Ologies with Alie Ward Etymology (WORD ORIGINS) with Helen Zaltzman of The Allusionist Podcast
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Mar 5, 2019 AI Snips
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Etymology Means Seeking Truth
- Etymology comes from Greek etemos, meaning truth, so word histories trace a search for truth about meaning.
- Helen Zaltzman studied English and linguistics and turned etymology into a popular podcasting career.
Dream OED Job That Didn't Stick
- Helen applied for a dream etymology job at the Oxford English Dictionary but only reached the second round.
- She realized OED work required methodical, dispassionate entries and felt unsuited to that style.
Murderer Contributed to the OED
- Simon Winchester's book recounts that Dr. W.C. Minor, a major OED contributor, was an inmate in an asylum for murder.
- The OED still used his thousands of submissions despite his criminal history.