Why does sovereign have a g, when it is supposedly derived from the Old French soverain, which, etymologically, has nothing to do with a reign?
Author Archives: Rachelle Drouin
Fill the bill: Avoid folk etymology and the rest will follow
Expressions fascinate me. There must surely be cultural influences that shape the development, as well as the nuances of, language. I’m always happy when I uncover the origins of yet another idiom, and I’m always dismayed when I see someone misusing and/or misspelling that same idiom.
Pronunciation: A salute to popcorn?
Why is colonel pronounced kernel? What many people don’t realize is that colonel comes from early French.
Toe the line: Spelling expressions correctly will help your writing pass muster
My interest in the social, religious, economic and other factors shaping etymology and the development of language is more than a fascination and correct word usage more than an obsession. That’s why I really get my knickers in a twist when I see people misuse and misspell common expressions.
Pronunciation: Left of centre or down the loo?
Why do we in Canada say LEF-tenant, when there is no actual f in the word itself. Borderline obsessive in my fascination with etymology, I immediately rushed to the Oxford English Dictionary to find the answer.
metaphortuitous.ca 