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"
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...
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...
8 Ordinary English Words With Surprisingly Spicy Origins
The origins of all these 8 seemingly innocent words - e.g. gymnasium, avocado, and nice - are not for the faint of heart, as they're quite naughty!
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’.
Why Did We Start Going to the Beach For Fun?
Did you know that going to the beach for recreation is a relatively new invention? For most of human history, the concept simply did not exist...
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!
These Couples Show Us That You're Never Too Old to Find Love
It’s never too late to find true love. These inspiring couples show one that love has no age limit.
8 Infamous Crimes That Left a Mark on History
These true crime stories became so sensational that they changed the culture and went to be remembered in history.
Dare You Enter 7 of the USA's Most Haunted Houses?
Dare you read all about 7 of the United States most terrifying properties?
This Is What $300,000 Will Buy In 15 Different Countries
If you dream of living overseas, you should know your dream is more attainable than you think. This is what $300,000 would buy you in 15 different countries.
Have You Been Believing These Christmas Myths Too?
Read on for several myths about Christmas stories and traditions.
Pivotal Historical Scenes Frozen in the Frame of a Moment
A collection of rare historical moments you probably won't find in textbooks.
Shocking! These Are the Rules That Pirates Had to Obey!
Pirates are often imagined as living a life of adventure, free from the shackles of society. However, they did have rules of their own, and here are 10 of them.
God Thought Long & Hard Before Creating the Dog...
They do say dogs are our best friend, and there is a reason for that.
The Truth About June. Touching and Wonderful.
A beautiful story about a mother's love, which I warmly recommend.
20 Surprising Geographical Maps to Ignite Your Curiosity
Discover some amazing and surprising geographical facts with these colorful and fun maps.
In the West, We Have Much to Learn From the East...
Eastern philosophy is vastly different to Western philosophy, and we all have much to learn from the schools of thought from that part of the world.
10 Cool Maps That Show How Much Unpopulated Space There Is
These maps will utterly surprise you when you realize just how unevenly the world's population is spread out. Most of the world is quite free of people!
The Best Shows and Movies on Apple TV+ Right Now
Apple TV+ is full of wonderful movies and shows. Here’s a complete guide.
10 of the Most Interesting Popes in History
The papacy has been ongoing ever since the time of St. Peter, but some popes stand out as being more historically significant than others. Take a look.
These Bizarre Weapons Were Invented During World War II
The Second World War saw the use of many jaw-dropping weapons. Many others, however, were considered flops.
14 Nostalgic Pics to Take You Back to the Good Ol’ Days
These photos will instantly trigger your nostalgia.
These 10 Invaluable World Treasures Were Never Recovered
All 10 of these valuable treasures have a mysterious fate, as they were all stolen or lost not so long ago and never recovered
These Amazing Illusions Are Enough to Make Your Head Spin
Optical illusions have the potential to highlight how the human mind plays tricks when it comes to perceiving things. Take a look at these 20 optical illusions.
A Fascinating History of the New Year’s Eve
Did you know that New Year's hasn’t always been celebrated on January 1?
Smart Synonyms for 16 Words That Will Elevate Your Speech
Sound smarter and enrich your lexicon with these 16 clever alternatives to ordinary English words
When Deaf People Hear for the Very First Time...
In this wonderful video, we will see the miracle of hearing given to several people who have been deaf.
Genghis Khan: Brutal Mass Murderer, or Enlightened Ruler?
Genghis Khan is one of the most famed and feared names in history, but how did he become so great?
7 Historical Facts That Aren't Actually True
Here are seven well-known history facts we should have never believed.
7 of History's Most Outrageous Con Artists
Fan of true crime? Today we will learn the stories of 7 of history's most notorious con artists.
12 Juicy Facts You Probably Don't Know About Grapes
Did you know grapes are actually berries? Find out more juicy facts about grapes in this article.
History: When Napoleon Was Defeated By an Army of Bunnies
The greatest defeat of Napoleon wasn't Waterloo... It was against a bunch of bunnies.
From the Photo Albums of Very Famous People...
See how celebrities looked in their youth, in photos from their everyday life before fame.
The Most Notorious Man-Eating Lions in History
Do you know the strange history of the man-eating lions of Tsavo?
10 Mysteries that have Shocked Human History
10 incredible mysteries we know very little about.
Learn Something New Today with These 10 Intriguing Tidbits...
These random facts will make you think twice about a couple of things - and some will certainly be hard to believe.
If You Like History You Will LOVE This Incredible Video!
Seeing history move right before our eyes teaches us so much about the last 2000 years!
These Little Wizards Know a Magic Trick Or Two!
Watch these kid magicians wow the judges with their tricks in Britain's Got Talent.
Wishing You a GREAT 4th OF JULY! Celebrate America!
Be proud of being an American and share one of these meaningful 4th of July cards with everyone. HAVE A GREAT 4TH OF JULY!
Historical Window: Looking at Women Workers in WWI
Women made a significant contribution to the Allied effort during both World Wars. Take a look as these fascinating photos of women at work during WWI.
There is No Greater Blessing than Your Family
Beautiful Words: Having a family to care for is a blessing.
10 Underrated Movies That Should be Seen by More People
Imploring all cinema buffs to check out these criminally underrated movies!
Beautiful! All Dog Lovers Can Relate to This Touching Poem
Any dog lover can relate to this touching poem by Jimmy Stewart about his beloved dog Beau. Send this poem to those you know who love dogs too.
Discussing 10 of the Most Expensive Divorces in History
Presented are ten of history's most exorbitant divorce settlements, serving as testament to just how expensive these events can truly be.
Video Box: The Most Amazing Guinness Records!
Don't miss these 16 world record-breaking feats, performed by both humans and animals alike!
Men vs. Women: What Does the Science Say?
10 studies and articles that dive into the real differences between the sexes, asking the meaningful questions and looking at real data.
Amazing! 7 Facts That Have Changed Since Your School Days!
Over time, facts we consider to be completely true can change. Here are 7 facts that have changed since your school days.