Have you pondered questions such as where did the expression "OK" came from, or what the longest word in the English language is? Ponder no more, because one of the world authorities on the English language, the Oxford Dictionary, has released a series of videos that give some fascinating insight. Take a look:
1. Where did the expression "OK" come from?
2. What is the longest word in the English language?
3. Exactly how many is a billion?
4. Is the letter Y a vowel, a consonant, or both?
5. The Origins of "Nicotine", "Silhouette" and "Leotard"
The Origins of Labor Day With Vintage Parade Photos
A brief history of Labor Day accompanied by original vintage photos from past Labor Day parades around the US and Canada.
Is Your English Is Perfect? You'll Find Out Soon Enough!
Do you think that you know the plurals of some of the trickiest words that the English language has to offer? Give this quiz a shot and find out!
What is the Troxler Effect and How Does it Affect You?
Learn about Troxler's effect and the optical illusions it creates in life.
5:23
What Made the Merriam-Webster Dictionary Last So Long
How do new words get added do the dictionary? Watch the surprising history of the Merriam-Webster Dictionary to find out...
What's Portmanteau? Surprising Etymologies of Common Words
If If you have ever said the words brunch, sitcom or spam, you have used portmanteaus. This is the fascinating origins story of many common words...
28:20
How Did European Countries Get Their Names?
Did you know that the word Spain, the name of the country, is translated from Phoenician as "the land of rabbits?"
The Extraordinary Origins of 10 Common English Words
In this article, we uncover the extraordinary etymology of 10 common English words, including ‘daisy’, ‘eavesdropper’, and ‘vaccine’.
6:16
WATCH: A 1960s Classic Reimagined By Iconic Performers
Must Watch! Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne, Steve Winwood and Prince perform a George Harrison classic!
You Won’t Believe These 11 Phrases Are Over a Century Old
These 11 words and phrases seem like they're a recent invention in English, but they're actually at least a century old...
The Mandela Effect: How Collective False Memories Occur
When masses of people share false memory that didn't actually occur, it's called the Mandela Effect. Learn more about this heavily debated topic.
Can You Guess the Meaning of These 20 Common Surnames?
We kind of take surnames for granted, as they are just passed down to us. But every name has an origin and meaning, and some might surprise you.
What is the Trait Many Creative People Have in Common?
Turns out the 'mad genius' trope is rooted in truth. Studies show that the feeling of ‘not belonging’ is indeed linked to creativity levels.
10 Incredible Autobiographies We Should All Be Reading...
These autobiographies are absolute must-reads for you to enjoy. They are written by some of the world' most famous people, so you should definitely have a read.
6:57
4 Mind-Blowing Facts About the English Language
Here are 4 incredibly interesting facts about English in the context of other languages
15 Perceptive One-Liners by the Great Charles Darwin
Here are some profound pieces of wisdom from Charles Darwin, the father of evolution.
17 Historical Photos That Tell Unforgettable Stories
We’ve gathered 17 fascinating photos and facts that offer a unique glimpse into the past.
20 Cognitive Biases Ruining Our Decision Making Process
If you find it hard to make a decision, these cognitive stumbling blocks could be what's affecting your behavior.
How Much Influence Do Secret Societies Have? Find Out Here
Learn all about six of the most famous secret societies that seem to have quite a degree of influence even today.
4 Of the Strangest Unsolved Mysteries of All Time
Despite investigators' best efforts, these strange mysteries have remained unsolved...
Benjamin Franklin's Wisdom Has Echoed Throughout the Ages
In addition to being one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, Benjamin Franklin left many a thought to ponder. Here are 15 of his most famous quotes.
4:13
This is What Happened to the Man Who Didn't Salute Hitler!
Nearly eight decades have passed since a camera captured the moment a man refused to give Hitler a Nazi salute. Here's what happened to him.
The Encyclopedia Won’t Tell You These Unique Facts
Here are 12 unique and curious facts about the world that will definitely surprise you.
14 Odd Inventions You Won’t Believe Were Once in Use
You might be surprised by what our ancestors considered essential gadgets.
19:11
18 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Medieval Times
Watch Medieval Literature Dr. Dorsey Armstrong answer all the important questions related to the Middle Ages.
Mysteries From Ancient History Science Still Can’t Explain
From buried treasures to undeciphered languages, this list contains 8 perplexing ancient mysteries.
18 Fun Facts You Likely Never Heard of Cutely Illustrated
Don't the cute exterior of these illustrations deceive you. This is a real treasure trove of fascinating facts about the world we live in
These Are the Most Overused Words in the English Language
Are you guilty of using these overused words in English? Find out!
10 Surprising Facts About the Food in Your Kitchen
Did you know that ordinary foods like carrots, jelly beans, sandwiches, and broccoli have a fascinating story to tell?
19:11
What's the Secret of Reigniting Desire in a Relationship?
The desire for erotic stimulation stands in contrast to the desire for a stable relationship. So how can we get past this. This witty TED talk informs us.
These Fun Charts and Guides Teach You Tons of Cool Stuff
These charts and guides will come in handy. Save them!
Real-Life Superheroes: Their Stories Will Amaze You
These real-life superheroes deserve recognition!
These Beauty Practices of the Past Look Strange Today…
17 fascinating photos of beauty procedures, treatments, and practices from the first half of the 20th century that look strange and curious today
20 Compliments to Show Your Friends You Appreciate Them
Our friends deserve to be appreciated from time to time. These compliments will surely make them smile.
24:30
21 Fascinating Facts About Word Origins You Never Knew
Linguist Gareth Roberts provides some fascinating insights into the origins of different words.
5:07
A Christmas Classic Sung Beautifully by Andrea Bocelli
Celebrate the season with Andrea Bocelli’s soulful rendition of ‘Jingle Bells’.
13 Unusual Facts You Didn’t Know You Needed to Learn Today
It's time for another cool collection of fascinating facts!
I Had No Idea These Brand Names Are Actually Acronyms
There are loads of brand names out there that are actually acronyms, and here are some of the most surprising ones!
3:50
Why Did Hitler Want to Destroy This New York Basement?
Deep below the halls of New York's Grand Central Terminal theres a secret basement that could have changed the outcome of the second world war...
Wow! These People Had Someone Looking Over Them!
These lucky people had some guardian angel looking over them that day!
17:17
5 Widespread Legal Myths Dispelled by a Lawyer
Do you have to wait 24 hours to report a missing person? Can you marry your cousin? The answers from this lawyer to both of these questions will surprise you!
Experience the Dramatic Moments of WWII in Moving Color
This 13-episode television documentary series recounts the major events of World War II in HD color.
6:56
The Fascinating Tricks Behind 1920 Movie Stunts
Prepare to be amazed by the masters of 1920s movie magic.
The World Is Full of Interesting Curiosities, Take a Look
This collection of photos illustrates some surprises you've likely never seen before.
These Max Shows Will Keep You Glued to Your Screen
Looking for something new to watch? Check out our latest recommendations...
INTERACTIVE: Click on the Old Photos to Bring Them Alive
Although we imagine the world prior the 1950s in terms of black and white, new colorization techniques have changed everything. Enjoy this interactive post.
Keep a Conversation Flowing With These Historical Facts
If a conversation you're having starts to stall, just throw out some of these amazing historical facts and you’ll be talking long into the night!
The Past Was a Surprising and Truly Strange Time...
Here are some truly weird things that people used to do in the past from days gone by.
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