May 4th marked Star Wars Day and to celebrate we chose Star Wars as this month’s Word for Wednesday theme. The date of this commemorative celebration comes from the pun on the Star Wars catchphrase ‘May the Force be with you’. Though the first recorded use of ‘May the 4th be with you’ dates to 1979, the first organised commemorative event for Star Wars Day wasn’t until 2011 when an event was hosted at the Toronto Underground Cinema. Today, Star Wars Day is observed by fans all over the world. So far we’ve looked at the words force and Jedi. Our third word of the month is droid. &nbs...
Our Word for Wednesday theme for February is Valentine’s Day. Originally a Christian feast day for St. Valentine, Valentine’s Day in now celebrated all over the world on February 14th. The day is a dedication to all things love and romance. The word Valentine has been used since the fifteenth century to describe the person one chooses to spend Valentine’s Day with. It was first used to describe a card or letter sent on Valentine’s Day in 1824. Over February we’ve looked at the words Cupid, sweetheart, and romance. Our final word for the month is desire. Desire is a strong ...
Our Word for Wednesday theme for February is Valentine’s Day. Originally a Christian feast day for St. Valentine, Valentine’s Day in now celebrated all over the world on February 14th. The day is a dedication to all things love and romance. The word Valentine has been used since the fifteenth century to describe the person one chooses to spend Valentine’s Day with. It was first used to describe a card or letter sent on Valentine’s Day in 1824. Our first word of the month is Cupid. Cupid is the Roman God of Love and takes the form of a cherubic naked boy with wings and a bow and arrow. Today, the phrase playing cupid is used to describe ...
Our Word for Wednesday theme for December is Christmas decorations. A decoration is something that is used to beautify a space. The word comes from the Latin ‘decorare’. Last week we looked at the word nutcracker and this week's Christmas decoration is bauble. A bauble is brightly coloured glass or plastic orb that is hung on a Christmas tree and catches and reflects the lights in a room. Today, it is common for people to buy or make baubles that are personalised with names, special dates, or photos. The word also means trinket or toy. Bauble dates to the early-fourteenth century and comes from the...
Our Word for Wednesday theme for December is Christmas decorations. A decoration is something that is used to beautify a space. The word comes from the Latin ‘decorare’. Our first Christmas decoration of the month is the nutcracker. A nutcracker is a device that is used to crack nuts open. Some traditional versions of this tool are shaped like a human figure with a space for the nut where the mouth would be. Such devices have come to be associated with Christmas thanks to The Nutcracker and the Mouse King by E. T. A. Hoffman, which was famously scored as a ballet by the composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. In the ballet, a little girl is given a figure-...
Our Word for Wednesday theme for October is Halloween. The word Halloween likely dates to the seventeenth century but was popularised in the Burns poem ‘Halloween’ which was written in 1785. It is a Scottish abbreviation of ‘Allhallow-even’ which means ‘Eve of the All Saints’. ‘Hallow’ means ‘holy person’ or ‘saint’. Over the last few weeks, we’ve looked at the words pumpkin, monster, and skeleton. For our final Halloween-themed post of the month, we’ve chosen trick-or-treat. Trick-or-treating is a Halloween tradition in which costumed children visit ne...
September's Word for Wednesday theme is school. So far, we’ve looked at the words semester, teacher, pupil, and uniform. Our final word for September is exam. An exam is a formal set of questions or exercises that evaluate a particular skill or knowledge. In schools, exams are often set at the end of a term or a year to assess a student’s progress. Exam has been used as an abbreviation for examination since 1848, when it was a slang word used by college students. Examination comes from the Old French ‘examinacion’, from the Latin ‘examinare’ meaning ‘to ponder’ or ‘to consider’. The word took on ...
Our Word for Wednesday theme for September is school. The word school comes from the Old English ‘scol’ meaning ‘place of instruction’, from the Latin ‘schola’ meaning ‘intermission of work’ and ‘leisure for learning’. The idea of children attending a school is from around 1300 and the idea of a school building is from the 1590s. Over the last few weeks we’ve looked at the words semester, teacher, and pupil. Today’s word is uniform. A uniform is a specific outfit worn my members of a particular group as means of identification. In the UK, it is common for p...
It’s back-to-school season! To celebrate, we’ve chosen school as our Word for Wednesday theme for September. The word school comes from the Old English ‘scol’ meaning ‘place of instruction’, from the Latin ‘schola’ meaning ‘intermission of work’ and ‘leisure for learning’. The idea of children attending a school is from around 1300 and the idea of a school building is from the 1590s. Our first word of the month is semester. A semester is one of two divisions of a school year. The word is common in North American schools where the academic year is usually split into two eighteen-week semesters. Here i...
Our July Word for Wednesday theme is flowers. The word flower entered English around 1200 as ‘flour’ (with spelling variants including ‘flur’, ‘flor’, ‘floer’, ‘flor’, ‘floyer’, and ‘flowre’). It comes from the Old French ‘flor’, from the Latin ‘florem’. The word was used in reference to both blooms and grain until the late fourteenth century, after which the spellings ‘flower’ and ‘flour’ were used to differentiate between the two. So far we’ve looked at the words delphinium and lily. This wee...
Our July Word for Wednesday theme is flowers. The word flower entered English around 1200 as ‘flour’ (with spelling variants including ‘flur’, ‘flor’, ‘floer’, ‘flor’, ‘floyer’, and ‘flowre’). It comes from the Old French ‘flor’, from the Latin ‘florem’. The word was used in reference to both blooms and grain until the late fourteenth century, after which the spellings ‘flower’ and ‘flour’ were used to differentiate between the two. Last week we looked at the word delphinium. Today’s flower is ...
Our Word for Wednesday theme for June is coffee. Coffee is made by roasting and grinding coffee beans and creating an infusion. The word coffee entered English around 1600 via the Dutch ‘koffie’, which comes from the Turkish ‘kahveh', from the Arabic ‘qahwah’. So far we’ve looked at the words espresso, cappuccino, and macchiato. Today’s word is latte. Latte literally means ‘milk coffee’ and refers to an espresso served with hot milk. The word comes from the Latin ‘lac’ meaning ‘milk’. ...
Our Word for Wednesday theme for June is coffee. Coffee is made by roasting and grinding coffee beans and creating an infusion. The word coffee entered English around 1600 via the Dutch ‘koffie’, which comes from the Turkish ‘kahveh', from the Arabic ‘qahwah’. Last week we looked at the word espresso and today’s word is cappuccino. A cappuccino is made by topping an espresso with hot frothed milk. In Italian, the word cappuccino is the diminutive of ‘cappuccio’ meaning ‘hood’ (from the Latin ‘caputium’ – where we also get the word ‘cap&rsqu...
Our Word for Wednesday theme for June is coffee. Coffee is made by roasting and grinding coffee beans and creating an infusion. The word coffee entered English around 1600 via the Dutch ‘koffie’, which comes from the Turkish ‘kahveh', from the Arabic ‘qahwah’. Our first coffee-themed word this month is espresso. An espresso is a shot of coffee made by forcing steam through finely ground coffee beans. It is served in a small (2-3 oz) cup. The word comes from the Latin ‘exprimere’ meaning ‘press out' or 'squeeze out’. ...
Happy New Year! Our Word for Wednesday theme for January is colours. The word colour entered English via Old French and comes from the Latin ‘color’, from the Old Latin ‘colos’ meaning ‘a covering’, from the PIE root ‘kel-’ meaning ‘to conceal’. The word has been used in reference to skin colour since the early-thirteenth century and in reference to pigments and dye since the fourteenth century. The spelling colour became the common English spelling from the fourteenth century, but a classical correction made color an alternative from the fifteenth century. Color is now the common American English spelling...
What does each word mean? The palate is the upper surface of the mouth that separates the oral and nasal cavities. The word is also used to describe the ability to distinguish between different flavours. Click here for the full Spellzone dictionary definition of the word. Here is palate used in some example sentences: The palate is sometimes called the roof of the mouth. She loved wine and had a sophisticated palate. A palette is a group of colours used for a particular project or by a particular artist or school of art. The word also describes a board on which artists mix paints. Click here for the full Spellzone dictionary defi...
Our Word for Wednesday theme for November is vegetables. A vegetable is a plant or part of a plant that is used for food. The word dates to the mid-fifteenth century when it meant 'non-animal life’ and was used to describe any type of plant. It has been used in reference to plants specifically grown for food since 1767. So far we’ve looked at the words cabbage and potato. This week we’ve chosen two words that are used to refer to the same vegetable—courgette and zucchini. Both words describe a dark green cucumber-shaped squash that is typically eaten when small. The same vegetable left to mature is often called a marrow. Cour...
Our Word for Wednesday theme for November is vegetables! A vegetable is a plant or part of a plant that is used for food. The word dates to the mid-fifteenth century when it meant 'non-animal life’ and was used to describe any type of plant. It has been used in reference to plants specifically grown for food since 1767. Our first word of the month is cabbage. A cabbage is a vegetable with large thick green or purple leaves that grow around a spherical heart. The word dates to the mid-fifteenth century and comes from the Old French ‘cabace’ which means ‘head’ and is a diminutive of the Latin word ‘caput’. Cabbages are likely n...
Halloween is going to be different this year, but we’re still excited to celebrate all things spooky and scary in this month’s Word for Wednesday articles. Last week we looked at the word ghost and today’s word is werewolf. So what exactly is a werewolf? Sometimes referred to as a man-wolf or a lycanthrope, the werewolf suffers an affliction which forces it to change from a human to a wolf or wolf-like creature at the full moon. A human usually becomes contaminated after being bitten or scratched by another werewolf. The werewolf crops up in stories across Europe and evil shapeshifters appear in mythology from all over the world. Humans...
Our Word for Wednesday theme for September is stationery. Stationery comes from the Latin ‘stationarius’ which means ‘tradesman who sells from a station or shop’. The word was first used to describe ‘the articles sold by a stationer’ in 1727. So far we have looked at the words pencil and pen, and today's stationery-themed word is ruler. A ruler is a strip, usually made of wood, metal, or plastic, which is used for drawing straight lines and measuring lengths. Rulers are marked at varying intervals to indicate units of measurement like inches or centimetres. The word dates to around 1400 and com...
Our Word for Wednesday theme for September is stationery. Stationery comes from the Latin ‘stationarius’ which means ‘tradesman who sells from a station or shop’. The word was first used to describe ‘the articles sold by a stationer’ in 1727. Last week we looked at the word pencil, and today's stationery-themed word is pen. A pen is writing implement with a point from which ink flows, Although you might expect pen to have the same word root as pencil, it actually comes from the Old French ‘pene’ meaning ‘quill pen’ or ‘feather’, which in turn comes from the L...
Our Word for Wednesday theme for August is flowers. The word flower entered English around 1200 as ‘flour’ (with spelling variants including ‘flur’, ‘flor’, ‘floer’, ‘flor’, ‘floyer’, and ‘flowre’). It comes from the Old French ‘flor’, from the Latin ‘florem’. The word was used in reference to both blooms and grain until the late fourteenth century, after which the spellings ‘flower’ and ‘flour’ were used to differentiate between the two. So far we’ve looked at the words daisy, tulip, and carnation—our final...
What does each word mean? Flour is a fine powdery foodstuff obtained by grinding and sifting the meal of a cereal grain. Click here for the full Spellzone dictionary definition of the word. Here is flour used in some example sentences: We need to buy flour if we want to make pancakes. He can only eat cakes made with gluten-free flour. A flower is a plant that is cultivated for its blooms or blossoms. It is the reproductive part of the plant, typically where seeds are found. Click here for the full Spellzone dictionary definition of the word. Here is flower used in some example sentences: ...
Our Word for Wednesday theme for August is flowers. The word flower entered English around 1200 as ‘flour’ (with spelling variants including ‘flur’, ‘flor’, ‘floer’, ‘flor’, ‘floyer’, and ‘flowre’). It comes from the Old French ‘flor’, from the Latin ‘florem’. The word was used in reference to both blooms and grain until the late fourteenth century, after which the spellings ‘flower’ and ‘flour’ were used to differentiate between the two. So far we’ve looked at the words daisy and tulip—today’s word is carnation...
Our Word for Wednesday theme for August is flowers. The word flower entered English around 1200 as ‘flour’ (with spelling variants including ‘flur’, ‘flor’, ‘floer’, ‘flor’, ‘floyer’, and ‘flowre’). It comes from the Old French ‘flor’, from the Latin ‘florem’. The word was used in reference to both blooms and grain until the late fourteenth century, after which the spellings ‘flower’ and ‘flour’ were used to differentiate between the two. For our first flower, we’ve decided to look at the word daisy. A daisy is a common European ...
Our Word for Wednesday theme for July is fruit. The word fruit dates back to the late-twelfth century when it was used to mean ‘any vegetable product useful to humans or animals’. It entered English via Old French and comes from the Latin ‘fructus’ meaning ‘an enjoyment, delight, or satisfaction’ as well as ‘proceeds, produce, fruit, and crops’. The word took on its modern meaning in the early thirteenth century. So far we’ve looked at the words banana, pineapple, plum, and pomegranate —today’s word is cherry. A cherry is a small round fruit with a si...
What does each word mean? An allusion is a passing and indirect reference to something. Click here for the full Spellzone dictionary definition of the word. Here is allusion used in some example sentences: The film was full of allusions to Shakespeare’s plays. The teacher made allusions to other works of poetry in his lesson. An illusion is an erroneous mental representation—when someone misinterprets something that they’ve seen or believes they have seen something that is not there. Click here for the full Spellzone dictionary definition of the word. Here is illusion used in some example sente...
Our Word for Wednesday theme for July is fruit. The word fruit dates back to the late-twelfth century when it was used to mean ‘any vegetable product useful to humans or animals’. It entered English via Old French and comes from the Latin ‘fructus’ meaning ‘an enjoyment, delight, or satisfaction’ as well as ‘proceeds, produce, fruit, and crops’. The word took on its modern meaning in the early thirteenth century. So far we’ve looked at the words banana, pineapple, and plum. Today’s word is pomegranate. A pomegranate is a type of fruit known for its juicy red pulp and many tiny ...
Our Word for Wednesday theme for July is fruit. The word fruit dates back to the late-twelfth century when it was used to mean ‘any vegetable product useful to humans or animals’. It entered English via Old French and comes from the Latin ‘fructus’ meaning ‘an enjoyment, delight, or satisfaction’ as well as ‘proceeds, produce, fruit, and crops’. The word took on its modern meaning in the early thirteenth century. So far we’ve looked at the words banana and pineapple, —today’s word is plum. A plum is an oval fruit with smooth skin and a single hard s...
For the month of May, we have chosen musical instruments as the theme for our Word for Wednesday posts. The word music entered English in the thirteenth century as ‘musike’ via the Old French ‘musique’ and the Latin ‘musica’ meaning ‘music or poetry’. ‘Musica’ is from the Greek ‘mousikē’ which means ‘art of the muses’. The first instrument we’ve chosen to look at is piano. A piano is the keyboard instrument which is played by depressing keys that cause hammers to strike tuned strings in order to make sounds. In music, the word also means soft or quiet. The w...
Our chosen theme for April's Word for Wednesday posts is animals. So far we’ve looked at rhinoceros, ostrich, and python. The word animal has been used in English to describe sentient living creatures since the early fourteenth century, before which the word beast was more common. It comes from the Latin 'animale' meaning ‘being which breathes’, from ‘anima’ which means ‘breath’ or ‘soul’. So far we’ve looked at the word origins of rhinoceros, ostrich, python, and flamingo. For our final animal-themed Word for Wednesday post, our chosen w...
Our chosen theme for April's Word for Wednesday posts is animals. So far we’ve looked at rhinoceros, ostrich, and python. The word animal has been used in English to describe sentient living creatures since the early fourteenth century, before which the word beast was more common. It comes from the Latin 'animale' meaning ‘being which breathes’, from ‘anima’ which means ‘breath’ or ‘soul’. This week we’ve got another bird word for you – flamingo. These iconic wading birds are known for their bright pink or scarlet plumage, long legs, and neck....
Our chosen theme for April's Word for Wednesday posts is animals. The word animal has been used in English to describe sentient living creatures since the early fourteenth century, before which the word beast was more common. It comes from the Latin 'animale' meaning ‘being which breathes’, from ‘anima’ which means ‘breath’ or ‘soul’. So far we’ve looked at the rhinoceros and the ostrich. Today’s animal is the python. A python is a large non-venomous snake known for killing its prey by constriction and asphyxiation. Pythons have flecked skin and long for...
Our chosen theme for April's Word for Wednesday posts is animals. The word animal has been used in English to describe sentient living creatures since the early fourteenth century, before which the word beast was more common. It comes from the Latin 'animale' meaning ‘being which breathes’, from ‘anima’ which means ‘breath’ or ‘soul’. Last week, we explored the origins of the word rhinoceros and this week’s animal is rather different looking. Today, our chosen word is ostrich. Ostriches are the largest living birds, known for their speed, long necks, and two-toed feet. Today, wild ostriches...
For the month of March, we are theming our Word for Wednesday blog posts around types of punctuation. So far we have looked at the words apostrophe, parenthesis, and comma. This week’s word is hyphen. A hyphen is a short dash which is used to link words together. There are three main situations in which hyphens are used: in compound words, when adding a prefix to another word, and to denote word breaks. A compound word is a word that is made up of two or more other words. Hyphens are often used in compound words either to show that when the included words are together they have a combined meaning, or to show the relationship between ...
Last week we looked at the origins of the word language and today we’re going to continue on that theme with the word idiom. Idioms are an expressive way of using language. They are combinations of word which have a figurative meaning that is separate for the actual definitions of the words used. Here are some examples of idioms and what they mean: 1) fly on the wall an unnoticed witness I’d love to be a fly on the wall when she finally tells them the truth. 2) storm in a teacup a small occurrence exaggerated out of proportion All this outrage seems like a storm in a teacu...
There are an estimated 6000 languages spoken around the world and 43% are endangered. In February 2000, the first International Mother Language Day was marked and it has been observed every year since. This year the event takes place on February 21. Here is what the UN writes about the day on their website: ‘Languages are the most powerful instruments of preserving and developing our tangible and intangible heritage. All moves to promote the dissemination of mother tongues will serve not only to 'encourage linguistic diversity and multilingual education but also to develop fuller awareness of linguistic and cultural traditions throughout the world and to inspire so...
Tomorrow – February 13 – marks World Radio Day and this year’s theme is diversity. Here is what UNESCO writes about this day on their website: “Radio is a powerful medium for celebrating humanity in all its diversity and constitutes a platform for democratic discourse. At the global level, radio remains the most widely consumed medium. This unique ability to reach out the widest audience means radio can shape a society’s experience of diversity, stand as an arena for all voices to speak out, be represented and heard. Radio stations should serve diverse communities, offering a wide variety of programs, viewpoints and content, and reflect the div...
What does each word mean? A complement is something that is added to another thing in order to complete it or make it perfect. The word can also be used as a verb to describe the act of completing or perfecting one thing by adding something else to it. Click here for the full Spellzone dictionary definition of complement. Here is complement used in some example sentences: Do you think the colours green and pink complement each other? My new handbag will complement my shoes nicely. This wine is the perfect complement for our dinner. A compliment is a remark or action that expresses praise and admiration. The word can also be used to desc...
How has your first month of 2020 been? Here's what we got up to this month: We began the year by sharing 20 steps you can take to help you improve your spelling this year. If you haven’t thought about your New Year’s resolutions since January 1st (or if you haven’t thought about them at all), it’s not too late. You’ve got eleven months left to achieve. Take your first step today – find part one of our list here and part two here. This month we returned to our Commonly Confused Words series and looked at the words peace and piece. Click here for some brilliant mnemonics to help you remember how to spell each of these words. ...
Friday is National Cappuccino Day. Every year, on November 8th, people join to celebrate the creamy drink they love so much. After all, what’s better on a cold November morning that a hot cup of coffee to help you warm up? A cappuccino is equal parts of espresso and hot milk. Sometimes the drink might be topped with cinnamon, nutmeg, chocolate, or whipped cream. Although versions of coffee and milk have been enjoyed since the 1700s, the cappuccino as we know it became widespread after the second world war as espresso machines became more common. The drink – first called 'Kapuziner' – comes from Viennese coffee houses where it was sold alongsid...
What does the word genuine have in common with your knee? More than you might think! The Spellzone dictionary defines genuine as ‘sincerely felt or expressed’ or ‘not fake or counterfeit’. Here is the word used in some example sentences: It is vital to check that your news sources are genuine. She felt genuine affection towards her new puppy. He wanted to know if the belt was made of genuine leather. The word has been used in English since the 1590s and comes from the Latin ‘genuinus’ meaning ‘native, natural, innate’. Those who know the word ‘genuflect’ may be able to guess at...
Some of the words we look at in our Word for Wednesday feature are hundreds of years old, while others began appearing in the English language much more recently. One newer word that’s been cropping up on the news and in conversations a lot this year is vape. Vape is a verb used to describe the act of inhaling and exhaling vapour from an electronic cigarette. The word can also be used as a noun in reference to the electronic cigarette itself, similarly to how a ‘cigarette’ is sometimes called a ‘smoke’. Other terms for these types of devices include ‘e-cigarette’ and ‘e-cig’. There are nearly three million people vaping ...
Here at Spellzone, we’re partial to a good quiz. Be it spelling or trivia, in the classroom or at the pub, we can certainly get behind an activity that helps people develop their knowledge. What's interesting about this word is that its origin story is unclear. One rumour is that the word came into use after a Dublin theatre owner bet he could add a new word to the English language in just a few days. Supposedly he had the word written on city walls across Dublin and the next day the mysterious word was the talk of the town. Soon after the word quiz was incorporated into English as a synonym for ‘test’ which is what the people of the city though the word was meant to...
Depending on the type of English you speak, you may not have heard of this word. Even if you have come across it written down, you may be wondering how on earth it’s pronounced. Queue is the British English word for a line of people or vehicles and is pronounced like the letter ‘q’. In American English, you would describe someone or something as ‘waiting in line’ instead. You can find the Spellzone dictionary definition of the word the word queue plus a recording of how to pronounce it here. In the sixteenth century the word was a heraldic term for the ‘tail of a beast’. The word was also a Middle English metaphor for a ‘line of dan...
What does each word mean? If you allude to something, it means you are making a disguised reference to it. Click here for the full Spellzone dictionary definition of the word. Here is allude used in some example sentences: She alluded to who she was talking about without mentioning a name. The novel alludes to current politics. If you elude something, you avoid, evade, or escape from it. Click here for the full Spellzone dictionary definition of the word. Here is elude used in some example sentences: She managed to elude capture. Sleep had eluded him for some nights now. Where does each word come from? Both of t...
For some reason, even though it’s been many years since I finished school, I still associate September with fresh starts. There’s something about the evenings falling slightly earlier each day and the tiniest chill to the summer air that makes me want to knuckle down and achieve my goals before the end of the year. Those of you who speak French, may have noticed that ‘sept’ is the French word for ‘seven’ – a little strange perhaps given that September is the ninth month of the year. This is because until around 700 BC, when the second King of Rome Numa Pompilius added January and February, the Roman calendar was made up of ten ‘officia...
August is drawing to a close and to get you prepared for the start of the academic year in just a few day’s time, we’ve chosen a school-related word for this week’s Word for Wednesday. The word pupil has two meanings. It can be used to describe a school student and the dark circle at the centre of the iris in an eye. Although not all homonyms have the same origin, both versions of the word pupil derive from the Latin ‘pupilla’ meaning ‘doll’. While it’s not too difficult to see how the meaning of pupil might have evolved from doll, to child, to schoolchild, to student; you might be wondering where the eye-related meaning comes into the...
What does each word mean? Historically, the distinction between the verbs enquire and inquire is that enquire is used to mean ‘ask’ in the wider sense, while inquire is reserved for formal investigations. In modern usage, however, enquire (and the noun enquiry) are more commonly found in British English and inquire (and the noun inquiry) are more commonly found in in American English. Click here to see the Spellzone dictionary definition of enquire and here for the vocabulary lists related to the word. Click here to see the Spellzone dictionary definition of inquire and here for the vocabulary lists related to the word. Here are both words used in some exa...
Trivia is a word used to describe information that is of little importance or consequence. You may have heard the term used in reference to quiz games. What’s interesting about the word trivia is that, compared to most of the words we look at in our Word for Wednesday feature, it isn’t that old. Trivialities, bits of information of little consequence was a book first published in 1902 and made popular when it was rereleased in 1918. A follow-up More Trivia was released in 1921 and by 1932 the word trivia was widely used in the English language. Both books were published as a collected edition in 1933. Later, in the 1960s, college students began informally quizzi...
Although this week's pair of words have slightly different meanings, many people use them interchangebly. Scroll down to find out more. What does each word mean? If you assume something, you suppose it to be true without having proof or you take control of it. Click here for the full Spellzone dictionary definition of the word. Here is assume used in some example sentences: He’d always assumed her hair was naturally blonde. You shouldn’t assume you will enjoy a book just because you like the cover. The supply teacher assumed responsibility of the classroom. Here are all the Spellzone study lists related to the word assume....
What does each word mean? For is a preposition used to describe one thing in relation to another thing. It means ‘in support of’, ‘with regard to’, ‘on behalf of’, ‘with benefit to’ and more. Here is for used in some example sentences: She voted for the Green Party. After the way the teacher dealt with the bullying at school, the parents and children found they had a renewed sense of respect for her. She was a delivery driver for the new pizza joint in town. The Spellzone course is a powerful tool for leaning. He was grateful to his family for their continued support. We leave for Spain to...
The Spellzone dictionary defines ‘coward’ as ‘a person who shows fear or timidity’. Here is the word ‘coward’ used in some example sentences: Instead of defending what was right, the politician behaved in a cowardly manner. She accused her friend of being a coward for not wanting to ride on the rollercoaster. In the mid-thirteenth century, the accusation was saved for those with an unwillingness to face peril or injury. It comes from the Anglo-French ‘couard’, from the Old French ‘coart’. The word is probably a metaphorical reflection of an animal – ‘coart’ comes from the Italia...
When in doubt – consult a dictionary! Whether you end up with a physical book, a dictionary website, or an app that you can use without drawing too much attention to yourself, we believe that finding the right dictionary for your lifestyle is an essential part of good spelling practice. The word for this type of alphabetical reference book dates back to the 1520s and comes from the Medieval Latin dictionarium which means ‘collection of words and phrases’ and is probably a shortening of dictionarius which means ‘of words’. The PIE root of this word is deik which means ‘to show’ or ‘pronounce solemnly’. ...
The word election describes a formal vote that takes place in order to select someone for a political office or other position. From tomorrow until May 26th, all 28 Member States of the European Union will be holding elections to the European Parliament. You can find the full Spellzone dictionary definition of election here. Election is one of many examples that demonstrates how connected English is to other languages from Europe and the rest of the world. It first appeared in English around 1300 from the Anglo-French ‘eleccioun’, which in turn came from the Old French ‘elecion’ meaning ‘choice’ or ‘selection’. ‘Elecion&rsq...
What does each word mean? Biweekly means both ‘every two weeks’ and ‘twice a week’. Click here for the full Spellzone dictionary definition of the word. Here is biweekly used in some example sentences: The club meets biweekly on Mondays and Thursdays. The paper is distributed biweekly, usually in the second and fourth week of the month. Fortnightly is a British English word meaning ‘every two weeks’. Click here for the full Spellzone dictionary definition of the word. Here is fortnightly used in an example sentence: The paper is distributed fortnightly, usually in the second and fourth week ...
This week’s pair of words often cause confusion in the world of business. Read on to find out what each word means and to learn tricks to help you tell them apart. What does each word mean? The adjective biannual describes something that occurs or is payable twice each year. Click here for the full Spellzone dictionary definition of the word. Here is biannual used in some example sentences: The theatre company performs a biannual show in the community garden which is free for members of the public to attend. The payment will be due biannually at the discussed rate. The senior staff members met biannually to discuss progress and make plans f...
Last week well looked at two easy-to-confuse words beginning with the letter P - this week, we're looking at two more: perspective and prospective. What does each word mean? Perspective refers to the appearance of things in relation to each other, depending on how far they are from the viewer. The word also describes a person's particular way of looking at a situation. Click here for the full Spellzone dictionary definition of the word. Here is perspective used in some example sentences: Although she was only seven years old, her drawings showed that she had an excellent understanding of perspective. The novel was written from the villain's perspective. ...
Commonly Confused Words: Precede vs. Proceed What does each word mean? Precede is a verb that means 'to come before'. Click here for the full Spellzone dictionary definition of the word. Here is precede used in some example sentences: Each film will be preceded with an introduction by the filmmaker. She let her friend precede her through the door. The dinner was preceded by canapès on the lawn. Proceed is a verb that means 'to begin or follow a certain course'. The word proceed is also sometimes used to refer to the income or profits from an endeavour. Click here for the full Spellzone dictionary definition of the word. Here is pr...
What does each word mean? The verb infer refers to the act of correctly guessing or deducing something. Click here for the full Spellzone dictionary definition of the word. Here is infer used in some example sentences: She inferred from her friend’s tone that he wasn’t having fun. While it might be tempting infer from tabloid stories that crime is on the rise, it would be better to look at the statistics on the subject before jumping to any conclusions. Imply refers to the act of suggesting or expressing something indirectly and inviting someone to deduce what you mean. Click here for the full Spellzone dictionary definition of the word. Here is imply...
What does each word mean? Among other things the word capital can refer to a city or town that functions as the seat of government and administrative centre of a country or region, one of the types of alphabetic letters, wealth in the form of money or property, or a centre associated with some activity or product. Click here for the full Spellzone dictionary definition of the word. Here is capital used in some example sentences: Spain’s capital city is Madrid. Sentences should begin with a capital letter. The return on invested capital was high. New York boasts a reputation for being the fashion capital of the United States of America. Click here to find the ...
Last week marked summer solstice – the longest day of the year. The word 'solstice' has been used in English since the mid-13th century. It comes from the Latin ‘sol’ meaning ‘sun’ and ‘sistere’ meaning ‘stand still’. To celebrate the end of spring and the beginning of summer, here are twenty idioms about the warm weather seasons: a place in the sun – a position of advantage a touch of the sun – slight sunstroke come rain or shine – whatever the weather/situation everything under the sun – everything on earth happy is the bride the sun shines on – old proverb saying that if the sun sh...
The Christmas carol We Three Kings tells the story of three kings who followed a star to visit Jesus in a stable just after he was born. Many British school children learn this story at a very young age and can recite the names of the gifts each king gave to Jesus: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. While gold is still well-known today, what are frankincense and myrrh? Do the three gifts have a special significance? The verses to the carol give us a hint – let’s look at them a little more closely. Gold ‘Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain Gold I bring to crown Him again, King forever, ceasing never, Over us all to reign.’ Gold is a precious metal which has ...
What does each word mean? Alternate means ‘every other or every second’. As a verb, it describes the act of ‘taking turns’. Click here for the full Spellzone dictionary definition of the word and here for Spellzone vocabulary lists related to it. Here is alternate used in some example sentences: We Skype on alternate weekends. They alternated between driving and giving directions. In American English, alternate is also used to describe something that is presented as ‘another option’. For example: Would it be possible to schedule our meeting at an alternate time? In British English, however, this use of alternate is consider...
What does each word mean? A conscience is one’s moral sense of right and wrong and is used to guide the way one chooses to conduct themselves. Click here for the full Spellzone dictionary definition of the word. Here is conscience used in some example sentences: She wanted to skip her spelling lesson, but her conscience knew this was wrong. He couldn’t let go of his guilty conscience and eventually decided to own up to his crime. Click here to find Spellzone vocabulary lists related to the word conscience. The adjective conscious describes the act of being aware of and responding to one’s surroundings. The word can also describe the act of knowing abou...
What does each word mean? The word elicit means ‘to call forth’ or ‘to draw out’. It is used to describe the calling forth of emotions, opinions, responses etc. Click here for the full Spellzone dictionary definition of the word. Here is elicit used in some example sentences: The museum elicited huge media interest. She tried to elicit a smile from her crying friend. The adjective illicit is used to describe activity which is done in spite of accepted morality, law, or convention. Click here for the full Spellzone dictionary definition of the word. Here is illicit used in some example sentences: The area was known for the presence of ...
English is a tricky language to learn and one of the things that makes it so difficult is that it’s full of words that sound the same but have different meanings or spellings. These words are called homophones. In the past, we’ve looked at many pairs and groups of homophones in our Commonly Confused Words series. This week we’re sharing tips for handling homophones – scroll down to make sure you never mix up your meanings again! Use homophones in the same sentence to show their different meanings. For example: Although we had a ball dancing the night away at the summer ball, we were so tired the next day we had to miss our football practi...
What does each word mean? A council is an administrative body that manages or advices people. Click here for the full Spellzone dictionary definition of the word. Here is council used in some example sentences: I have to apply to the local council to get a parking permit. The school council is elected by the students and is in charge of representing student issues in front of the faculty. The Council of Elrond was called in Rivendell to decide what should be done with the One Ring. Click here to find the Spellzone vocabulary lists related to the word council. The word counsel is usually used as a verb meaning ‘to give advice to’. The word can also be us...
Corduroy The word corduroy has been used in the English language since 1780. While some origin stories like to suggest that the word derives from ‘corde du roy’ meaning ‘king’s cord’, the actual etymology of the word is much less interesting. Corduroy is most likely a combination of the words cord (twisted string or rope) and duroy (a coarse woollen fabric). Denim While jeans didn’t become popular until the nineteenth century, people have been wearing denim since the seventeenth century or earlier. The word comes from the French ‘serge de Nîmes’ – serge cloth from the town of Nîmes. The word was corrupted in English to &l...
What does each word mean? As a noun, the word ‘pore’ refers to a tiny hole in a surface (e.g. the skin) which allows particles, liquids, or gases to pass through it. As a verb, it is used to describe the act of reading or studying something thoroughly. Click here for the full Spellzone dictionary definition of the word. Here is pore used in some example sentences: She uses a pore-minimising lotion. In the weeks leading up to his exam, he stayed up all night poring over his books. Click here to find the Spellzone vocabulary lists featuring the word pore. If you are pouring something, you are causing it to flow quickly and steadily. Click here for the full S...
What does each word mean? The Spellzone dictionary defines aisle as ‘a long narrow passage’. This passage is often ‘between seating areas’ in places like ‘an auditorium’ or ‘a church’. Click here for the full Spellzone dictionary definition of the word. Here is aisle used in some example sentences: As he walked his daughter down the aisle, the father of the bride shed a tear. Please make sure to keep the aisles clear so that people can pass through easily. She found the baked beans in the aisle between the pasta and the toiletries. Click here to find the Spellzone vocabulary lists featuring the word aisle. An isle is &lsq...
Although this week’s words mean opposite things, they are often confused. What does each word mean? If you borrow something it means you take and use something that belongs to someone else with the intention of returning it. Here is borrow used in some example sentences: She borrowed a book from the library. He borrowed money to pay for his university education. My daughter is borrowing my car for the afternoon. ‘Et cetera’ is an expression borrowed from Latin. Click here for all the Spellzone word lists featuring borrow. If you lend something it means you allow someone to take and use something that belongs you on the...
Do you have a hiding place? Somewhere nobody would think to look, where you know your most prized possessions would be secret and safe? Let us introduce you to a word that has been kept rather… secret. An ‘abditory’ is a hiding place: derived from the Latin ‘abdo’ meaning ‘to hide’. The word has always been a bit of a rarity and strangely enough is enjoying more popularity than ever in works of fiction to create an air of the unknown. One classic example of an abditory is a loose floorboard under your bed. Perhaps this is too obvious to earn status as an abditory… it was, however, good enough for the most famous young wizard of all time...
Do you consider yourself lover of words? If so you’re what’s known as a ‘logophile’. A logophile delights in expanding their vocabulary and loves how words interact with one another, how words came to be and why their meanings have changed over time. Let’s disassemble the word to its Greek components: ‘logo’ comes from Greek and means literally ‘word’ or ‘speech’. The ‘-phile’ suffix which means ‘lover of…’ or ‘enthusiast for…’ originates from the Latin ‘philus’, but arrived to English through the Greek ‘philos’ meaning ‘loving’ ...
As the UK election campaign heats up all of the main political parties have launched their election manifestos. It is now the turn of the smaller parties including The Pirate Party who according to their leader Loz Kaye, have the "first crowd-sourced manifesto" in Britain. Meanwhile The Official Monster Raving Loony Party have launched their refreshing 'Manicfesto'. The first recorded use of the word manifesto in English was in 1620. It is of Italian origin derived from the Latin manifestum, meaning 'clear or conspicuous'. Many commentators would argue that the policies outlined in the recent political publications are anything but. Here at Spellzone we love t...
On Friday 20th March a solar eclipse was witnessed across much of the globe and in some parts the effect was a total blackout. Watch from 2:12 of this video. Spectacular! An eclipse is an astronomical event that occurs when one celestial body obscures another. Eclipse is a Middle English word (eclips) originating from the Old French e(s)clipse , the Latin eclipsis and the Greek ekleipsis, meaning 'to leave out, forsake, fail to appear'. Apparently the sun is 400 times bigger than the moon. The moon is 400 times closer to the earth than the sun, and has the same size as the sun when viewed from the planet Earth. Therefore when the moon comes in-between the sun and the earth a &l...
It’s Pancake Day! Today we’re going to look at five traditions associated with this time of year and find out where their names originate from. Pancake Here in the UK, we celebrate Shrove Tuesday by feasting on pancakes. Given that a pancake is essentially a type of cake that’s cooked in a pan, we don’t need to tell you where the word comes from, but it dates back to the early fifteenth century. The Old English ‘panna’ or ‘ponne’, comes from the Proto-Germanic ‘panna’, which is probably borrowed from the Latin ‘patina’ meaning ‘shallow pan, dish, stew pan’. The word ‘cake’ dates back t...
The word for today is ‘referendum’. Used in 1847 with reference to Switzerland, from French or German, meaning "a submitting of a question to the voters as a whole" and the Latin referendum "that which must be referred". It is perhaps the most effective type of vote, yes or no. Tomorrow, the people of Scotland will vote to determine whether Scotland will remain part of The United Kingdom after a union of 307 years. The debate is viciously divisive, even tearing apart families, and recent polls have been incredibly close. The United Kingdom faces uncertainty, and if Scotland votes ‘Yes’ there will be massive change in the UK, which is de...
Depending on your accent, you might find yourself confused between two of these words, or all three of them. What does each word mean? The word are is the present tense second person singular (as in ‘you are’) and the present tense first, second, and third person plural (as in ‘we are’, ’you are’, ‘they are’) of the verb ‘to be’. Here is are used in some example sentences: You are very good at spelling. We are very good at spelling. You are both very good at spelling. They are very good at spelling. TOP TIP: remember that ‘you are’ can also be shortened to ‘you’re’. The word...
Taking the biscuit. A common point of confusion in the English language is the difference between the American and British meaning of ‘biscuit’. Both refer to a delectable baked treat, but what an Englishman would refer to as a ‘biscuit’ is, in America, known as a ‘cookie’. In America a biscuit is a savoury ‘quick bread’ with a consistency similar to the English scone (the pronunciation of which is another of the age-old discrepancy of the language!). In Britain the term biscuit seems to be a much broader term, and they come in an immeasurable and array of shapes and sizes, flavours and textures. The perpetual ambiguity surrounding the ‘biscuit’ comes from the origin of the word its sel...
Yesterday was the 1st April. Since the medieval times the first day of April has been host to all manner of jokes, pranks and hoaxes. April Fools’ or All Fools’ Day is an informal holiday celebrated annually. For one day, one is allowed and frankly, expected to play pranks or jokes on your friends, family or workmates – and so you can expect the same in return! Anyone playing April fool’s pranks after midday is considered the ‘April Fool’ and the joke is on them, so to speak. Although in our experience, the joking has carried on long into the day. April fools day is recognized in most European cultures, and is therefore celebrated in a colourful a...
Yesterday was National Grammar Day in America and to celebrate we shared five easy-to-avoid grammar tips on Facebook. This week, for ‘Word for Wednesday’ we thought we’d look at the word ‘grammar’ itself. The Oxford English Dictionary defines ‘grammar’ as the ‘whole system and structure of a language or of languages in general, usually taken as consisting of syntax and morphology (including inflections) and sometimes also phonology and semantics’. You can read the full definition of the word here. What we find the most interesting about the word ‘grammar’ is that, like word ‘spell’, it has associations with m...
Last week, we ran a poll asking you which word you wanted to see featured in this week’s blog. The results were unequivocal and so, the word you’ve chosen for this week’s Word for Wednesday is one whose origin is shrouded in ambiguity… Nincompoop. Nin…com…poop? The Norfolk-born poet laureate Thomas Shadwell penned our first recorded use of this word in 1673. We can assume that by this time it was already present in spoken word. Interestingly, the light-hearted pejorative ‘ninny’ (which we might assume to be a shortening of ‘nincompoop’) predates it in the antiquated term ‘ninny hammer’. Might this reveal nincompoop as an invented embellishment? Regardless, nincompoop seems to perfectly ...
What does each word mean? The word allow refers to the act of making it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen. The past tense and past participle for allow is allowed. You can read the full Spellzone dictionary definition of the word here. Here is allowed used in some example sentences: The teacher allowed the class to spend five extra minutes in the playground. By leaving earlier than he needed to, he allowed himself time to stop at the shop. His argument was weak, but she allowed it because she was bored of the debate. Click here for the Spellzone Word Lists which include the word allowed. The Spellzone dictionary defines aloud...
Oxymora or oxymorons are words or phrases in which two or more seemingly contradictory terms are used together. An often given example of an oxymoron is ‘And faith unfaithful kept him falsely true’. Whilst most oxymorons seem nonsensical, they can actually be useful in descriptions and lend themselves to poetry and creative language to great effect. Here are some of the bizarre oxymorons used in our language, which somehow manage to make sense: Old news Beyond Infinity Free credit Antimissile missile Loud whisper A nice mess (often misquoted as ‘Another fine mess’) Silent noise Dark light Love hate Ice burn Sweet sorrow (Shakespeare) ...
Spellzone is the mustard! This week’s inquiry into the expansive English vocabulary features a culinary condiment that has come to be a divider of people’s tastes. This word has a handful of applications in both slang and a formal situation so is worth getting to know. Mustard. ‘Must’ comes from the Latin ‘vinummustum’ (young wine) and refers to any freshly pressed juice where the entire fruit: skin, seeds, flesh etc. is used. Picture the very basic but entirely effective method of pressing wine: the human foot - you’ve probably seen it in books or even had a go at it yourself! This process is used to make ‘must’ from the grapes ...
Happy New Year! We hope you’ve all had a fantastic winter holiday and have had chance to rest and can head into 2014 with renewed energy and motivation. It’s been an exciting 2013 for us here at Spellzone. With the arrival of the new-look site and lots of new features for you to check out, there’s plenty of reason to be getting excited about what the New Year might have in store. Since New Year’s has fallen on a Wednesday this year I thought I’d take the chance to blog about what will probably be a very widely used word today: Resolution. The word’s oldest ancestor seems to be the Latin 'resoluti', which has a delightful definition, app...
At this time of year, here in England, you can find a ‘grotto’ almost anywhere. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Christmas Grottos – they are rooms (or sometimes entire floors) in places like department stores, shopping centres, or Christmas fêtes, where an actor dressed as Father Christmas gives out small gifts to children. The Online Etymology Dictionary defines the word ‘grotto’ as ‘from Italian grotta, ultimately from Latin crypta “vault, cavern,” from Greek krypte “hidden place”’. I don’t know about you but that description reminds me more of ‘Open Sesame!’ than it does ‘Merry Christ...
A blog on things to come… It’s almost that time of year again and whether love it or hate it, Christmas is an opportunity to spend some time with the people who mean the most – and likely eat far more than is good for you! What’s not to look forward to? The word ‘advent’ is derived from the Latin ‘ad’ meaning ‘to’ and ‘venire’ – ‘come’. It’s a word that seems fit to burst with promise and expectation. What do those two words mean to you? ‘To come…’ To me, it almost interrogative: ‘what is to come?’ There is an element of duality within the word too, advent not only anticipates the beginning of something but also brings the previous period to a reflective close – a word trapped in a limb...
Can you believe December starts tomorrow? We're going to be sharing Advent Anagrams next month, so if you enjoy a good puzzle, make sure you stay tuned! In the meantime, here's a round-up of this month's posts! I've spent November exploring the influences of Latin on the English language. I finally know what 'ad hoc' means, and have developed a (perhaps unhealthy) habit of telling every new person I meet where 'Thursday' got its name from. You can find the links to my posts below. Latin expressions in English - Part One Latin expressions in English - Part Two Where the months get their names from Where the days of the week get their names fr...
Like with the months, the names of the days in English hark back to the Romans. They are named after the seven ‘planets’ of classical astronomy: the sun, the moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. Later, the Germanic peoples adjusted the names of the days so that they reflected their own mythology rather than that of the Romans. As English is part of the West Germanic family of languages, the English words for the days (mostly) derive from these Germanic names. Monday – The word ‘Monday’ comes from the Old English ‘Monandaeg’, which translates to ‘day of the moon’, and comes from Máni, the North Germanic Moon-god. &...
Have you ever wondered where the months got their names from? In the Western world, the most widely used calendar is the Gregorian calendar, but some of the names of the months come from the calendars used by the ancient Romans. The calendar of Romulus had ten months, beginning with the spring equinox in March and ending in December. After many calendar reforms since Romulus’s calendar, the following mnemonic rhyme sums up the features of the calendar we use today: “Thirty days hath September, April, June, and November. All the rest have thirty-one, Excepting February alone, And that has twenty-eight days clear, And twenty-nine in each leap year.” We love a go...
Today we’re back with more Latin phrases. You may think of Latin as a dead language, but in actuality we still use many Latin phrases as part of modern English. If you would like to read Part 1 of this series (including terms like ‘et cetera’ and ‘in camera’), you can click here. Ad hoc is one of those terms that is thrown around in the workplace all the time. For years, I was too scared to ask anyone what it meant. When I finally did, the person who used it said: ‘You know, I actually have no idea…’ . The phrase translates to ‘for this’, and describes something that is created or done for a specific and immediate purpos...
Here is another delightful word for you this week and with the predictably dismal autumnal weather in England, one that I have found myself using much more than I would prefer. Although the word itself is relatively new, the invention itself has existed for well over three thousand years. The invention can be traced to Ancient China, but there is also evidence of usage in Egypt and India from around the same time. Once designed as a sunshade, the Umbrella now almost exclusively serves to protect us from the rain. However, the name remains the same: Umbrella is a 16th century word derived from the Latin ‘umbra’ or ‘shade’. Historically there have been associat...
You may think of Latin as a dead language, and though it is true that it is no longer spoken outside of classrooms, Latin is the root of many English words. Furthermore, many Latin phrases and expressions have survived and are often used interspersed with English. Let’s take a look at a few. Et cetera, often abbreviated to ‘etc.’, is perhaps one of the most commonly used Latin phrases in day-to-day conversations. The expression directly translates to ‘and the rest’ and we usually use it at the end of a list as a way of saying ‘and all the other things’ or ‘and so on’. Example sentence: The Spellzone course uses a range of spell...
For centuries, coins have been used for trade and coins as legal tender have been standardized by governments across the world. Modern coins and banknotes have little to no inherent value or use – we have ‘attributed’ value to these coins and notes to create a standardized money system, the problem with this is that this ‘invented’ currency can fluctuate in value and even lose its value altogether. This has not always been the case, however. Before everything became so readily available, the various items used as tender actually had inherent value and/or uses. In other words, throughout history we have used some pretty crazy things as coins. Such coins range from the logical (gold, silver...
Today is the birthday of one of the most successful authors in history. Her books have brought delight to children and parents around the world (myself included) and are now available in over 60 languages. The novels captivated audiences and took us to a world of fantasy parallel to our own everywhere. I’m of course talking about J. K. Rowling and her Harry Potter series. Through the Harry Potter universe, J. K. Rowling innovated dozens of words or terms either borrowing from Latin or creating a new word entirely – some even making it into the dictionary as can be seen our recent blog! Aside from this, Rowling refreshed many older words, bringing them into popular culture. These words have...
In another week the word ‘heir’ might lead one to recall the television series Downton Abbey, or perhaps socialites such as Paris and Nicky Hilton - this week, though, everyone seems to be talking about same thing: the birth of a baby. The new Prince of Cambridge, whose name is yet to be revealed, is the first grandson of Prince Charles of Wales, Heir Apparent to the reigning monarch of Great Britain. This means that the baby is third in line to the throne and is likely to one day be King. Within an hour of the birth announcement, thousands of tourists had gathered at Buckingham Palace to be part of the historic occasion. Here at Spellzone, we thought we’d take a look at...
Today marks the birthday of a hugely important figure in history: Anne Frank. Her diary, ‘The Diary of a Young Girl’ offered us a terrifying insight into the experience of hiding with her family during the German occupation of the Netherlands in the Second World War. When Anne’s father returned to the concealed rooms in which they were hiding, the diary remained. Since then, the Diary has been translated into many different languages, offering an intensely personal perspective of Jewish life and the horrors of the war. You’ve guessed it. Today’s Word for Wednesday is diary. Research suggests the word appeared in the late 16th century, derived from the Lati...
Yesterday was World Day for Cultural Diversity; a relatively new cause adopted by UNESCO just over a decade ago. But what is Cultural Diversity Day? The United Nations describe the campaign on their Facebook page: ‘This Day raises awareness on the richness of world cultures and the opportunities that cultural diversity can bring to societies.’ I think it is a great incentive to explore the output of other cultures, from music, food and film to their literature, traditions and languages. So, if you have a spare moment this week, why not endeavour to understand another culture a little bit more? I recently discovered the music of a band named Baka Beyond. They manage to bl...
In the limelight this week for various reasons is a word that encompasses almost all human achievements; a word that has come to represent our creativity and our desire to explore and progress. Art. Today we are in a social climate where art completely surrounds us, whether we like it or not. The paintings of masters, the music of the greats, the work of our finest writers and the world’s most incredible buildings can all be accessed with the click of a mouse and, finance permitting, in ‘the flesh’ by travelling abroad. But what is art? Unfortunately, to many, the word art conjures up an image of pretentiousness, luxury and controversy. A quick look in to the me...
This week’s word for Wednesday is a strange one indeed. A word of 17th Century Greek origin and whose meaning is widely misused. The word… well err… two words… is ‘Hoi polloi’. Don’t worry if you haven’t heard of it, and let’s de-mystify this expression a little. Let’s start by dismissing the common misconception that ‘Hoi polloi’ refers to the upper class of people or a higher social order. This simply isn’t true as 'Hoi polloi' translates literally to mean ‘the many’ or ‘the masses’. There are a few other popular age-old terms used to express a similar meaning, these are mainly used as pejoratives: plebs (or plebians), peons, riff-raff and so on. Apparently the word crept into modern Eng...
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