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May 2005April's Top TwentyThe list of the most frequently looked-up words at the Merriam-Webster Online Web site in April leads off as usual with effect and affect in the top spots but includes three newcomers—pontiff at No. 5, conclave at No. 9, and filibuster at No. 17—and one word, insipid, that took a big jump up to No. 3. Get April's full Top Twenty word list—and the strange story behind insipid and a popular television show. Word Profile: conclaveThe death of Pope John Paul II and the convening of the College of Cardinals to elect his successor captured the attention of the world. There hasn't been a papal conclave in nearly 30 years, so many people wondered, what is a conclave? And where does that word come from? Get the definition and etymology! Happy 100th BirthdaySay Happy Birthday to the Hot New Words of 1905. All of these words had their earliest recorded appearance 100 years ago. In all, there are 179 words in Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition, whose earliest attestation dates to 1905. To see them all, select the Collegiate Dictionary as your reference and click on Advanced Search. Then type 1905 in the date field and click on Search. New Word WatchMerriam-Webster's editors are giving the following words serious consideration for entry in a Merriam-Webster dictionary:
Do you have a suggestion for a word we should be watching? E-mail us at comments@word.com, and we'll tell you what we have on that word so far. Word History of the Month: filibusterThe word filibuster has been part of English since the mid-19th century, but it has taken some odd twists and turns getting here. Get the full story. Notable and QuotableMay 27 is a day rich in birthdays of well-known writers. Dashiell Hammett, John Cheever, and Herman Wouk, among others, share this birthday. They also share the distinction of being frequently quoted in Merriam-Webster dictionaries. See examples! Finding quotations from an author is easy. Just choose your reference—the Unabridged Dictionary or the Collegiate—and click on Advanced Search. Type the last name of the author in the Author Quoted box and click on Search. From the Mail ServerE-mail questions sent to Merriam-Webster last month included these: Does the dictionary contain any words that do not have any vowels? If the plural of goose is geese, why isn't the plural of moose meese? And is dude gender-neutral? Or are female dudes called dudesses? Get the answers. If you have a question for the editors, do what other word lovers do: send it to comments@word.com. Language LinksThe Web is rich in sites devoted to language, and each month our editors will share a few of their favorites with you. See this month's picks! Just Foolin' AroundHaving fun with an online dictionary takes a different form from flipping through the pages of a bound book, but the results are equally enjoyable. Find out the differences and see how you can use the online dictionary to find out which words and word usages irk the usage commentators. The Puzzle CornerThis month's Puzzle Corner features Tom Swifties. Even if your childhood didn't include a single Tom Swift book, you're sure to enjoy these pun-laden puzzles. Try a puzzle! |