To-ga! To-ga! To-ga! John Chaneski’s latest quiz, “Classics Class,” has the hosts rooting around for the ancient Greek and Latin origins of English words. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Classics Class...
The British publishers of the Collins dictionary have announced 24 words on their endangered species list. They’re words like “vilipend,” which means “to treat with contempt,” and “nitid,” that’s n-i-t...
root shock n.— «Residents say they do miss having a neighborhood with familiar faces to greet, familiar foods to eat, and no fear of being forced out of their homes. It was Dr. Mindy Fullilove, a professor of clinical psychiatry and...
Bristol dust n.— «So what is the best tyre to run in “Bristol Dust” (what Bristolians affectionately call gloopy winter mud) or the slippery Limestone and roots that the autumn and spring bring to Bristol?» —“What rubber...
An ESL teacher puzzles over how to explain to his students the proper pronunciation of the word route. He asks whether the pronunciation “root” has been “routed” by “rowt.” This is part of a complete episode...
heel v.— «Once you have selected your tree, take it home and store or “heel” it, as they say in the trade, in the coldest, darkest place you have, such as on the north side of your house or in a cellar. Keep it there until...

