@mosephia.bsky.social
Reposted
‘Cleave’ can refer to splitting something apart.
‘Cleave’ can also refer to the uniting of two things.
…what?
A word that is also its own opposite is called a ‘contronym.’
‘Cleave’ can also refer to the uniting of two things.
…what?
A word that is also its own opposite is called a ‘contronym.’
January 5, 2026 at 5:13 PM
‘Cleave’ can refer to splitting something apart.
‘Cleave’ can also refer to the uniting of two things.
…what?
A word that is also its own opposite is called a ‘contronym.’
‘Cleave’ can also refer to the uniting of two things.
…what?
A word that is also its own opposite is called a ‘contronym.’
Reposted
ce post est tellement @mitildide.bsky.social coded
December 28, 2025 at 9:54 AM
ce post est tellement @mitildide.bsky.social coded
Reposted
Thread. This is a crucial thing for non-Christian Americans to understand. Most Christian Nationalists think it’s an act of kindness on their part to tell you that you will be going to hell if you don’t convert. It’s incomprehensible to most of them that they’re being bigots.
I'm going to tell my favorite story again about reflecting the certainty of beliefs back at people who don't expect it.
A friend was one of the few Jews on faculty at a North Dakota University. Every year, his colleague in religious studies would invite him to come to his religious studies class...
A friend was one of the few Jews on faculty at a North Dakota University. Every year, his colleague in religious studies would invite him to come to his religious studies class...
December 25, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Thread. This is a crucial thing for non-Christian Americans to understand. Most Christian Nationalists think it’s an act of kindness on their part to tell you that you will be going to hell if you don’t convert. It’s incomprehensible to most of them that they’re being bigots.
Reposted
Jane Austen used 'however' at the beginning of a sentence, and so can you.
December 16, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Jane Austen used 'however' at the beginning of a sentence, and so can you.
Reposted
die-hard | adjective | strongly or fanatically determined or devoted
Die Hard | noun | a Christmas movie
Die Hard | noun | a Christmas movie
December 7, 2025 at 3:10 PM
die-hard | adjective | strongly or fanatically determined or devoted
Die Hard | noun | a Christmas movie
Die Hard | noun | a Christmas movie
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“The continuing return of salmon heralds hope for more healthy ecosystems and these charismatic fish are excellent ambassadors for protecting and restoring our local watersheds,” Jeff Miller, director of the Alameda Creek.
I needed a little positivity in my life. Salmon, swimming.
flip.it/-gI2sp
I needed a little positivity in my life. Salmon, swimming.
flip.it/-gI2sp
Salmon seen in upper Bay Area creek for the first time in decades
Salmon have made their way up the largest local tributary of the San Francisco Bay.
flip.it
November 30, 2025 at 9:54 PM
“The continuing return of salmon heralds hope for more healthy ecosystems and these charismatic fish are excellent ambassadors for protecting and restoring our local watersheds,” Jeff Miller, director of the Alameda Creek.
I needed a little positivity in my life. Salmon, swimming.
flip.it/-gI2sp
I needed a little positivity in my life. Salmon, swimming.
flip.it/-gI2sp
Reposted
‘Father’ and ‘dad’ are synonyms.
‘Figure’ and ‘bod’ are synonyms.
But, a ‘father figure’ and a ‘dad bod’ aren’t exactly the same thing…
‘Figure’ and ‘bod’ are synonyms.
But, a ‘father figure’ and a ‘dad bod’ aren’t exactly the same thing…
November 14, 2025 at 3:09 PM
‘Father’ and ‘dad’ are synonyms.
‘Figure’ and ‘bod’ are synonyms.
But, a ‘father figure’ and a ‘dad bod’ aren’t exactly the same thing…
‘Figure’ and ‘bod’ are synonyms.
But, a ‘father figure’ and a ‘dad bod’ aren’t exactly the same thing…
Reposted
You can curse daylight saving time, daylight saving, daylight savings, daylight savings time, and/or daylight time.
All are considered acceptable so go off.
All are considered acceptable so go off.
November 2, 2025 at 10:41 AM
You can curse daylight saving time, daylight saving, daylight savings, daylight savings time, and/or daylight time.
All are considered acceptable so go off.
All are considered acceptable so go off.
Reposted
Reposted
We can't explain it, but putting a little line in the middle of a 7 is writing French.
October 17, 2025 at 6:38 PM
We can't explain it, but putting a little line in the middle of a 7 is writing French.
Reposted
Any dictionary can be a pocket dictionary with big enough pants.
October 15, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Any dictionary can be a pocket dictionary with big enough pants.
Reposted
Reposted
skunk = 🦨
skink = 🦎
skank = never mind, this can’t be worth it
skink = 🦎
skank = never mind, this can’t be worth it
October 6, 2025 at 2:12 PM
skunk = 🦨
skink = 🦎
skank = never mind, this can’t be worth it
skink = 🦎
skank = never mind, this can’t be worth it
skunk = 🦨
skink = 🦎
skank = never mind, this can’t be worth it
skink = 🦎
skank = never mind, this can’t be worth it
October 6, 2025 at 2:50 PM
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Trivia on 'trivia'
In ancient Rome, a trivium was an intersection of three roads (tri, "three" + vium, road).
According to the Romans, when people met at a trivium, they would discuss trivialis ("inconsequential things") - which eventually helped give trivia its modern meaning.
In ancient Rome, a trivium was an intersection of three roads (tri, "three" + vium, road).
According to the Romans, when people met at a trivium, they would discuss trivialis ("inconsequential things") - which eventually helped give trivia its modern meaning.
October 3, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Trivia on 'trivia'
In ancient Rome, a trivium was an intersection of three roads (tri, "three" + vium, road).
According to the Romans, when people met at a trivium, they would discuss trivialis ("inconsequential things") - which eventually helped give trivia its modern meaning.
In ancient Rome, a trivium was an intersection of three roads (tri, "three" + vium, road).
According to the Romans, when people met at a trivium, they would discuss trivialis ("inconsequential things") - which eventually helped give trivia its modern meaning.
Reposted
Ilan Stavans and Peter Gilliver discuss the art of creating a dictionary: “The size of the task of compiling a comprehensive dictionary…has now grown far beyond what a single individual could hope to achieve in a lifetime.”
lithub.com/how-to-build...
lithub.com/how-to-build...
How to Build a Dictionary: On the Hard Art of Popular Lexicography
At the end of the first quarter of the twenty-first century, about 400 million people are native English speakers. With those for whom English is a second language, the number reaches far above: betw…
lithub.com
September 29, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Ilan Stavans and Peter Gilliver discuss the art of creating a dictionary: “The size of the task of compiling a comprehensive dictionary…has now grown far beyond what a single individual could hope to achieve in a lifetime.”
lithub.com/how-to-build...
lithub.com/how-to-build...
Reposted
‘Nickname’ is not ‘nick’ + ‘name.’
It was originally ‘ekename.’
‘Eke’ was the Middle English word for “also” or “in addition.”
Since ‘ekename’ began with a vowel, people used ‘an’ before it.
Over time, 'an ekename' became 'a nickname.'
It was originally ‘ekename.’
‘Eke’ was the Middle English word for “also” or “in addition.”
Since ‘ekename’ began with a vowel, people used ‘an’ before it.
Over time, 'an ekename' became 'a nickname.'
September 24, 2025 at 5:16 PM
‘Nickname’ is not ‘nick’ + ‘name.’
It was originally ‘ekename.’
‘Eke’ was the Middle English word for “also” or “in addition.”
Since ‘ekename’ began with a vowel, people used ‘an’ before it.
Over time, 'an ekename' became 'a nickname.'
It was originally ‘ekename.’
‘Eke’ was the Middle English word for “also” or “in addition.”
Since ‘ekename’ began with a vowel, people used ‘an’ before it.
Over time, 'an ekename' became 'a nickname.'
Reposted
Some phrases are so well-known, you don't need to say the whole thing to be understood.
E.g., you can say "birds of a feather" without saying "flock together."
-“When life hands you lemons…”
-“Great minds…”
-“When in Rome…”
Such partial phrases are called 'anapodotons.'
E.g., you can say "birds of a feather" without saying "flock together."
-“When life hands you lemons…”
-“Great minds…”
-“When in Rome…”
Such partial phrases are called 'anapodotons.'
September 17, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Some phrases are so well-known, you don't need to say the whole thing to be understood.
E.g., you can say "birds of a feather" without saying "flock together."
-“When life hands you lemons…”
-“Great minds…”
-“When in Rome…”
Such partial phrases are called 'anapodotons.'
E.g., you can say "birds of a feather" without saying "flock together."
-“When life hands you lemons…”
-“Great minds…”
-“When in Rome…”
Such partial phrases are called 'anapodotons.'
Reposted
Explique ton métier mais mal
Je bois du café devant des rangs de chaises
Je bois du café devant des rangs de chaises
September 12, 2025 at 7:05 AM
Explique ton métier mais mal
Je bois du café devant des rangs de chaises
Je bois du café devant des rangs de chaises
Reposted
American English - ize
-realize
-organize
-specialize
British English - ise
-realise
-organise
-specialise
The ‘ize’ ending is the older version.
-realize
-organize
-specialize
British English - ise
-realise
-organise
-specialise
The ‘ize’ ending is the older version.
September 9, 2025 at 4:35 PM
American English - ize
-realize
-organize
-specialize
British English - ise
-realise
-organise
-specialise
The ‘ize’ ending is the older version.
-realize
-organize
-specialize
British English - ise
-realise
-organise
-specialise
The ‘ize’ ending is the older version.
Reposted
A global collection of conversations revealing how dictionaries have evolved and influenced language across twenty different traditions.
Conversations on Dictionaries edited by Ilan Stavans
Pre-Order today!
#Linguistics #LangSky 📚
https://cup.org/4mGjF6m
Conversations on Dictionaries edited by Ilan Stavans
Pre-Order today!
#Linguistics #LangSky 📚
https://cup.org/4mGjF6m
September 8, 2025 at 4:00 PM
A global collection of conversations revealing how dictionaries have evolved and influenced language across twenty different traditions.
Conversations on Dictionaries edited by Ilan Stavans
Pre-Order today!
#Linguistics #LangSky 📚
https://cup.org/4mGjF6m
Conversations on Dictionaries edited by Ilan Stavans
Pre-Order today!
#Linguistics #LangSky 📚
https://cup.org/4mGjF6m
Reposted
Fact-Checking Trump On Voter Fraud https://theonion.com/fact-checking-trump-on-voter-fraud/
August 26, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Fact-Checking Trump On Voter Fraud https://theonion.com/fact-checking-trump-on-voter-fraud/
Reposted
Hot take, people who hate cities shouldn’t be in charge of cities
August 11, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Hot take, people who hate cities shouldn’t be in charge of cities
Reposted
Hey ding-dongs, let’s have a chit-chat about 'Ablaut reduplication.'
If you have three words, the order usually goes 'I-A-O.'
-tic-tac-toe
If there are only two words, ‘I’ is the first and the second is either ‘A’ or ‘O.’
-click-clack
-King-Kong
If you have three words, the order usually goes 'I-A-O.'
-tic-tac-toe
If there are only two words, ‘I’ is the first and the second is either ‘A’ or ‘O.’
-click-clack
-King-Kong
July 17, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Hey ding-dongs, let’s have a chit-chat about 'Ablaut reduplication.'
If you have three words, the order usually goes 'I-A-O.'
-tic-tac-toe
If there are only two words, ‘I’ is the first and the second is either ‘A’ or ‘O.’
-click-clack
-King-Kong
If you have three words, the order usually goes 'I-A-O.'
-tic-tac-toe
If there are only two words, ‘I’ is the first and the second is either ‘A’ or ‘O.’
-click-clack
-King-Kong