A Way with Words A Way with Words
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A Way with Words
A public radio program about language examined through history, culture, and family.
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Episodes & Posts

  • Gone Pecan 04/28/2013: How did the word gay go from meaning lighthearted to homosexual? Also, why are elementary schools sometimes called grammar schools? Plus, imeldific, gone pecan, random... [more]
  • Dog and Pony Show 04/20/2013: Remember getting caught sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G? Grant and Martha wax nostalgic on some classic schoolyard rhymes. What do you call your offspring once... [more]
  • Good Juju 04/15/2013: Imagine a time when heroin was marketed for the whole family. It really happened! Also, how Twitter, M&M's, and Hallmark cards got their names. Plus,... [more]
  • What’s a Hipster? 04/08/2013: Get out your skinny jeans and pass the PBR! Martha and Grant discuss the definition of the word hipster. Also, what happens when you pull... [more]
  • Crazy Crossword Clues 03/25/2013: Should youngsters learn cursive handwriting in school? Plus, someone can be ruthless, but can that same person be ruthful? Which word refers to something larger,... [more]

All Content by Date

All Content by Kind

Recent Segments

  • Frunk 03/18/2013: Do you have junk in your frunk? As in, the front trunk, found on cars like a zippy Tesla. This is part of a complete... [more]
  • Rule of Thumb Origin 03/18/2013: Where does rule of thumb come from? The idiom referring to a practical measure based on experience was never actually a law, though it does... [more]
  • Sacapuntas and Mock Obscenity 03/18/2013: If you need to release some tension but don't want to curse, try shouting "sacapuntas!" This Spanish word for "pencil sharpener" falls into a colorful... [more]

Join the Discussion

  • ♦ Crossword Pun Clues Dick on 2013/06/18
  • ♦ Newcoked? Schlimbesserung! The Germans already have a word for it, though I doubt it will catch on. RobertB on 2013/06/18
  • ♦ /ɔr/ for /ɚ/ RobertB on 2013/06/18
  • ♦ "goomba" RobertB on 2013/06/17
  • ♦ How to form the plural of Mini Rex Heimhenge on 2013/06/16
  • ♦ My brains nelgin on 2013/06/15
  • ♦ Draught vs Draft, etc. nelgin on 2013/06/15
  • ♦ Bankrupt of street cred nelgin on 2013/06/15
  • ♦ Great call about Lasagna closets! nelgin on 2013/06/15
  • ♦ Man as gender-neutral vocative Dick on 2013/06/14
  • ♦ EESS-is Robert on 2013/06/09
  • ♦ emeritus Glenn on 2013/06/07
  • ♦ Intrusive R Glenn on 2013/06/07
  • ♦ Geek as a verb? Heimhenge on 2013/06/04
  • ♦ Way Back Heimhenge on 2013/06/03