Culture | Verbal Energy
- Awakening to all kinds of possibilities
Why English has so many forms for the verbs referring to coming out of sleep
- Putting the ‘roar’ into extraordinary
Making the case for a go-to term for journalists who want to signal newsworthiness.
- ‘Collusion’ and its playful roots
A look at the surprising etymology of this dark word in the news.
- When the sense of reality starts to flicker
A vintage mystery-thriller flick provides a very current term for a form of psychological warfare that seems much in use lately.
- Setting down the rules on ‘deposing’
A look at a word with two very different senses alive and well in the news columns.
- Emoluments: grinding out or softening up?
A high-flown term for ‘salary’ seems to be rooted in a metaphor of ground grain, but the word’s sound symbolism suggests something else.
- Just how many ‘behalves’ make a whole?
An obsolete term still has its place in some legal contexts.
- Unshackling the roots of ‘impediment’
A hardworking ancient three-letter root turns out to be at the foot of many words across Indo-European languages.
- Going off, leaving the furniture in charge
The Monitor’s language columnist is reminded that bureaucracy is literally ‘rule by desks.’
- Public memorials and private memorandums
A leaked memo and the controversy about Confederate memorials are both potentially monumental stories.
- What happens if Trump tries to overturn another election loss?
- Harris vs. Trump: Where they stand on the big issues
- An unwanted kiss shook Spanish soccer – and society. A new documentary explores why.
- 2024 Election updates – Path to victory looks clear for Trump
- Amid costly war with Israel, Hezbollah faces fire from its own supporters