interesting words

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Tmesis

Tmesis is an interesting word that is seldom used, though most of us have used a tmesis, or at least heard someone else use a tmesis. It is considered a literary device, which is a tool used by speakers and writers in order to produce a certain effect. We will …

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Pentagon

The word pentagon may be rendered with a lowercase p or an uppercase P. Capitalizing or not capitalizing the word pentagon changes its meaning. We will examine the difference between the words pentagon and Pentagon, where the terms came from and some examples of their use in sentences. A pentagon …

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Idiot savant or savant syndrome

The terms idiot savant and savant syndrome are psychological terms that refer to the same diagnosis, but one is preferred over the other. We will look at the definitions of the expressions idiot savant and savant syndrome, where these terms came from and some examples of their use in sentences. …

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What Is a Loophole? – Meaning, Origin & Examples

Figurative terms are usually derived from a more denotative use of action or item and help provide an interesting way of adding details to speech and writing. The word loophole is a great example of this. It has roots in a descriptive 16th-century protective measure and is now almost exclusively …

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Quicksilver

Quicksilver is a word with a literal meaning which has mostly fallen out of favor, as well as a figurative meaning. We will examine the definition of the word quicksilver, where it came from and some examples of its use in sentences. Quicksilver is another word for mercury, a metallic …

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Au courant

Au courant is a borrowed or loan word from the French. Borrowed words or loan words are terms that have been taken from other languages and used as English words. We will examine the meaning of the term au courant, where it came from and some examples of its use …

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Factotum

The word factotum may be confusing, as it has nothing to do with facts or veracity. We will examine the meaning of the word factotum, where it came from and some examples of its use in sentences. A factotum is an employee who has many responsibilities and does all types …

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Jitney

Jitney is an American word that first appeared in the early twentieth century. We will examine the definition of the word jitney, where it may have come from and some examples of its use in sentences. A jitney is a vehicle, usually a bus, that carries passengers for a very …

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Pin money

Pin money is a term that has had an interesting evolution in meaning. We will examine the definition of the term pin money, where it came from and some examples of its use in sentences. Pin money is a small amount of money that is spent on extras or fun …

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Antifa

Antifa is a word that originated in the time before World War II, but has enjoyed a surge in usage today. We will examine the definition of Antifa, where it came from and some examples of its use in sentences. Antifa describes a movement or group that is opposed to …

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