This type of entertainment became popular in London and quickly spread throughout the English-speaking world.
In the late 18th century, the word was used to describe novelty entertainment, where people were asked impromptu questions to test their knowledge. The word “quiz” comes from the Irish word “cuisle” meaning “a pulse” or “vein”, which was used in a word play to describe a short-written test as a quick pulse or sudden shock. By the 14th century, “nice” was used in Middle English to describe someone who was pleasant, kind, or good-natured. Over time, the meaning of the word evolved. This word was borrowed into Old French as “nice” and was used to describe someone simple or foolish. The word originally comes from the Latin word “nescius”, which means “ignorant” or “unaware”. It is clear how the word evolved to a contemporary understanding of “genius” as a naturally gifted and outstandingly intelligent individual. If a person was exceptionally talented and skilled, they were considered to possess a powerful spirit.
These guardian spirits were said to dictate the mental prowess of an individual. The word stems from the Latin “gigno” meaning to “give birth”, “produce” or “bear” since the guardian spirit was thought to appear as an individual was born. In Ancient Rome, a “genius” was a guardian deity or spirit that protected each individual throughout their life. Genius (Latin) Statuette of a Roman genius, 1-50 CE, via Wikimedia Commons Another suggested origin is the word “chicolatl” from “chikolli” (“hook”), the utensil used to mix chocolate and water, and “ātl” meaning “water”.ĥ. One proposed source is from “xocolatl”, a bitter drink brewed from cocoa beans. The exact etymology of the word is uncertain, though the Nahuatl word for chocolate drink is “cacahuatl” (cocoa water). It continues to be a valuable part of the English vocabulary for expressing social discomfort and embarrassment.Ĭhocolate, a favorite indulgence around the world, has Aztec origins. The word “awkward” is used to describe a wide range of social situations and experiences, from minor blunders to major faux pas. Over time, the meaning of the word evolved to describe something that was socially uncomfortable or embarrassing, and this usage has been in common usage in the English language for hundreds of years. This word was borrowed into Middle English as “awkeward”, which was used to describe something clumsy or difficult to handle. The word “awkward” comes from the Old Norse word “afugr” which means “turned the wrong way” or “crooked”. However, the Greek is actually “άντιάρκτικός” which translates to “opposite of the Bear”. In this line of thought, Antarctica is etymologically believed to be the land “of no Bear”.
Coincidentally, theĪrctic is the land of the polar bears and this is often mistakenly thought to be behind its name. This was in reference to the Ursa Major and Minor, constellations visible only in the Northern Hemisphere, also known as the Great and Little Bear. In this case, the word is “ἄρκτος”, meaning bear. The name of this frosty region stems, as with many other words in this list, from an ancient Greek word. The northernmost area of the Earth, characterized by its icy conditions, is known as the Arctic. Arctic (Ancient Greek) “Ursa Major” in Urania’s Mirror by Sidney Hall, 1825, via Wikimedia Commons
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