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Word History

The History of 'Cynic'

How an ancient philosophical movement devoted to the pursuit of virtue came to describe eye-rolling criticism.

How an ancient philosophical movement devoted to the pursuit of virtue came to describe eye-rolling criticism.

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play video cynic
The History of 'Cynic'

 

How an ancient philosophical movement devoted to the pursuit of virtue came to describe eye-rolling criticism.

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Why Did Yankee Doodle Call a Feather 'Macaroni'?

 

What's with his feathered cap?

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What is a Malaprop?

 

We'll tell you all the perpendiculars

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What Is 'Semantic Bleaching'?

 

How 'literally' can mean "figuratively"

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How a Ghost Word Appeared in the Dictionary

 

An imaginary word that snuck into the dictionary

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'Mispronunciations' That May Be Fine

 

'Mischievous,' 'nuclear,' and other words to pronounce with caution.

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How a Word Gets into the Dictionary

 

What our editors are looking for when they enter words in Merriam-Webster.

Games & Quizzes

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Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
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