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"
Funny: When Words Sound Alike With Different Meanings
Homophones are words that sound exactly the same, but aren't spelled the same and mean something different. Here are 20 that are the wordiest of words.
5:02
Where Did The R in Mrs. Come From?
Learn a little language history and also, where did the R in Mrs. Come from?
3:53
Why Do Cats Like Catnip?
Are they really getting "high," or is there scientific logic behind cats' love of catnip?
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!
Enrich Every Conversation With Some Fancy But Useful Words
These 15 words give us a fancy way to say normal things and a good chance to impress people with a supremely versatile vocabulary.
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...
Valentine's Day: Get Lovely Backgrounds for Mobile and PC
we’ve prepared a diverse collection to suit every taste and turn your screen into a beautifully designed little love keepsake. Wishing you a happy Valentine's Day!
53:21
The Wars of the Roses: England's Bloody Civil War
This epic civil war is one of the main influences for Game of Thrones and other epic stories. Learn all about it now.
LET IT ROT: Why Young Chinese are Simply Giving Up
What is the bai lan movement, why are Chinese youth drawn to it and what does it mean for China.
Gene Hackman: A Look Into the Life of a Consummate Actor
The following biography chronicles Hackman’s journey from a modest upbringing and military service to Hollywood stardom, his personal life behind the scenes, and the enduring legacy he left after retirement.
These Mysterious Cases of Exorcism Are Infamous...
History is full of demon possession and ecorcism stories, which will make your spine crawl. Here are three such mysterious cases.
2:39
How a Principal Inspired Students With a Dance Routine
To make his students do more exercise, a Chinese principal asked them to dance…
10 Fascinating History Facts You Probably Didn’t Know
In this article, we collected 10 absolutely fascinating historical facts, many of which touch upon the unexpected origins of concepts like New Year's resolutions.
10 Popular “Contemporary” Words Coined by Shakespeare
Shakespeare’s impact on the language we speak is far greater than most of us realize. These surprising words are just a few of hundreds attributed to the Bard.
Living to 100: The Most Famous Centenarians of Our Time
Meet the famous centenarians of the 20th century.
How Good Are Your Reflexes? Try These Exercises with Kids
Here are 5 great and fun activities to test your reflexes.
Forgotten Gems: 10 Classic Films You Missed
These underrated classics need your attention.
3:30
Andre Rieu's Haunting Performance: The Godfather Theme
Andre Rieu's haunting rendition of the Godfather theme will leave you speechless.
The 20 Most Impressive and Random Collections People Keep
We have all heard of a stamp or comic book collection, but we bet you have never seen collections like these before.
19:01
How Islam Separated Into Sunni and Shia: The Full Story
What happened, and why did it cause Islam to split into two factions?
14 Charming Photos of Schools from Back in the 1950s
Peek inside 1950s classrooms with these charming photos.
Here Are Some Great Greetings to Send This CHRISTMAS!
Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. Let your loved ones know that you're thinking of them this holiday season by sending one of these greetings.
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.
20 Mind-Blowing Facts That Sound Completely Made Up
You won't believe how crazy these crazy facts are.
18 Amazing Facts About Very Well-Known Brands
There are some really interesting and amazing facts about some of the world's most well-known brands, and you're about to learn 18 of them right now!
8 Facts You Learned at School that Are No Longer True!
The passage of time leads things that were once accepted as facts to actually be proven as incorrect. Here are 8 supposed facts that aren’t really true.
3:34
Inspiring: 80-Year-Old Holds Guinness Record for Planking!
Meet Annie Judis, the 80-year-old who became the oldest person to hold an abdominal plank earlier this year.
Where Did Famous Tongue-Twisters Come From?
Many traditional tongue twisters have long histories full of unexpected twists and turns - not unlike the acrobatics our tongue goes through as we pronounce them.
If You Have Old Toys Laying Around, You Might Be Rich
If you've got any of these toys from the 1980s laying around, then you might just be sitting on a goldmine!
9 Surprising Sleeping Habits From Around the World
Sleep looks different in different parts of the world. Here are 9 surprising sleeping habits from different countries, some of which you might want to adopt.
Spooky! Science Can't Explain These 8 Phenomena
Here are some of the most common inexplicable phenomena - from ghosts to man-like beasts, to unexplained feats of the mind itself.
These Inventors Absolutely Hate Their Creations
These 7 inventions became world famous and even world changing... yet their inventors deeply regret them.
14 Movie Recommendations You Won’t Want to Miss
Which films deserve to be added to your watch list? Here are 14 suggestions (with trailers) that are sure to inspire and emote you.
7 Interventions of Mother Nature That Altered History
We tend to forget how much power nature has over us. These are 7 times extreme weather conditions completely changed the course of history.
23 Strange But Fascinating Facts You’ll Want to Know
Here are 23 extraordinary facts that will expand your understanding of the world we live in.
The Most Famous Acts of Revenge in History
Each of these 5 stories reveals how far people have gone to right perceived wrongs – changing the world around them, for better or worse, in their relentless pursuit of retribution.
9:32
Learn All About the History of the English Language
Ever wondered where the English language came from and how it evolved over time? If so, then this is the perfect video for you!
Where Did These Common Sayings Come From? Fascinating!
You're probably aware of these common sayings, but where did they originate from? Fascinating!
12:42
Let a Violin Rockstar Brighten Your Day
Professional violin player Ji-Hae's mission to bring beautiful music to everyone.
6:20
What's Hidden UNDER the Colosseum?
The exterior of the Colosseum is certainly epic, but the most remarkable part of this ancient structure is actually hidden underneath the surface...
24 Amazing Antarctica Facts to Thrill Your Friends With
Antarctica is the place that people know least about. But after you read this, you'll be able to amaze them with some stunning facts.
6:48
Saffron - the Most Expensive Spice on Earth
Most of us can't even get our hands of this rare and expensive spice - saffron. But why is it so exclusive and pricey to begin with? Find out here
2:45
The Evolution of Wedding Cakes Over the Past Century
Like anything else, the aesthetic of weddings is subject to fashion and change. And what better way to showcase this fashion than through wedding cakes?
The Invisible War: Deception and Espionage in WWII
Not many know about these incredibly dangerous secret operations that defined the Second World War.
It’s a Shame We Stopped Using These 17 Old English Words
These 17 old words are definitely missing in our modern vocabularies and deserve to be brought back into day-to-day speech
In the 1800s, They Thought We'd Be Living Like This Today?
The European artists who created the postcards below were asked to predict what life would be like in 2000.
20 Nostalgic Images of Circulating Libraries
Way before Amazon, the visit of the bookmobile was one of the most exciting moments. These 20 nostalgic images capture the circulating libraries of the past.
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