by Dwane | Nov 20, 2015 | English, Latin, Vocabulary
Verbiculture: the production of words. Yep. It’s really a word. From Latin verbum (word) and the Latin verb colo, colere, colui, cultus: to live in, inhabit; till, cultivate, promote growth. Verbiculture, which shows up in almost no dictionaries, was coined in...
by Dwane | Nov 19, 2015 | Education, English, Vocabulary
Verb: In grammar, a part of speech that expresses action, motion, being, suffering, or a request or command to do anything. A verb may also show state of existence. The verb affirms, declares, asks or commands; as, I write; he runs; the river flows; they sleep; we...
by Dwane | Nov 18, 2015 | Education, English, Vocabulary
Cruciverbalist: Someone skilled in the making of, or completion of crossword puzzles. From Latin crux (cross) and verbum (word). And, yes. This is a real word.
by Dwane | Nov 17, 2015 | Education, English, German, Greek, Italian, Latin, Vocabulary
This week (and probably next week) my etymology students and I will study the Greek and Latin words for, well, word. I find it fascinating to take a look at every word we study in about ten different languages. All of these languages are somehow related to our very...
by Dwane | Nov 3, 2015 | Education, English
So true. “I find that I trust my own writing most, and others seem to trust it most, too, when I sound most like a person from Indianapolis, which is what I am. What alternatives do I have? The one most vehemently recommended by teachers has no doubt been...
by Dwane | Oct 26, 2015 | Education, English, Latin in Literature
I have finally decided to do what my students have been asking me to do for years. This winter, I will be teaching a three-week course on the Harry Potter series. When? The Three Mondays between Thanksgiving and Christmas. November 30, December 7, December 14. 7...
