The word “laconic” comes from Laconia in Greece, where the people were known for terse, witty remarks to level (or troll) others. After invading Greece, Philip II of Macedonia asked Sparta if he should come as friend or foe. Their reply was “Neither.” After this Phillip sent a message to Sparta saying “If I invade, Laconia will be destroyed.” Sparta replied with “If.”
word origin
Sandwich is an English town, and…
Sandwich is an English town, and ‘wich’ literally means street, town, or dwelling. Also, the sandwich was ‘created’ following the Earl of Sandwich’s request for beef between two slices of bread. It was previously simply known as bread and cheese.
The word ‘disaster’ comes from the Italian…
The word ‘disaster’ comes from the Italian ‘disastro’, meaning ‘ill-starred’, as people believed their misfortunes were due to the astrological positioning of stars in the sky.
The origin of the word “Cliché”
The word “Cliché” originates from the clicking sound made when printing plates are used to create the same text over and over. The plates used in this process are also known as “stereotypes.”
The word “museum” is derived…
The word “museum” is derived from the word “musaeum” which translates to Institution Of The Muses, the Muses being the nine goddesses of the arts.
The word Boycott is named…
The word Boycott is named after an Irish landlord named Charles Boycott. After Boycott attempted to evict 11 tenants, the local community decided to shun him. Workers would not work for him, traders would not trade with him, and the postman would not deliver the post.
Democracy and demon came from…
Democracy and demon came from the same Greek root: ‘dā mo’ is the distance between different types of people, both ‘citizens’ (‘demos’) and Gods and humans (‘dai-mon’ meaning ‘divider’).
Word quarantine comes…
Word quarantine comes from an Italian variant ‘quaranta giorni’, meaning forty days, the period that all ships were required to be isolated before passengers and crew could go ashore during the Black Death plague epidemic.
The word “idiot” originates from “the …
The word “idiot” originates from “the ancient Greek word ἰδιώτης (idiōtēs), meaning a private person, a person who is not actively interested in politics”