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"
This is the Cheekiest Dictionary
If you think dictionaries were dry and pedantic, you'd be right. That is, they were, until these cheeky definitions came along.
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!
English Vocab History: Few Can Pass This Vocabulary Quiz?
These 14 words have really strayed away from their original meaning, can you guess what words like 'girl' and 'clue' used to mean?
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?"
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...
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!
Do You Know the Truth About These Famous Figures?
Hollywood exaggerates and distorts many historical truths with its movies, but now you're about to find out the truth about some important figures...
15:14
Ancient Technologies That Remain a Complete Mystery
Scientists may have solved the mystery of Egyptian pyramids, but there are still so many findings that are left completely unexplained
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.
These Inventors Changed the World Forever
These inventors changed the world with their inventions, but can you name any of them? Here are 8 little-known inventors that changed the world.
What a Mesmerizingly Beautiful Blooming Flowers Timelapse!
It took one photographer 9 months to record the images for this mesmerizing timelapse film. Watch flowers bloom like never before.
12 of the Most Inexplicably Weird Things Ever Discovered
In the world, a lot of discoveries often raise more questions than they answer. Here are 12 of the most inexplicably weird things and places ever found.
English Really Needs a Translation for These Foreign Words
With so many words in the English vocabulary, we still as yet have to come up with a word to describe how we'd feel in these instances.
Can You Believe These Words Didn’t Exist Before the 1970s?
When a new words spreads it seems it's been around forever. But in reality, many of the words we use everyday are quite new. These didn't exist before the 1970s.
Knowing These Latin Shortenings Is Super Useful Even Today
Knowing a little bit of Latin can be quite useful to all the English speakers out there, and these 7 short phrases we see all the time are proof of exactly that!
These Incredible Facts Will Put a Smile on Your Face
Need a boost to your day? These facts will put a smile on your face.
These Great Cities Were Once the World's Largest
History has seen the rise and fall of many great cities, but the greatest of all endure through the millennia. Take a look at this top 10.
I Love Seeing People Completely Change Their Body
I love seeing the physical manifestation of people's true will to better themselves.
6:15
John Williams Conducts the Theme Song from “Jurassic Park”
Watch legendary composer enthrall the audience as he conducts the famous theme music from “Jurassic Park”.
23:18
Will the Alcatraz Mystery Ever Be Solved?
What happened to the three prisoners who managed to escape from Alcatraz prison? All is revealed in this intriguing documentary.
13:27
Can You Guess How Much These Luxury Properties Cost?
Take a brief tour of the lavish homes of America's billionaires.
15 Movie Facts That Will Make You Want to Watch Again...
hese facts can change the way you look at iconic moments, reveal unexpected connections, or show just how inventive filmmakers had to be.
I Never Knew These Fascinating Historical Facts!
Here are 14 essential historical facts that everyone should know to truly understand the grand, complicated story of how we got here.
These Regulations Should be Adopted by Every Country!
There are weird laws in different parts of the world, but some of them are so amazingly beneficial, they should be put into use everywhere.
2:42
A Soulful Harp Cover of the Song 'The Sound of Silence'
Don't miss this soulful and dreamy harp cover of the classic song 'The Sound of Silence' by Simon & Garfunkel performed in a forest!
Collection: The Greatest Moments in History
A collection of fascinating, sometimes controversial and surprising stories from the annals of history. Explore and learn about the fascinating past of humanity and some of its most outstanding figures.
10 Battles in History Most People Don't Know About
The world would have been very different had it not been for these battles.
Just Wanted to Say: HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!
Halloween is the time for ghouls, witches and strange bumps in the night. Share some of your holiday excitement by sending these video greetings to a loved one!
14 Incredible Facts We Bet You Never Knew!
Truth is often stranger than fiction, and these 14 mind-blowing facts prove it.
15 Powerful Images That'll Make Ponder
Here are some motivational pictures that will help you get through the weekend.
These Fun Infographics Will Pique Your Interest!
Become more knowledgeable and more powerful today without boredom. Check out these fascinating maps and infographics!
10 World War I Inventions We Still Use Every Day
From trench coats, to pilates and blood banks, all of these 10 things we think of as very modern were actually conceived during WWI.
8 Bizarre Customs From Not-So-Long Ago
Here are 8 practices that used to be viewed as normal in the past, but today they seem bizarre, dangerous... or both!
Did You Know You Have 9 Different Types of Intelligence?
We think of intelligence as something linear, one man is better than another etc. Yet according to this theory we are all unique and share 9 intelligences.
15 Jaw-Dropping Facts You'll Find Hard to Believe!
Want to find out who really built the pyramids, or how many teeth a snail has? Here are 15 of the most unbelievable yet true facts.
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.
7 Conspiracy Stories that Turned Out to be True
These stories are shocking... and they turned out to be true!
13 Geniuses, Who On Some Level, May Have Been a Little Mad
These geniuses may have been smart, but they are incredibly weird too!
19 Funny Old English Phrases We Should Really Bring Back!
It's high time that these words make a comeback.
6:40
Amazing - Woman Switches Between 21 American Accents!
Amy Walker is an accent coach, and in this amazing video, she showcases the variety of American regional accents by performing 21 of them herself in 6 minutes!
10 Mind-Blowing History Facts You Never Knew Were True
This article is a collection of 10 surprising and little-known ancient history facts, some serious, some mysterious, and some just plain odd.
10 Things You Didn't Know Were Invented By Native Americans
Learn about some super useful inventions that the Native Americans contributed to the world.
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
4:09
Goodbye, Diane: Remembering Diane Keaton
A look back at the extraordinary life of a singular artist who has left an indelible mark on Hollywood and our hearts.
These 24 Fascinating Photographs Will Surprise & Amaze You
Here are 24 of the most amazing and surprising photographs ever seen on the internet!
20 Astounding Facts That Will Skew Your Perception of Time
These 20 mind-bending facts will show you just how warped your perception of time really is. Enjoy!
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
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