Every word we use carries with it layers of history and culture that shape its meaning and usage today. Often, the words flowing effortlessly from our mouths have origins that are both fascinating and ...

While serendipity has often been associated with luck or happy accidents, its origin suggests that it goes beyond just ...

From the Old English verb slean, slay originally meant to kill or destroy (think slaying a dragon). In slang, slay means to dominate, look amazing or absolutely crush it—whether on a stage, on a ...

Linguist Gareth Roberts joins WIRED to answer the internet's burning questions about the etymologies of English words. How did the first languages first form? Was there once a single common language ...