How do words get their meanings? Why does the string of letters (and sounds) "d-o-g" mean "dog" and "c-a-t" mean "cat"? For the most part, meanings are conventions: A group of people (like speakers of ...

Word of the Day: Discombobulate reminds readers that English vocabulary is not only rich and precise but also capable of ...

“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” — William Shakespeare Words make a difference. They have meaning. Recently the debate began in Maryland on ...

Word of the day: Alacrity - Studies show strong vocabulary improves professional success by nearly 30%. “Alacrity” is one such powerful word. It means quick action with real enthusiasm. Not just speed ...

Word of the Day: "Comatose" describes a state of deep unconsciousness, often resulting from serious medical conditions like ...

Children learn language effortlessly and completely voluntarily. They learn new words miraculously fast. A teenager masters about 60,000 words of their mother tongue by the time they finish high ...

Splish-splash, boing, bang, thud, sparkle, and pitter-patter are all fun words to say — they also happen to sound exactly like their definition. A study published recently in the Journal of ...