situation late 15c., “place, position, or location,” from Medieval Latin situationem (nom. situatio), from Low Latin situatus, pp. of situare (see situate). Meaning “state of affairs” is from 1750; meaning “employment post” is from 1803. onus c.1640, from Latin onus (gen. oneris) “load, burden.” Hence legal L. onus probandi (1722), lit. “burden of proving.” coffee […]
Posts Tagged ‘Word Origins’
Word Origins are Fun
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Word Origins on January 26, 2017 | Comments Off on Word Origins are Fun
Word Origins of the Day
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Word Origins on January 22, 2017 | Comments Off on Word Origins of the Day
squirm 1691, originally referring to eels, of unknown origin; sometimes associated with worm or swarm, but perhaps rather imitative. bodice 1560s, plural of body, name of a tight-fitting Elizabethan garment covering the torso; plural because the body came in two parts which fastened in the middle. relish 1530, “taste, flavor,” alteration of reles “scent, taste, […]
Word Origins of the Day
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Word Origins on January 18, 2017 | Comments Off on Word Origins of the Day
verily c.1300, from Middle English, verray “true, real”. Often misused by modern speakers as “very”, when its meaning is closer to “really.” calumniate 1550s, from L. calumniatus, pp. of calumniari “to accuse falsely,” from calumnia “slander, false accusation” provender 1306, “allowance paid each chapter member of a cathedral,” from Anglo-French provendir, Old French provendier, from […]