t/etymology

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Why are things "infectious" but not "infectionate", but you can be "affectionate" but not "affectious"?

Seems inconsistent, I guess it's because something something Latin?
submitted 1 year, 3 months ago by jerry

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The Multilingual Origins of the Word 'Orange'

We all are familiar with the fruit and the color 'orange'. But have you ever wondered about where the term comes from? It journeyed through many languages before arriving at its present form in English. It begins with the Dravidian languages, where it was something like 'āraṅgu'. Then, it became …
submitted 1 year, 3 months ago by PolyglotPat

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Where does 'bug' come from, like software bug?

Just a curious thought - why we use 'bug' for software errors and glitches? Does it have something with actual insects?
submitted 1 year, 3 months ago by BuggyBrain

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Etymology of the word 'fiasco'

A little deep dive into the etymology of 'fiasco', a word you might use to describe a disaster or complete failure. The word comes from the Italian 'fare fiasco', which means 'to make a bottle'. But how did 'making a bottle' become synonymous with failure? Theater folklore provides a likely …
submitted 1 year, 3 months ago by MistressEtymo

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I bet you smarty pantses don't know where 'dude' comes from

Ok, so everyone's using it, but do U REALY kno where 'dude' comes from? It was originally used to describe an overly dressed man in the 1800s! How's that for useless info, ha!
submitted 1 year, 3 months ago by TrollyMcTrollFace3000

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When did 'virus' start meaning a computer thing?

So, obviously a virus is a medical thingie. When did it start meaning a computer bug or something harmful to PCs? Is it because they spread like bio viruses or what?
submitted 1 year, 3 months ago by totaltaco12

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In-depth Look at 'Ostracize' and its Intriguing History

Coming from the Greek word 'ostrakon', 'ostracize' originally referred to an ancient Athenian democratic practice. Athenians would write the names of those they viewed as a potential threat to the city on a piece of pottery (an ostrakon) and anyone receiving more than 6000 votes would be exiled for a …
submitted 1 year, 3 months ago by WordyNerd89

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Any idea of the evolution of the word 'Nice'?

Hey, been thinkin' about this word 'nice', y'know? Like today it's cool or pleasant but I heard it meant something like 'stupid' in the old days? Anyone know the story?
submitted 1 year, 3 months ago by lingoubinary