Jess Zafarris
@jesszafarris.bsky.social
Author of USELESS ETYMOLOGY, WORDS FROM HELL, and ONCE UPON A WORD. Podcaster/cohost, Words Unravelled. Editor-at-Large, Ragan + PR Daily. Adjunct prof at Emerson. Speaker, content director, social pro, ad world wordsmith. https://linktr.ee/JessZafarris
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Jess Zafarris
@jesszafarris.bsky.social
· Jul 30
Something special arrived today!
Useless Etymology will head out into the larger world on October 7th, but in the meantime here’s a little unbox and a reflection on its reason for being.
Useless Etymology will head out into the larger world on October 7th, but in the meantime here’s a little unbox and a reflection on its reason for being.
Reposted by Jess Zafarris
Reposted by Jess Zafarris
The WINNINGEST episode of Words Unraveled. There's always at least *one* "holy shit!" moment where you realize a thing you've known as a sound forever becomes clear in its origin in a way that makes you hear it differently from now on. Good stuff, @robwords.bsky.social & @jesszafarris.bsky.social
Which was the original 'football'? | SPORTS WORDS
YouTube video by Words Unravelled with RobWords and Jess Zafarris
youtu.be
November 12, 2025 at 11:59 PM
The WINNINGEST episode of Words Unraveled. There's always at least *one* "holy shit!" moment where you realize a thing you've known as a sound forever becomes clear in its origin in a way that makes you hear it differently from now on. Good stuff, @robwords.bsky.social & @jesszafarris.bsky.social
Reposted by Jess Zafarris
"Which was the original 'football'?" | Sports Words from Words Unravelled with @robwords.bsky.social & @jesszafarris.bsky.social
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClRq...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClRq...
Which was the original 'football'? | SPORTS WORDS
YouTube video by Words Unravelled with RobWords and Jess Zafarris
www.youtube.com
November 12, 2025 at 4:25 PM
"Which was the original 'football'?" | Sports Words from Words Unravelled with @robwords.bsky.social & @jesszafarris.bsky.social
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClRq...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClRq...
Fantastic fact from @leagueofthelexicon.bsky.social's newsletter.
![A screenshot reading: Keyboard (n.)
The first key-boards [sic] were found on musical instruments, specifically organs, pianos, harpsicords and the like, with the word first appearing in the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) in 1776. The first citation for a type-based keyboard is 1846, in relation to a telegraphy machine. Given the early design of these devices, it was an obvious choice, since they used actual piano keys, transposed from hammering strings to inputting letters.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:wcq3fur7p7lt6bd7thp4gh2n/bafkreieu4m53grnf2vqd4woqqvbfwk6p73lromdrhzdjt4ry4uu62jvr5u@jpeg)
November 12, 2025 at 1:24 AM
Fantastic fact from @leagueofthelexicon.bsky.social's newsletter.
Fable hopes that Wolf will play with her if she wiggles her butt at him enough, and it sort of works. (Also, wait for the ending.)
November 12, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Fable hopes that Wolf will play with her if she wiggles her butt at him enough, and it sort of works. (Also, wait for the ending.)
Had a lovely time speaking at Chatham Bookstore in Chatham, NY, this past weekend! The yarn shop next door (accessed via secret passage!) had a cozy space where I was able to present to a lovely crowd.
November 11, 2025 at 2:23 AM
Had a lovely time speaking at Chatham Bookstore in Chatham, NY, this past weekend! The yarn shop next door (accessed via secret passage!) had a cozy space where I was able to present to a lovely crowd.
How it feels enrolling for out-of-pocket health insurance
a baby is looking out of a window with the words `` here you go '' .
Alt: a baby is throwing money of a window with the words `` here you go '' .
media.tenor.com
November 10, 2025 at 9:06 PM
How it feels enrolling for out-of-pocket health insurance
Reposted by Jess Zafarris
I am now 85 out of 100 books from my target goal for the year. Easy peasey.
Currently reading Useless Etymology by @jesszafarris.bsky.social which is alternatively titled how I awkwardly try to make casual conversation with people. Hey, did you know that the word "curfew"... oh... they're gone...
Currently reading Useless Etymology by @jesszafarris.bsky.social which is alternatively titled how I awkwardly try to make casual conversation with people. Hey, did you know that the word "curfew"... oh... they're gone...
November 9, 2025 at 1:43 AM
I am now 85 out of 100 books from my target goal for the year. Easy peasey.
Currently reading Useless Etymology by @jesszafarris.bsky.social which is alternatively titled how I awkwardly try to make casual conversation with people. Hey, did you know that the word "curfew"... oh... they're gone...
Currently reading Useless Etymology by @jesszafarris.bsky.social which is alternatively titled how I awkwardly try to make casual conversation with people. Hey, did you know that the word "curfew"... oh... they're gone...
Reposted by Jess Zafarris
hey friends. I’ve joined over 60 other content creators on a team for @feedingamerica.org. $1 = 10 meals, meaning even a single dollar donation will help de-enshittify the holidays for hungry families. give if you can, boost if you can’t. thank you! ❤️💪 teamfeed.feedingamerica.org/participants...
I'm supporting Feeding America!
To feed America’s hungry through food banks and engage our country in the fight to end hunger
teamfeed.feedingamerica.org
November 8, 2025 at 4:18 PM
hey friends. I’ve joined over 60 other content creators on a team for @feedingamerica.org. $1 = 10 meals, meaning even a single dollar donation will help de-enshittify the holidays for hungry families. give if you can, boost if you can’t. thank you! ❤️💪 teamfeed.feedingamerica.org/participants...
Looking for a new comedic fantasy or sci-fi book to read (and yes unfortunately I have exhausted all of Sir Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams’ works). Recommendations?
November 8, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Looking for a new comedic fantasy or sci-fi book to read (and yes unfortunately I have exhausted all of Sir Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams’ works). Recommendations?
The new Frankenstein film is stunning, both visually and philosophically. It’s a wonderful modern tribute to Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley’s original.
November 8, 2025 at 12:30 AM
The new Frankenstein film is stunning, both visually and philosophically. It’s a wonderful modern tribute to Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley’s original.
There just aren’t words for how much I love this gorgeous little girlie.
November 7, 2025 at 6:55 PM
There just aren’t words for how much I love this gorgeous little girlie.
Reposted by Jess Zafarris
It’s chilly. Time to curl up with two special new books.
Useless Etymology, about fun word origins by the fantastic @jesszafarris.bsky.social and This Way Up by the hilarious Map Men @jayforeman.bsky.social and @markcooperjones.bsky.social
Cameo sticker from the lovely @mattgrayy.es
Useless Etymology, about fun word origins by the fantastic @jesszafarris.bsky.social and This Way Up by the hilarious Map Men @jayforeman.bsky.social and @markcooperjones.bsky.social
Cameo sticker from the lovely @mattgrayy.es
November 7, 2025 at 4:36 PM
It’s chilly. Time to curl up with two special new books.
Useless Etymology, about fun word origins by the fantastic @jesszafarris.bsky.social and This Way Up by the hilarious Map Men @jayforeman.bsky.social and @markcooperjones.bsky.social
Cameo sticker from the lovely @mattgrayy.es
Useless Etymology, about fun word origins by the fantastic @jesszafarris.bsky.social and This Way Up by the hilarious Map Men @jayforeman.bsky.social and @markcooperjones.bsky.social
Cameo sticker from the lovely @mattgrayy.es
Every time Nazis try to use Tolkien to justify white supremacy, I like to float this 1941 letter in which Tolkien called Hitler a "ruddy little ignoramus" and accused him of "ruining, perverting, misapplying, and making for ever accursed" the spirit of the cultures upon which he based his works.
November 7, 2025 at 4:33 AM
Every time Nazis try to use Tolkien to justify white supremacy, I like to float this 1941 letter in which Tolkien called Hitler a "ruddy little ignoramus" and accused him of "ruining, perverting, misapplying, and making for ever accursed" the spirit of the cultures upon which he based his works.
Every once in a while a 2022 etymology video I made about the origin of the word “paraphernalia” gets a heap of fresh views and comments on TikTok, and I’m relatively certain it’s kids trying to figure out what “drug paraphernalia” means when it comes up in some other viral video.
November 6, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Every once in a while a 2022 etymology video I made about the origin of the word “paraphernalia” gets a heap of fresh views and comments on TikTok, and I’m relatively certain it’s kids trying to figure out what “drug paraphernalia” means when it comes up in some other viral video.
On our walks, Fable has been shying away from curbside trash bins (and into the road) so today all of my neighbors were treated to me hovering around their cans with her, knocking on the plastic, squealing praise and raining treats every time she sat still or walked past one without reacting.
November 6, 2025 at 7:04 PM
On our walks, Fable has been shying away from curbside trash bins (and into the road) so today all of my neighbors were treated to me hovering around their cans with her, knocking on the plastic, squealing praise and raining treats every time she sat still or walked past one without reacting.
“I’ve been playing hard for hours, and I’m about to fall asleep, but it’s still tragic that no one is playing with me right now.”
November 6, 2025 at 3:35 PM
“I’ve been playing hard for hours, and I’m about to fall asleep, but it’s still tragic that no one is playing with me right now.”
Reposted by Jess Zafarris
I see @jesszafarris.bsky.social beat me to it. bsky.app/profile/jess...
I got intrigued and checked oed.com. Forebear is actually 'fore-be-er', one who was before, which I didn't know, and there is even an 'afterbeer/afterbear' with quotations from 1625 and 2008. There's also an 'afterliver', so take your pick!
November 6, 2025 at 3:26 PM
I see @jesszafarris.bsky.social beat me to it. bsky.app/profile/jess...
My least favorite internetism lately is "it's not that deep."
People use it mean "you're overthinking this," but it reads as dismissive of reading between the lines, questioning narratives, or just seeking more info.
Intellectual incuriosity sucks. Actively discouraging curiosity sucks harder.
People use it mean "you're overthinking this," but it reads as dismissive of reading between the lines, questioning narratives, or just seeking more info.
Intellectual incuriosity sucks. Actively discouraging curiosity sucks harder.
November 6, 2025 at 12:30 AM
My least favorite internetism lately is "it's not that deep."
People use it mean "you're overthinking this," but it reads as dismissive of reading between the lines, questioning narratives, or just seeking more info.
Intellectual incuriosity sucks. Actively discouraging curiosity sucks harder.
People use it mean "you're overthinking this," but it reads as dismissive of reading between the lines, questioning narratives, or just seeking more info.
Intellectual incuriosity sucks. Actively discouraging curiosity sucks harder.
Hey, it's almost time for another book event! If you're in Hudson Valley, join me on Saturday, Nov. 8, at Chatham Bookstore in Chatham, NY! I'll talk about words, sign some books, and we'll have a fine ol' time.
RSVP: www.eventbrite.com/e/useless-et...
RSVP: www.eventbrite.com/e/useless-et...
November 5, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Hey, it's almost time for another book event! If you're in Hudson Valley, join me on Saturday, Nov. 8, at Chatham Bookstore in Chatham, NY! I'll talk about words, sign some books, and we'll have a fine ol' time.
RSVP: www.eventbrite.com/e/useless-et...
RSVP: www.eventbrite.com/e/useless-et...
I’ve started taking Fable on my daily excursions around the neighborhood, carrying her some of the time but still giving her a chance to get used to leash walking and outdoor exploration. She’s doing great!
November 4, 2025 at 8:43 PM
I’ve started taking Fable on my daily excursions around the neighborhood, carrying her some of the time but still giving her a chance to get used to leash walking and outdoor exploration. She’s doing great!
It’s Election Day! Voting in state and local elections often makes the most immediate difference as far as our food, education, medical options, and day-to-day experience are concerned. Take a beat and be heard! See you at the polls. 🇺🇸
November 4, 2025 at 2:25 PM
It’s Election Day! Voting in state and local elections often makes the most immediate difference as far as our food, education, medical options, and day-to-day experience are concerned. Take a beat and be heard! See you at the polls. 🇺🇸
English splinglish
Oh see that's funny because the verb "forbear" has almost totally different elements.
It's for- "away, opposite" (which is related to "fore" but diverged grammatically pretty early) + "bear" in the carry/birth sense.
So the "bear" in forebear isn't related to the "bear" in forbear.
Wheeeeeeeeee
It's for- "away, opposite" (which is related to "fore" but diverged grammatically pretty early) + "bear" in the carry/birth sense.
So the "bear" in forebear isn't related to the "bear" in forbear.
Wheeeeeeeeee
November 3, 2025 at 10:54 PM
English splinglish
The word "forebear" is stupid and funny because it makes you want to say "forebearers."
But the -er is already there. It's really fore + "be-er," someone who "is."
The spelling, from the 15th c., is probably modeled after "bear" (carry/birth), but it's ultimately unrelated to that sort of bearing.
But the -er is already there. It's really fore + "be-er," someone who "is."
The spelling, from the 15th c., is probably modeled after "bear" (carry/birth), but it's ultimately unrelated to that sort of bearing.
November 3, 2025 at 9:49 PM
The word "forebear" is stupid and funny because it makes you want to say "forebearers."
But the -er is already there. It's really fore + "be-er," someone who "is."
The spelling, from the 15th c., is probably modeled after "bear" (carry/birth), but it's ultimately unrelated to that sort of bearing.
But the -er is already there. It's really fore + "be-er," someone who "is."
The spelling, from the 15th c., is probably modeled after "bear" (carry/birth), but it's ultimately unrelated to that sort of bearing.
Should’ve seen that coming. (She’s fine.)
November 3, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Should’ve seen that coming. (She’s fine.)