-
Continue reading →: myasthenia (mīəsˈthēnēə)I apologize for the lengthy delay between posts. I have been very busy studying for the 2016 Scripps National Spelling Bee (more on that later)! To continue our medical theme, let’s explore the word myasthenia, which is a disease that causes muscle weakness in multiple organs. Myasthenia, commonly known…
-
Continue reading →: osteopoikilosis (ästēōpȯikə̇lōsə̇s)
My dad is a radiologist and he suggested that we start our medical theme with the word osteopoikilosis. Some diseases are best shown with medical imaging, which is what my dad is an expert in. This disease is a great example. Osteopoikilosis is also known as “spotted bone disease.” Bone…
-
Continue reading →: Kentucky Derby Festival Spelling Bee
On Saturday I won the Kentucky Derby Festival’s 23rd annual spelling bee! It was an exciting moment for me and I felt honored to be on stage with so many other great spellers. Congratulations to all the county champions who competed on Saturday! 10-Year-Old wins Derby Festival spelling bee Louisville…
-
Continue reading →: Get Ready to Explore Medical Words!
For the next several weeks, I will be teaming up with my dad to explore medical words. Look for our first post soon!
-
Continue reading →: tantalize (tan-tə-līz)Many of you are probably familiar with the word tantalize, but you may not know of its origin in Greek mythology. Tantalus was Zeus’s son. The gods favored Tantalus so much that they invited him to a grand feast on Mount Olympus itself. To return the favor, Tantalus hosted a…
-
Continue reading →: Happy 2nd Blogiversary to me!
Two years ago, I started The Word Explorer to help people better understand words and their inner beauty. A BIG thank you to all of my followers for supporting me; I’m looking forward to another year of successful blogging!
-
Continue reading →: Scylla and CharybdisHappy New Year everyone! Have you ever noticed that many terms we use in the English language are from Greek mythology? For example, being caught between Scylla and Charybdis means that you must make a choice between two equally unpleasant options. The hero of Homer’s Odyssey, Odysseus, is faced with…
-
Continue reading →: Name That Animal: Challenge #3It has been a while since I have posted a Name That Animal Challenge, so here is Challenge #3! Pretend that you are a scientist and you have just discovered this new species and you have the privilege of naming it. Scientists usually name new species by using Greek or/and Latin…
-
Continue reading →: cucurbitophobia (kyü-ˈkər-bətə-fō-bē-ə)
Happy Halloween! I had a fabulous time trick-or-treating in my spookily decorated neighborhood this evening. Almost every house that we visited had pumpkins decorating their porch. If I had cucurbitophobia, I would not have had a very good time tonight. Cucurbitophobia is the fear of gourds. Pumpkins, squash, and watermelon…
-
Continue reading →: thanatophobia (than-ət-ə-ˈfō-bē-ə)To continue our Halloween theme this month, let’s take a look at another phobia. Thanatophobia is the fear of death. Thanatos was the primordial Greek god of death. It was said that he appeared to mortals when the time for them to die was imminent in order to guide them…
Hello,
I’m Tara!
My name is Tara and I am a recent graduate of Duke University, with dual degrees in cultural anthropology and political science, and a minor in linguistics. Twelve years ago, I started this blog to share my love of words with others and teach people about the intricacies of etymology and words across our beloved English language!
Join the linguaphiles!
Stay updated with the latest on language.
the word explorer 