Do people who work together sound alike? Yes! Over time, they may begin to develop similar patterns of speech, or what might be called an “occupational accent” that helps them communicate efficiently. Also, lots of familiar words in...
A cabochon is a convex gem or bead that’s highly polished but not faceted. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Cabochon” I have a pair of earrings that I only recently figured out how to describe. They’re...
Lapidary prose is so elegant and precise that it’s worthy of being carved into stone. Lapidary comes from Latin lapis, meaning stone, and is related to the brilliant blue stone, lapis lazuli, and the word dilapidated, from a Latin word meaning...
For a taste of what it’s like to spend a semester studying writing with a renowned author, check out Alexander Chee’s essay in The Morning News, “Annie Dillard and the Writing Life.” Dillard’s remarkable description of...
Dallas Morning News restaurant critic Leslie Brenner has written about the popular fish dish called poke, which takes its name from a Hawaiian word that means “to cut crosswise.” Many other foods take their names for the way...
Mozzarella, feta, and schnitzel all carry a relevant kitchen verb in their names. Mozzarella comes from an Italian word meaning “cut,” and feta from a Greek word with the same meaning. German schnitzel also derives from a word meaning “to cut,” the...