Word of the week: application form
http://goo.gl/s1DsD
Monday, December 27, 2010
Monday, November 29, 2010
Monday, November 15, 2010
rebellious
Word of the week: rebellious. It is a formal word. According to COCA, its usage frequency is 3.69 words per million in academic writing. But it is not rare in the spoken language. Its frequency there is 2.07. Also the usage of the word is declining from 3.43 in 1990-1994 to 2.4 in 2005-2010.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
prohibit
Word of the week: prohibit
Prohibit has been used for so long in reference to laws, statutes, and regulations that it tends to connote a less despotic exercise of authority than the word forbid and to suggest restraints imposed for the good of all or for the sake of orderly procedure (prohibit the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors). Forbid is more direct and familiar, prohibit is more formal or official.
Prohibit has been used for so long in reference to laws, statutes, and regulations that it tends to connote a less despotic exercise of authority than the word forbid and to suggest restraints imposed for the good of all or for the sake of orderly procedure (prohibit the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors). Forbid is more direct and familiar, prohibit is more formal or official.
Monday, November 8, 2010
distract
Word of the week: distract
One of the lessons that I grew up with was to always stay true to yourself and never let what somebody else says distract you from your goals. And so when I hear about negative and false attacks, I really don't invest any energy in them, because I know who I am.
Michelle Obama
One of the lessons that I grew up with was to always stay true to yourself and never let what somebody else says distract you from your goals. And so when I hear about negative and false attacks, I really don't invest any energy in them, because I know who I am.
Michelle Obama
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Friday, October 29, 2010
Friday, October 15, 2010
privacy
Word of the week: privacy
The word "privacy" is sometimes regarded as untranslatable by linguists. Many languages lack a specific word for "privacy". Such languages either use a complex description to translate the term (such as Russian combine meaning of уединение - solitude, секретность - secrecy, and частная жизнь - private life) or borrow English "privacy" (as Indonesian Privasi or Italian la privacy). (from wikipedia)
The word "privacy" is sometimes regarded as untranslatable by linguists. Many languages lack a specific word for "privacy". Such languages either use a complex description to translate the term (such as Russian combine meaning of уединение - solitude, секретность - secrecy, and частная жизнь - private life) or borrow English "privacy" (as Indonesian Privasi or Italian la privacy). (from wikipedia)
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
enthusiastic
Word of the week: enthusiastic
It has a Scrabble score of 17.
http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrabble
It has a Scrabble score of 17.
http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrabble
Friday, October 8, 2010
household
Word of the week: household
adjective + household
average, private, rural/urban, high-income/low-income, poor, single-person
Taking on cleaning duties at a private household, for example, you may be asked to work during the middle of the day when the house is empty.
adjective + household
average, private, rural/urban, high-income/low-income, poor, single-person
Taking on cleaning duties at a private household, for example, you may be asked to work during the middle of the day when the house is empty.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
extended family
Word of the week: extended family
to extend, from Anglo-French estendre (late 13th century), from Latin ex (out) and tendere (to stretch)
to extend, from Anglo-French estendre (late 13th century), from Latin ex (out) and tendere (to stretch)
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Friday, October 1, 2010
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Monday, September 27, 2010
Friday, September 24, 2010
caring
Word of the week: caring
The word is used in the phrase be past caring.
I'm past caring what he does (= I don't care any more).
I'm past the point of caring about what everyone thinks. I couldn't care less now.
The word is used in the phrase be past caring.
I'm past caring what he does (= I don't care any more).
I'm past the point of caring about what everyone thinks. I couldn't care less now.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Paul Downey
Paul Downey just commented on our dictionary:
It’s fun! Words useful to people learning English as a foreign
language sounds like a great way of shrinking the size of a
dictionary.
It’s fun! Words useful to people learning English as a foreign
language sounds like a great way of shrinking the size of a
dictionary.
background
Word of the week: background
The word became popular in the second half of the 20th century. The pic is from www.wordnik.com
anxious
Word of the Week: anxious
It has been used in English since 1620s.
From Old French *anxios, Latin anxius "uneasy, troubled in mind", from angō “to choke, cause pain/distress”.
It has been used in English since 1620s.
From Old French *anxios, Latin anxius "uneasy, troubled in mind", from angō “to choke, cause pain/distress”.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
First Facebook Feedback
Here are some of the first Facebook comments. They are from A Way With Words fan page.
It's scary that kids in other countries know English better than many US adults, huh?
As in "My Fair Lady"
"'Her English is too good' he said. 'That clearly indicates that she is foreign, for while others are instructed in their native language, English people aren't.'"
It's scary that kids in other countries know English better than many US adults, huh?
As in "My Fair Lady"
"'Her English is too good' he said. 'That clearly indicates that she is foreign, for while others are instructed in their native language, English people aren't.'"
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Project Went Public
I’m working on a school project along with Julia, one of my students. The project went public yesterday.
We discuss active vocabulary of New Millennium English textbook for 10th grade students in Russia http://nme10.tiddlyspace.com/
Follow us on Twitter
also Tumblr
We discuss active vocabulary of New Millennium English textbook for 10th grade students in Russia http://nme10.tiddlyspace.com/
Follow us on Twitter
also Tumblr
Sunday, September 12, 2010
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