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"
When GH Says F: Why Does This Occur?
We're meeting up on the corner of history and linguistics to learn why GH is pronounced as F.
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.
8:01
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...
There's Simply No Equivalent For These Words In English...
There are some words that simply don't translate from one language into another, and plenty of these words don't actually translate into English. Take a look.
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.
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.
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.
10 Words We Use Every Day That Shakespeare Made Popular
Shakespeare is believed to have invented 1,700 words, but these 10 should be taken off the list, as he didn't invent, but popularized them.
52:49
Full Documentary: What Happened to the Ancient Mayans?
Find out what happened to make the 2000-year-old Maya civilization suddenly disappear into nothingness.
How I Would Love to Walk in New York of a Century Ago
These images of old New York, supplied by the Library of Congress, give us an idea of what life was like in the early 1900s in this city.
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.
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.
You Will Love This Collection of Rare Historical Photos
This amazing collection of vintage photographs will give you a unique glimpse of the past.
The Astonishing Life and Philosophy of Ludwig Wittgenstein
It is the true story of Ludwig Wittgenstein, the man who sat in the same classroom as Adolf Hitler, became the protégé of the philosopher Bertrand Russell, and changed the face of 20th-century philosophy
6 Ways to Be Liked According to Top FBI Secret Agent
No one knows more about how to gain friends and trust than a top FBI secret agent. Here he provides 6 amazing rules to help you be loved by all.
3:37
This Famous Speech is Still Amazing Today!
One of the greatest speeches ever made, for the love of freedom, the love of human beings.
Six Incredible Stories of People Who Survived the Titanic
On the tragic night of the Titanic, there were some who managed to survive. Here are six 'lived to tell' inspiring stories.
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!
25 Old Photos That Show How Different the World Used To Be
Check out this amazing collection of vintage pictures that show us how much the world around us has changed.
How 10 Ordinary English Idioms and Phrases Began...
Many English phrases and idioms have fascinating histories behind them, here is a selection of 10 astounding examples.
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.
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
The Fascinating Histories of 8 Everyday Hand Gestures
We hardly give gestures like thumbs up or crossed fingers a second thought, but these signs have backstories and origins, and they are quite fascinating!
12 Beautiful Facts About the Charming Act of Kissing
Such interesting facts about the act of kissing...
4:10
It's Time to Learn All About Ancient Mesopotamia
Learn all about Ancient Mesopotamia, once known as the 'land between two rivers,' in this informative video.
5:50
Watch This Couple Go Through 60 Years of Aging...
This young couple found out with some magical help from talented makeup artists. The results are remarkable, and the ending filled my eyes with tears.
These Words Wouldn’t Exist Without These 10 Famous Authors
Learn of 10 commonly-used English words that were coined by famous authors and philosophers.
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?
You'll Need a Second Look For THESE Photos...
These fascinating photo illusions will make you believe like you're seeing one thing, but they actually depict something very different
5:10
The Art of War by Sun Tzu: A Beautiful Summary
Sun Tzu's the Art of War is still perhaps the greatest treatise on military strategy ever. This animated short explains the book in under 10 minutes.
The World Is Full of Interesting Curiosities, Take a Look
This collection of photos illustrates some surprises you've likely never seen before.
14:13
Rare Restoration: Restoring a DiResta Winchester 1873
Watch an incredible restoration of a 1873 Winchester rifle.
This Fascinating Tree Shows How Languages Are Connected
Most of the languages that we speak today can be placed into a couple of groups by their origin. Find out more here.
4:27
Watch 23,000 Dominos Fall in Less Than a Minute
Enjoy watching dominoes fall? Then you'll LOVE watching this massive 23.000-domino construction shatter in less than a minute!
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
12 Unique Valentine’s Day Traditions From Around the Globe
This article is dedicated to unique traditions different cultures have for Valentine's Day. Some of these will surely surprise you...
24 Classic Books That Give You Important Life Lessons
Here is a look at ten great classic books that have some deep underlying moral lessons for all of us.
7:04
48 Names For Things You Never Knew Had Any
Watch this fascinating video that will reveal to you some words you'll never hear spoken and yet describe things you see every day!
A Few Beautiful Thoughts About True Friendship...
We should never forget the gift that is true friendship...
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!
12 Terrific Charts That Explain Things Visually
These terrific visual guides will teach you all sorts of things, from how to use the right type of knife, to preparing a delicious cup of green tea at home.
26 Vintage Celebrity Photos Filled with Undeniable Charm
Let's take a look at 26 vintage photos filled with undeniable charm.
12 Genius Ancient Chinese Inventions We Use to This Today
In this article, we'll focus on 12 surprising everyday items we all use that got their start many centuries ago in Ancient China...
These 10 Facts Prove Amelia Earhart Was Extraordinary
To cleberate the legacy of the pioneer aviator, we gathered 10 fats on the life of Amelia Earhart you must know.
These Crazy Pawn Shop Stories Will Have You in Stitches
Check out these weird and hilarious stories that pawn shop workers have encountered over the years.
10:42
Meet the 10 Most Dangerous Creatures from the Greek Myths
Greek mythology is filled with some truly fascinating and terrifying creatures. Get to know more about a few of them.
Did You Know These Interesting Facts About Colors?
A short article explaining why and how specific colors were chosen for everyday objects like cabs and police uniforms.
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