noun | a reference source containing words alphabetically arranged along with information about their forms, pronunciations, functions, and etymologies
Trivia on 'trivia'
In ancient Rome, a trivium was an intersection of three roads (tri, "three" + vium, road).
According to the Romans, when people met at a trivium, they would discuss trivialis ("inconsequential things") - which eventually helped give trivia its modern meaning.
Trivia on 'trivia'
In ancient Rome, a trivium was an intersection of three roads (tri, "three" + vium, road).
According to the Romans, when people met at a trivium, they would discuss trivialis ("inconsequential things") - which eventually helped give trivia its modern meaning.
Writing Puzzle #70
A recent NYTimes article reported that President Biden would attend the White House Correspondents' Dinner. It’s unusual for him to accept an invitation like this because he rarely spends weekends in DC.
Spot two strange word choices in the sentences below.
Thank you all for your courage and for sharing your words with us!
“Never make fun of someone who mispronounces a word. It means they learned it by reading.”
-Anonymous.
Writing Puzzle #70
A recent NYTimes article reported that President Biden would attend the White House Correspondents' Dinner. It’s unusual for him to accept an invitation like this because he rarely spends weekends in DC.
Spot two strange word choices in the sentences below.
Try inserting an expletive in the following words.
(No need to respond with your answers, we’re a family-friendly dictionary.)
absolutely
hypocritical
Minnesota
avocado
These rules were never taught to you!
In fact, expletives were probably WITHHELD from you when you learned the language...
You innately acquired rules that govern the structure and pronunciation of words.
Your sub-BLEEPING-conscious is a powerful thing!
Okay, but what about ‘unbelievable,’ where ‘liev’ is stressed?
If you say ‘unbe-BLEEPING-lievable,’ that follows the normal pattern.
But the equally familiar ‘un-BLEEPING-believable’ is an exception.
Either works. So listen to your heart.
Why do we say ‘fan-BLEEPING-tastic’ but not ‘fantas-BLEEPING-tic’?
The main reason, linguists believe, is that the curse word comes before the syllable that bears the primary stress. (The ‘tas’ is stressed in ‘fantastic.’)
Congratu-BLEEPING-lations!
It’s time we had a little talk about your use of expletive infixation.
‘Expletive infixation’ is the linguistic term for profanity inserted into a word for emphasis.
(For this thread, we’ll use 'BLEEPING,' but feel free to substitute another word.)
What is a word you are brave enough to admit that you mispronounced for way too long?
Ours may or may not be 'epitome.'
Phew, that feels good to finally say out loud...
light | verb | to ignite
the | definite article | used as a function word to indicate that a following noun is definite
beam | noun | a ray or shaft of light