To slay something can mean to kill it or to amuse it. The past tense of the first meaning is slew, while the past tense of the second meaning is slayed. The popularity of the word slayed has grown considerable in the last century, and my guess would be that the colloquially usage of the word will make it into the dictionaries eventually. Also, keep in mind that slew has other meanings such as, a sudden change in direction. A slew of things is a large …
The dictionary lists America is the landmass consisting of North and South America. However, we were not able to find one example if it being used in this way, and so it is our belief that this definition will become obsolete sooner rather than later. America is commonly used as a name for the United States of America. The continent  of America is more commonly called the Americas, and parts of the continent are determined by adjectives such as North America, South America, Central …
A troika is a group of three things, usually three individuals who work together in a leadership capacity. Originally it was a term for Russian sleighs or carriages pulled by a team of three horses. Additionally, Troika is the name of a committee which organized loans to several European countries during the recent economic crisis. And lastly, a troika is a Russian folk dance where one man has two women for his partners. The actions of the dance are imitations of the horses prancing while …
The noun phrase right-side up describes a direction in which the correct side of an object is facing up. Right-side is a hyphenated compound noun, while up completes the noun phrase. In this phrase the word right has the definition of being correct, not the opposite of left. The same is true for the phrase right-side out, and the nouns right-hand and left-hand. Though when you are speaking about the right side of an object, meaning the opposite of the left side, there is no hyphen. The distinction arises between the direction being …
Wonder is a verb meaning to feel curiosity, doubt, or admiration. Wonder can also be a noun describing a feeling of admiration, usually caused by something new or beautiful. Wonderment is a synonym for the noun definition of wonder. It is a noun meaning a state of reverence or adoration. In most cases, wonder would be sufficient. However, one might consider using wonderment if wonder’s alternative meanings might result in a clarity issue. Another word is wonderstruck. It is an adjective describing a person has having a sense of wonder come upon he or she quickly …
Akimbo describes a body position where hands are on hips and the elbows are out wide. It is an appositive, which means it is an adjective that always follows the noun it modifies, such as arms akimbo. Recently there has been a rise in using akimbo in reference to almost anything that is splayed out or haphazardly arranged. The phrase legs akimbo means the legs are haphazardly splayed. The word comes, not from another language, but from Old English a kembow. It is most likely a variation …
As a transitive verb, one which requires an object, oblige can mean to restrict by external force or circumstances. To be obliged is to be in someone’s debt because of a favor or service. As an intransitive verb, one which does not require an object, oblige means to take action as a favor, or without reward. A person who obliges is an obliger, though the noun form is hardly ever used. Obligate carries a slightly different meaning, which is to force someone (or an organization) to do something because …
Hand-wash is a verb meaning to wash something by hand. Hand soap can sometimes be referred to as handwash or hand wash. When talking about the act of washing one’s hands, there is not a official listing in most dictionaries. Medical reference books use the spelling of handwashing, but most other sources, including spell check, use hand washing. When describing objects that may only be hand-washed, it is most common to say hand wash only. A water source used for hand washing, usage seems to be a mix between hand wash, …
Want to hear something utterly ridiculous? In 2007, McDonald’s threatened the Oxford English Dictionary to change the meaning of McJob. According to the corporation, the description was outdated and offensive to the thousands of service workers. My take on the whole thing is a mix of English and History lessons about the word McJob. Find out its definition, origin, and how to use it in a sentence. What Does McJob Mean? No, it’s not a job at McDonald’s, but the …
Machine gun is a noun phrase that is defined as a weapon that fires bullets rapidly as long as the trigger is held down. When hyphenated, as machine-gun, the word becomes an adjective used to describe things that happen very quickly. Machine-gun can also be a verb, to shoot something with a machine gun. However, in practice, the common spelling is machine gun for both verb and adjective forms. Examples A policewoman was under investigation today after her machine gun went off while she was unloading …