Date Archive for | OxfordWords blog

<!DOCTYPE html>    <html class="no-js" lang="en">  <head><script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/bundle-playback.js?v=HxkREWBo" charset="utf-8"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/wombat.js?v=txqj7nKC" charset="utf-8"></script> <script>window.RufflePlayer=window.RufflePlayer||{};window.RufflePlayer.config={"autoplay":"on","unmuteOverlay":"hidden"};</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/ruffle/ruffle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> __wm.init("https://web.archive.org/web"); __wm.wombat("http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2012/07/","20170606161922","https://web.archive.org/","web","/_static/", "1496765962"); </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/banner-styles.css?v=S1zqJCYt" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/iconochive.css?v=3PDvdIFv" />  <meta charset="utf-8"/>  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"/> <title>Date Archive for | OxfordWords blog</title> <script> var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-27248091-1']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); _gaq.push(['secondTracker._setAccount', 'UA-582557-37']); _gaq.push(['secondTracker._trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/https://ssl' : 'https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); </script>  <meta name="robots" content="noindex,follow"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2012/07/"/> <link rel="next" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2012/07/page/2/"/> <link rel="publisher" href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/107831092854065394120/+Oxforddictionaries"/> <meta property="og:locale" content="en_US"/> <meta property="og:type" content="object"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Date Archive for | OxfordWords blog"/> <meta property="og:url" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2012/07/"/> <meta property="og:site_name" content="OxfordWords blog"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Date Archive for | OxfordWords blog"/> <meta name="twitter:site" content="@OxfordWords"/>  <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="//web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://s7.addthis.com/"/> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="//web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://s.w.org/"/> <script type="text/javascript"> window._wpemojiSettings = {"baseUrl":"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20170606161922\/https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/2.2.1\/72x72\/","ext":".png","svgUrl":"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20170606161922\/https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/2.2.1\/svg\/","svgExt":".svg","source":{"concatemoji":"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20170606161922\/http:\/\/blog.oxforddictionaries.com\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-emoji-release.min.js"}}; !function(a,b,c){function d(a){var b,c,d,e,f=String.fromCharCode;if(!k||!k.fillText)return!1;switch(k.clearRect(0,0,j.width,j.height),k.textBaseline="top",k.font="600 32px Arial",a){case"flag":return k.fillText(f(55356,56826,55356,56819),0,0),!(j.toDataURL().length<3e3)&&(k.clearRect(0,0,j.width,j.height),k.fillText(f(55356,57331,65039,8205,55356,57096),0,0),b=j.toDataURL(),k.clearRect(0,0,j.width,j.height),k.fillText(f(55356,57331,55356,57096),0,0),c=j.toDataURL(),b!==c);case"emoji4":return k.fillText(f(55357,56425,55356,57341,8205,55357,56507),0,0),d=j.toDataURL(),k.clearRect(0,0,j.width,j.height),k.fillText(f(55357,56425,55356,57341,55357,56507),0,0),e=j.toDataURL(),d!==e}return!1}function e(a){var c=b.createElement("script");c.src=a,c.defer=c.type="text/javascript",b.getElementsByTagName("head")[0].appendChild(c)}var f,g,h,i,j=b.createElement("canvas"),k=j.getContext&&j.getContext("2d");for(i=Array("flag","emoji4"),c.supports={everything:!0,everythingExceptFlag:!0},h=0;h<i.length;h++)c.supports[i[h]]=d(i[h]),c.supports.everything=c.supports.everything&&c.supports[i[h]],"flag"!==i[h]&&(c.supports.everythingExceptFlag=c.supports.everythingExceptFlag&&c.supports[i[h]]);c.supports.everythingExceptFlag=c.supports.everythingExceptFlag&&!c.supports.flag,c.DOMReady=!1,c.readyCallback=function(){c.DOMReady=!0},c.supports.everything||(g=function(){c.readyCallback()},b.addEventListener?(b.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",g,!1),a.addEventListener("load",g,!1)):(a.attachEvent("onload",g),b.attachEvent("onreadystatechange",function(){"complete"===b.readyState&&c.readyCallback()})),f=c.source||{},f.concatemoji?e(f.concatemoji):f.wpemoji&&f.twemoji&&(e(f.twemoji),e(f.wpemoji)))}(window,document,window._wpemojiSettings); </script> <style type="text/css"> img.wp-smiley, img.emoji { display: inline !important; border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; height: 1em !important; width: 1em !important; margin: 0 .07em !important; vertical-align: -0.1em !important; background: none !important; padding: 0 !important; } </style> <link rel="stylesheet" id="new_style-css" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922cs_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/themes/oxwords-style-2016/css/style.css" type="text/css" media="all"/> <link rel="stylesheet" id="mCustomScrollbar_css-css" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922cs_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/themes/oxwords-style-2016/css/jquery.mCustomScrollbar.css" type="text/css" media="all"/> <link rel="stylesheet" id="main-css" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922cs_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/themes/oxwords-style-2016/style.css" type="text/css" media="all"/> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922js_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922js_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery-migrate.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922js_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-includes/js/underscore.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922js_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/themes/oxwords-style-2016/js/plugins/googleads.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922js_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/themes/oxwords-style-2016/js/singulars/gads-homepage.js"></script> <link rel="https://api.w.org/" href="http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/wp-json/"/> <base href="/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="57x57" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/themes/oxwords-style-2016/images/favicons/apple-touch-icon-57x57.png"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="114x114" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/themes/oxwords-style-2016/images/favicons/apple-touch-icon-114x114.png"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="72x72" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/themes/oxwords-style-2016/images/favicons/apple-touch-icon-72x72.png"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="144x144" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/themes/oxwords-style-2016/images/favicons/apple-touch-icon-144x144.png"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="60x60" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/themes/oxwords-style-2016/images/favicons/apple-touch-icon-60x60.png"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="120x120" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/themes/oxwords-style-2016/images/favicons/apple-touch-icon-120x120.png"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="76x76" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/themes/oxwords-style-2016/images/favicons/apple-touch-icon-76x76.png"> </head> <body class="archive date"> <div id="wrapper"> <div class="center-wrap"> <header> <div class="topHeader"> <div class="container full"> <nav class="nav"> <ul id="menu-deep-blue-top-bar" class=""><li id="menu-item-24232" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom first menu-item-24232"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/">Dictionary</a></li> <li id="menu-item-24231" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-24231"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/thesaurus">Thesaurus</a></li> <li id="menu-item-24233" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children menu-item-24233"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/grammar">Grammar</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li id="menu-item-39260" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-39260"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/grammar/grammar-a-z">Grammar A-Z</a></li> <li id="menu-item-39261" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-39261"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/grammar/spelling">Spelling</a></li> <li id="menu-item-39262" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-39262"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/grammar/punctuation">Punctuation</a></li> <li id="menu-item-39263" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-39263"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/grammar/writing-help">Writing help</a></li> <li id="menu-item-39264" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-39264"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/grammar/usage">Usage</a></li> </ul> </li> <li id="menu-item-24234" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children menu-item-24234"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/explore">Explore</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li id="menu-item-39265" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-39265"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/explore/word-origins">Word origins</a></li> <li id="menu-item-39266" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-39266"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/explore/language-questions">Language questions</a></li> <li id="menu-item-39267" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-39267"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/explore/word-lists">Word lists</a></li> </ul> </li> <li id="menu-item-39268" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-home last menu-item-39268"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/">Blog</a></li> </ul> </nav> <div class="sharing"> <ul> <li><a class="ico-fb" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/https://www.facebook.com/OxfordDictionaries"><svg width="17" height="17" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="-33 14 17 17" enable-background="new -33 14 17 17"><path d="m-16.9 14h-15.1c-.5 0-.9.4-.9.9v15.1c0 .5.4.9.9.9h8.1v-6.6h-2.2v-2.6h2.2v-1.7c0-2.2 1.3-3.4 3.3-3.4.9 0 1.7.1 2 .1v2.3h-1.4c-1.1 0-1.3.5-1.3 1.2v1.6h2.5l-.3 2.6h-2.2v6.6h4.3c.5 0 .9-.4.9-.9v-15.2c.1-.5-.3-.9-.8-.9"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="ico-tw" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/https://twitter.com/OxfordWords"><svg width="17" height="14" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="-33 14 17.2 14" enable-background="new -33 14 17.2 14"><path d="m-15.8 15.7c-.6.3-1.3.5-2 .6.7-.4 1.3-1.1 1.6-2-.7.4-1.4.7-2.2.9-.6-.7-1.6-1.1-2.6-1.1-2 0-3.5 1.6-3.5 3.5 0 .3 0 .5.1.8-2.9-.1-5.5-1.6-7.3-3.7-.3.5-.5 1.1-.5 1.8 0 1.2.6 2.3 1.6 2.9-.6 0-1.1-.2-1.6-.4 0 1.7 1.2 3.1 2.8 3.5-.3.1-.6.1-.9.1-.2 0-.4 0-.7-.1.4 1.4 1.8 2.4 3.3 2.5-1.2.9-2.7 1.5-4.4 1.5-.3 0-.6 0-.8 0 1.6 1 3.4 1.6 5.4 1.6 6.5 0 10.1-5.4 10.1-10.1 0-.2 0-.3 0-.5.6-.5 1.2-1.1 1.6-1.8"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="ico-gpl" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/https://plus.google.com/+Oxforddictionaries"><svg width="22" height="14" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="-33 14 22 14" enable-background="new -33 14 22 14"><g><path d="m-26 20v2.4h4c-.2 1-1.2 3-4 3-2.4 0-4.3-2-4.3-4.4 0-2.4 2-4.4 4.3-4.4 1.4 0 2.3.6 2.8 1.1l1.9-1.8c-1.2-1.1-2.8-1.8-4.7-1.8-3.9 0-7 3.1-7 7s3.1 7 7 7c4 0 6.7-2.8 6.7-6.8 0-.5 0-.8-.1-1.2h-6.6v-.1"/><path d="m-11 20h-2v-2h-2v2h-2v2h2v2h2v-2h2"/></g></svg></a></li> <li><a class="ico-in" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/https://www.instagram.com/oxforddictionaries/"><svg width="17" height="17" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="-33 14 17 17" enable-background="new -33 14 17 17"><path d="m-30.8 14h12.6c1.2 0 2.2.9 2.2 2.2v12.6c0 1.3-1 2.2-2.2 2.2h-12.6c-1.2 0-2.2-.9-2.2-2.2v-12.6c0-1.3 1-2.2 2.2-2.2m10.2 1.9c-.4 0-.8.3-.8.8v1.8c0 .4.3.8.8.8h1.9c.4 0 .8-.3.8-.8v-1.8c0-.4-.3-.8-.8-.8h-1.9m2.7 5.3h-1.5c.1.5.2 1 .2 1.5 0 2.8-2.4 5.1-5.3 5.1-2.9 0-5.3-2.3-5.3-5.1 0-.5.1-1 .2-1.5h-1.6v7.2c0 .4.3.7.7.7h11.8c.4 0 .7-.3.7-.7l.1-7.2m-6.6-2c-1.9 0-3.4 1.5-3.4 3.3 0 1.8 1.5 3.3 3.4 3.3 1.9 0 3.4-1.5 3.4-3.3s-1.5-3.3-3.4-3.3"/></svg></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="logo-section"> <div class="clear-block"> <div class="mobile-menu"> <div class="burger"> <span></span> <span></span> <span></span> </div> </div> <div class="logo"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/"> <img class="desk" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/themes/oxwords-style-2016/img/logo.png" alt=""/> <img class="mob" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/themes/oxwords-style-2016/img/logo-s.png" alt=""/> </a> </div> <div class="search"> <div class="search-wrap"> <form action="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/" method="get" class="lb custom" role="search"> <input type="text" placeholder="SEARCH THE BLOG" name="s" id="s" class="text-box" value=""/> <button></button> </form> </div> </div> </div> </div> </header> <div class="main"> <div class="content"> <div class="banner"> <script async="async" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922js_/https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js"></script> <script> var googletag = googletag || {}; googletag.cmd = googletag.cmd || []; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> var gptAdSlots = []; googletag.cmd.push(function() { var mapping_btmleader = googletag.sizeMapping(). addSize([768, 0], [728, 90]). addSize([0, 0], [320, 50]).build(); gptAdSlots["btmleader"] = googletag.defineSlot('/116097782/odo_en_blog_home_btm_leader', [[728, 90], [320, 50]], 'div-gpt-ad-1471357663586-0'). defineSizeMapping(mapping_btmleader). addService(googletag.pubads()); var mapping_topleader = googletag.sizeMapping(). addSize([768, 0], [728, 90]). addSize([0, 0], [320, 50]).build(); gptAdSlots["topleader"] = googletag.defineSlot('/116097782/odo_en_blog_home_top_leader', [[728, 90], [320, 50]], 'div-gpt-ad-1471357663586-1'). defineSizeMapping(mapping_topleader). addService(googletag.pubads()); var mapping_topmpu = googletag.sizeMapping(). addSize([0, 0], [300, 250]).build(); gptAdSlots["topmpu"] = googletag.defineSlot('/116097782/odo_en_blog_home_top_mpu', [300, 250], 'div-gpt-ad-1471357663586-2'). defineSizeMapping(mapping_topmpu). addService(googletag.pubads()); var mapping_trendmpu = googletag.sizeMapping(). addSize([0, 0], [300, 250]).build(); gptAdSlots["trendmpu"] = googletag.defineSlot('/116097782/odo_en_blog_home_trending_mpu', [300, 250], 'div-gpt-ad-1471357663586-3'). defineSizeMapping(mapping_trendmpu). addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); googletag.enableServices(); }); </script>  <div id="div-gpt-ad-1471357663586-1"> <script> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1471357663586-1'); }); </script> </div> </div> <div class="post-box "> <div class="post-img"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2012/07/anyone-for-quidditch/"> <img width="783" height="521" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_3438567-783x521.jpg" class="attachment-frontpage size-frontpage wp-post-image" alt="" srcset="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_3438567-783x521.jpg 783w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_3438567-300x199.jpg 300w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_3438567-460x306.jpg 460w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_3438567-566x376.jpg 566w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_3438567-126x84.jpg 126w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_3438567-172x114.jpg 172w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_3438567-108x71.jpg 108w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_3438567-43x30.jpg 43w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_3438567.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 783px) 100vw, 783px"/> </a> </div> <div class="post-info"> <h2><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2012/07/anyone-for-quidditch/">Anyone for Quidditch?</a></h2> <p>Quidditch is a sport created by Rowling in the Harry Potter series of novels, which have now sold over 450 million copies and have been translated into 67 languages. The global popularity of the books has led to worldwide exposure for Quidditch, and even to this fictional sport being adapted for the Muggle (or non-wizard) […]</p> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2012/07/anyone-for-quidditch/" class="more"><span>more</span><b></b></a> </div> </div> <div class="post-box "> <div class="post-img"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2012/07/dont-forget-your-pants/"> <img width="783" height="522" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/underpants-783x522.jpg" class="attachment-frontpage size-frontpage wp-post-image" alt="The varied vocabulary of underwear" srcset="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/underpants-783x522.jpg 783w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/underpants-300x200.jpg 300w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/underpants-768x512.jpg 768w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/underpants-460x307.jpg 460w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/underpants-566x377.jpg 566w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/underpants-126x84.jpg 126w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/underpants-172x115.jpg 172w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/underpants-108x72.jpg 108w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/underpants-43x30.jpg 43w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/underpants.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 783px) 100vw, 783px"/> </a> </div> <div class="post-info"> <h2><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2012/07/dont-forget-your-pants/">The varied vocabulary of underwear</a></h2> <p>Your response to today’s Take Your Pants For A Walk Day, assuming it has even crossed your radar, will probably be determined by your location. Perhaps you have conjured up an image of droves of people with boxer shorts, knickers, or Y-fronts attached to leads? Or maybe instead of underwear, you are seeing chinos, slacks, […]</p> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2012/07/dont-forget-your-pants/" class="more"><span>more</span><b></b></a> </div> </div> <div class="post-box "> <div class="post-img"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2012/07/plain-english-in-practice/"> <img width="783" height="522" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/Plain-English-1-783x522.jpg" class="attachment-frontpage size-frontpage wp-post-image" alt="" srcset="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/Plain-English-1-783x522.jpg 783w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/Plain-English-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/Plain-English-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/Plain-English-1-460x307.jpg 460w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/Plain-English-1-566x377.jpg 566w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/Plain-English-1-126x84.jpg 126w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/Plain-English-1-172x115.jpg 172w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/Plain-English-1-108x72.jpg 108w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/Plain-English-1-43x30.jpg 43w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/Plain-English-1.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 783px) 100vw, 783px"/> </a> </div> <div class="post-info"> <h2><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2012/07/plain-english-in-practice/">Plain English in practice: writing instructions</a></h2> <p>In a previous piece, I looked at some guidelines for writing plain English: that is, the kind of English that will get your intended meaning across most clearly. Here, I take you through an example. Warning: Instructions may contain lethal sesquipedalian lexemes There are times when clear writing can make the difference between life and […]</p> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2012/07/plain-english-in-practice/" class="more"><span>more</span><b></b></a> </div> </div> <div class="gap-box"> <div class="banner"> <div class="advert advert--mid">  <div id="div-gpt-ad-1471357663586-2" style="height:250px; width:300px;"> <script> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1471357663586-2'); }); </script> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="post-box "> <div class="post-img"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2012/07/all-about-the-weather/"> <img width="783" height="522" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/weather-forecast-783x522.jpg" class="attachment-frontpage size-frontpage wp-post-image" alt="weather forecast" srcset="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/weather-forecast-783x522.jpg 783w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/weather-forecast-300x200.jpg 300w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/weather-forecast-768x512.jpg 768w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/weather-forecast-460x307.jpg 460w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/weather-forecast-566x377.jpg 566w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/weather-forecast-126x84.jpg 126w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/weather-forecast-172x115.jpg 172w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/weather-forecast-108x72.jpg 108w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/weather-forecast-43x30.jpg 43w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/weather-forecast.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 783px) 100vw, 783px"/> </a> </div> <div class="post-info"> <h2><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2012/07/all-about-the-weather/">All about the weather</a></h2> <p>As was noted here a few weeks back, there are a variety of regional words to choose from when describing the weather in the UK. Many of these words are, unsurprisingly, related to different kinds of rain. Here in the US we also have a healthy crop of regionalisms with which to describe our inclement weather, […]</p> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2012/07/all-about-the-weather/" class="more"><span>more</span><b></b></a> </div> </div> <div class="post-box "> <div class="post-img"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2012/07/on-the-radar-july-2012/"> <img width="783" height="522" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/Grexit-783x522.jpg" class="attachment-frontpage size-frontpage wp-post-image" alt="Greece map with Euro coins" srcset="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/Grexit-783x522.jpg 783w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/Grexit-300x200.jpg 300w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/Grexit-768x512.jpg 768w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/Grexit-460x307.jpg 460w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/Grexit-566x377.jpg 566w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/Grexit-126x84.jpg 126w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/Grexit-172x115.jpg 172w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/Grexit-108x72.jpg 108w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/Grexit-43x30.jpg 43w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/Grexit.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 783px) 100vw, 783px"/> </a> </div> <div class="post-info"> <h2><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2012/07/on-the-radar-july-2012/">Grexit, Spanic, and clown: July 2012 on the radar</a></h2> <p>Each month we reflect on some of the new words Oxford’s lexicography team has been tracking—words that are being used in English but are not yet sufficiently established for inclusion in our dictionaries. Would-be words of the eurozone crisis The Eurozone economic crisis which has dominated headlines this summer has yielded a bumper crop of […]</p> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2012/07/on-the-radar-july-2012/" class="more"><span>more</span><b></b></a> </div> </div> <div class="post-box "> <div class="post-img"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2012/07/etymology-quiz/"> <img width="783" height="522" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/etymology-783x522.jpg" class="attachment-frontpage size-frontpage wp-post-image" alt="How well can you do on our etymology quiz?" srcset="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/etymology-783x522.jpg 783w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/etymology-300x200.jpg 300w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/etymology-460x307.jpg 460w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/etymology-566x377.jpg 566w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/etymology-126x84.jpg 126w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/etymology-172x115.jpg 172w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/etymology-108x72.jpg 108w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/etymology-43x30.jpg 43w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/etymology.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 783px) 100vw, 783px"/> </a> </div> <div class="post-info"> <h2><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2012/07/etymology-quiz/">How well do you know your etymologies?</a></h2> <p>How much do you really know about where your vocabulary comes from? Do you know your Latin roots from your Greek ones? How about Japanese from Cantonese? Hebrew from Hawaiian? Test your knowledge in our interactive etymology quiz and find out if you are a student, an amateur or an expert etymologist. You can find […]</p> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2012/07/etymology-quiz/" class="more"><span>more</span><b></b></a> </div> </div> <div class="banner sec">  <div id="div-gpt-ad-1471357663586-0"> <script> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1471357663586-0'); }); </script> </div> </div> <div class="post-box "> <div class="post-img"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2012/07/language-of-cricket/"> <img width="783" height="522" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_87883600-783x522.jpg" class="attachment-frontpage size-frontpage wp-post-image" alt="" srcset="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_87883600-783x522.jpg 783w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_87883600-300x200.jpg 300w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_87883600-460x306.jpg 460w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_87883600-566x377.jpg 566w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_87883600-125x84.jpg 125w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_87883600-172x114.jpg 172w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_87883600-108x72.jpg 108w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_87883600-43x30.jpg 43w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_87883600.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 783px) 100vw, 783px"/> </a> </div> <div class="post-info"> <h2><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2012/07/language-of-cricket/">Of chanceless innings and textbook shots: the language of cricket and what it says about the game</a></h2> <p>Wickets and dropped catches Cricket absolutely confounds my wife; she simply can’t get to grips with it. I’ve tried my best to explain it to her but I stumble the moment terms like wicket and over get mentioned. Coming home on Sunday evenings and telling her how I’ve played is at best a comedy show […]</p> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2012/07/language-of-cricket/" class="more"><span>more</span><b></b></a> </div> </div> <div class="post-box "> <div class="post-img"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2012/07/photography-competition-results/"> <img width="783" height="522" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_107608331-783x522.jpg" class="attachment-frontpage size-frontpage wp-post-image" alt="" srcset="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_107608331-783x522.jpg 783w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_107608331-300x200.jpg 300w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_107608331-460x306.jpg 460w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_107608331-566x377.jpg 566w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_107608331-125x84.jpg 125w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_107608331-172x114.jpg 172w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_107608331-108x72.jpg 108w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_107608331-43x30.jpg 43w, https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_107608331.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 783px) 100vw, 783px"/> </a> </div> <div class="post-info"> <h2><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2012/07/photography-competition-results/">Paperback Oxford English Dictionary photography competition results</a></h2> <p>We recently set our readers the challenge of taking a photo to capture the word ‘harmony’ to celebrate the publication of the new edition of the Paperback Oxford English Dictionary. We are delighted by the response with over 100 entries and some truly excellent photographs encapsulating our theme perfectly. Before announcing our winner let’s explore […]</p> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2012/07/photography-competition-results/" class="more"><span>more</span><b></b></a> </div> </div> <div class="paging-section"> <div class="paging"> <span class="page-numbers current">1</span> <a class="page-numbers" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2012/07/page/2/">2</a> <a class="page-numbers" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2012/07/page/3/">3</a> <a class="next page-numbers" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2012/07/page/2/"></a> </div> <div class="sorting"> <div class="sorting"> <div id="nav"> <ul class="topmenu"> <li><span>all </span> <ul class="submenu"> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/">all</a></li> <li class="click_li"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2017/">2017</a><ul class="submenu-second"><li class="all"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2017/">All</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2017/06/">June</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2017/05/">May</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2017/04/">April</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2017/03/">March</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2017/02/">February</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2017/01/">January</a></li></ul></li><li class="click_li"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2016/">2016</a><ul class="submenu-second"><li class="all"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2016/">All</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2016/12/">December</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2016/11/">November</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2016/10/">October</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2016/09/">September</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2016/08/">August</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2016/07/">July</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2016/06/">June</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2016/05/">May</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2016/04/">April</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2016/03/">March</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2016/02/">February</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2016/01/">January</a></li></ul></li><li class="click_li"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2015/">2015</a><ul class="submenu-second"><li class="all"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2015/">All</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2015/12/">December</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2015/11/">November</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2015/10/">October</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2015/09/">September</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2015/08/">August</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2015/07/">July</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2015/06/">June</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2015/05/">May</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2015/04/">April</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2015/03/">March</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2015/02/">February</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2015/01/">January</a></li></ul></li><li class="click_li"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2014/">2014</a><ul class="submenu-second"><li class="all"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2014/">All</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2014/12/">December</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2014/11/">November</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2014/10/">October</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2014/09/">September</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2014/08/">August</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2014/07/">July</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2014/06/">June</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2014/05/">May</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2014/04/">April</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2014/03/">March</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2014/02/">February</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2014/01/">January</a></li></ul></li><li class="click_li"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2013/">2013</a><ul class="submenu-second"><li class="all"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2013/">All</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2013/12/">December</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2013/11/">November</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2013/10/">October</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2013/09/">September</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2013/08/">August</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2013/07/">July</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2013/06/">June</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2013/05/">May</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2013/04/">April</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2013/03/">March</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2013/02/">February</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2013/01/">January</a></li></ul></li><li class="click_li"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2012/">2012</a><ul class="submenu-second"><li class="all"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2012/">All</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2012/12/">December</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2012/11/">November</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2012/10/">October</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2012/09/">September</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2012/08/">August</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2012/07/">July</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2012/06/">June</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2012/05/">May</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2012/04/">April</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2012/03/">March</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2012/02/">February</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2012/01/">January</a></li></ul></li><li class="click_li"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2011/">2011</a><ul class="submenu-second"><li class="all"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2011/">All</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2011/12/">December</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2011/11/">November</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2011/10/">October</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2011/09/">September</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2011/08/">August</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2011/07/">July</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2011/06/">June</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2011/05/">May</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2011/04/">April</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2011/03/">March</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2011/02/">February</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2011/01/">January</a></li></ul></li><li class="click_li"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2010/">2010</a><ul class="submenu-second"><li class="all"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2010/">All</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2010/12/">December</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2010/11/">November</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2010/09/">September</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2010/08/">August</a></li></ul></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div id="mobMenuPopup"> <button class="closePop"></button> <ul></ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="sidebar"> <div id="accordion"> <div class="accordion"> <div class="accordion-item open"> <span>Categories<b class="hot"></b></span> <div class="type"></div> </div> <div class="data"> <ul> <li class="cat-item cat-item-8"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/category/competitions-and-games/" title="Check out our quizzes, games, and more! ">Competitions and quizzes</a> (151) </li> <li class="cat-item cat-item-10"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/category/dictionaries-and-lexicography/" title="The dictionary and lexicography blog that you've always been looking for!">Dictionaries and lexicography</a> (232) </li> <li class="cat-item cat-item-11"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/category/english-in-use/">English in use</a> (638) </li> <li class="cat-item cat-item-5"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/category/grammar-and-writing-help/" title="Do you have any pressing grammar questions? Need help with your writing? This is the place for you!">Grammar and writing help</a> (142) </li> <li class="cat-item cat-item-7"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/category/interactive-features/">Interactive features</a> (30) </li> <li class="cat-item cat-item-1288"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/category/oed-appeal/">OED Appeals</a> (24) </li> <li class="cat-item cat-item-13"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/category/other-languages/" title="Explore posts that discuss topics in languages other than English, including Arabic, Chinese, German, French, Spanish, and more!">Other languages</a> (144) </li> <li class="cat-item cat-item-12"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/category/varieties-of-english/" title="There are many different types of English around the world. Explore some of the varieties of English in this selection of posts.">Varieties of English</a> (57) </li> <li class="cat-item cat-item-9"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/category/word-origins/">Word origins</a> (306) </li> <li class="cat-item cat-item-6"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/category/word-trends-and-new-words/">Word trends and new words</a> (182) </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="additional-posts"> <div class="posts-head further"> <h4>Trending <span></span></h4> </div> <div class="post-box align-class "> <div class="post-img"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2012/04/there-their-or-theyre/"> <img width="336" height="179" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/spelling2-336x179.jpg" class="attachment-page_thumbs size-page_thumbs wp-post-image" alt="There and they're, there and their - they're all hard to tell apart!"/> </a> </div> <div class="post-info"> <h4><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2012/04/there-their-or-theyre/">There, their, or they’re?</a></h4> </div> </div> <div class="post-box align-class "> <div class="post-img"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2014/06/unusual-words/"> <img width="336" height="179" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/cat1-336x179.jpg" class="attachment-page_thumbs size-page_thumbs wp-post-image" alt="Unusual words include pusillanimous, meaning 'lacking in courage'."/> </a> </div> <div class="post-info"> <h4><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2014/06/unusual-words/">Unusual words with surprising meanings</a></h4> </div> </div> <div class="advert advert--top advert--bottommargin">  <div id="div-gpt-ad-1471357663586-3" style="height:250px; width:300px;"> <script> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1471357663586-3'); }); </script> </div> </div> <div class="post-box align-class "> <div class="post-img"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2016/11/untranslatable-japanese-words/"> <img width="336" height="179" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/Japanese-words-336x179.jpg" class="attachment-page_thumbs size-page_thumbs wp-post-image" alt=""/> </a> </div> <div class="post-info"> <h4><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2016/11/untranslatable-japanese-words/">15 Japanese words that English needs</a></h4> </div> </div> <div class="post-box align-class "> <div class="post-img"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2016/07/oed-editor-questions/"> <img width="336" height="179" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/scrabble-tiles-336x179.jpg" class="attachment-page_thumbs size-page_thumbs wp-post-image" alt="Do our lexicographers ever feel tempted to make up words in order to win a game of Scrabble?"/> </a> </div> <div class="post-info"> <h4><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2016/07/oed-editor-questions/">An OED editor answers some more of your questions</a></h4> </div> </div> </div> <div class="additional-posts"> <div class="posts-head further"> <h4>further reading</h4> </div> <div class="post-box align-class "> <div class="post-img"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2017/05/phonetics-the-name-game/"> <img width="336" height="179" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/C7cORZRBBMo-336x179.jpg" class="attachment-page_thumbs size-page_thumbs wp-post-image" alt=""/> </a> </div> <div class="post-info"> <h4><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2017/05/phonetics-the-name-game/">Phun with phonetics: the Name Game</a></h4> </div> </div> <div class="post-box align-class "> <div class="post-img"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2017/05/7-english-words-that-are-french/"> <img width="336" height="179" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/C7XIJNQrKnk-336x179.jpg" class="attachment-page_thumbs size-page_thumbs wp-post-image" alt=""/> </a> </div> <div class="post-info"> <h4><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2017/05/7-english-words-that-are-french/">7 English words you may not know are really French</a></h4> </div> </div> <div class="post-box align-class "> <div class="post-img"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2017/05/fence-walls-fences/"> <img width="336" height="179" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/C77kfZJ1pTY-336x179.jpg" class="attachment-page_thumbs size-page_thumbs wp-post-image" alt=""/> </a> </div> <div class="post-info"> <h4><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2017/05/fence-walls-fences/">On the fence about walls and fences</a></h4> </div> </div> <div class="post-box align-class "> <div class="post-img"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2017/05/quiz-vowel-pronunciation-part-two/"> <img width="336" height="179" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/vowels-dice-336x179.jpg" class="attachment-page_thumbs size-page_thumbs wp-post-image" alt="vowels"/> </a> </div> <div class="post-info"> <h4><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2017/05/quiz-vowel-pronunciation-part-two/">Quiz: vowel pronunciation, part two</a></h4> </div> </div> <div class="post-box align-class "> <div class="post-img"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2017/05/ralph-waldo-emerson/"> <img width="336" height="179" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/Ralph-Waldo-Emerson-336x179.jpg" class="attachment-page_thumbs size-page_thumbs wp-post-image" alt="Ralph Waldo Emerson"/> </a> </div> <div class="post-info"> <h4><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2017/05/ralph-waldo-emerson/">Ralph Waldo Emerson’s wordiness and mysticism</a></h4> </div> </div> <div class="post-box align-class "> <div class="post-img"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2017/05/i-is-for-impeachment-the-i-word/"> <img width="336" height="179" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/US-constitution-336x179.jpg" class="attachment-page_thumbs size-page_thumbs wp-post-image" alt="US constitution"/> </a> </div> <div class="post-info"> <h4><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2017/05/i-is-for-impeachment-the-i-word/">‘I’ is for… impeachment: the I-word</a></h4> </div> </div> <div class="post-box align-class "> <div class="post-img"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2017/05/malaphors/"> <img width="336" height="179" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/Rocket-sugery-1200x800-336x179.jpg" class="attachment-page_thumbs size-page_thumbs wp-post-image" alt="malaphors rocket surgery"/> </a> </div> <div class="post-info"> <h4><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2017/05/malaphors/">What is a malaphor? It’s not rocket surgery!</a></h4> </div> </div> <div class="post-box align-class "> <div class="post-img"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2017/05/radar-dementia-tax/"> <img width="336" height="179" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/elderly-hands-336x179.jpg" class="attachment-page_thumbs size-page_thumbs wp-post-image" alt="dementia tax"/> </a> </div> <div class="post-info"> <h4><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2017/05/radar-dementia-tax/">On the radar: dementia tax</a></h4> </div> </div> <div class="post-box align-class "> <div class="post-img"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2017/05/symbols-dictionary-pronunciations/"> <img width="336" height="179" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/C7W9ghN0Bn8-336x179.jpg" class="attachment-page_thumbs size-page_thumbs wp-post-image" alt=""/> </a> </div> <div class="post-info"> <h4><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2017/05/symbols-dictionary-pronunciations/">Symbols for sounds: our dictionary pronunciations explained</a></h4> </div> </div> <div class="post-box align-class "> <div class="post-img"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2017/05/alexander-pope-coinages/"> <img width="336" height="179" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/C7XGo_v5wq0-336x179.jpg" class="attachment-page_thumbs size-page_thumbs wp-post-image" alt=""/> </a> </div> <div class="post-info"> <h4><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2017/05/alexander-pope-coinages/">Where angels fear to tread: Alexander Pope’s coinages</a></h4> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <footer> <div class="footer-menu"> <ul id="menu-footer" class=""><li id="menu-item-24551" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom first menu-item-24551"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/about">About Oxford Dictionaries</a></li> <li id="menu-item-24548" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-24548"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/https://www.oxforddictionaries.com/privacy-policy">Privacy policy & legal notice</a></li> <li id="menu-item-24550" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-24550"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/help">Help</a></li> <li id="menu-item-24546" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom last menu-item-24546"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/contact-form">Contact us</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="footer-logo"> <p>© 2017 Oxford University Press</p> <div class="social-box"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/https://www.facebook.com/OxfordDictionaries" class="fb"> <svg width="6" height="12" class="transition" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 13.719 26"><path d="m320.89 111.31h-2.5c-1.956 0-2.321.922-2.321 2.25v2.954h4.657l-.619 4.626h-4.04v11.857h-4.865v-11.86h-4.053v-4.626h4.053v-3.406c0-3.954 2.464-6.111 6.06-6.111a31.774 31.774 0 0 1 3.625 .188v4.125" transform="translate(-307.16-107)" fill-rule="evenodd"/></svg> </a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/https://twitter.com/OxfordWords" class="tw"> <svg width="11" height="11" class="transition" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="-33 14 17.2 14" enable-background="new -33 14 17.2 14"><path d="m-15.8 15.7c-.6.3-1.3.5-2 .6.7-.4 1.3-1.1 1.6-2-.7.4-1.4.7-2.2.9-.6-.7-1.6-1.1-2.6-1.1-2 0-3.5 1.6-3.5 3.5 0 .3 0 .5.1.8-2.9-.1-5.5-1.6-7.3-3.7-.3.5-.5 1.1-.5 1.8 0 1.2.6 2.3 1.6 2.9-.6 0-1.1-.2-1.6-.4 0 1.7 1.2 3.1 2.8 3.5-.3.1-.6.1-.9.1-.2 0-.4 0-.7-.1.4 1.4 1.8 2.4 3.3 2.5-1.2.9-2.7 1.5-4.4 1.5-.3 0-.6 0-.8 0 1.6 1 3.4 1.6 5.4 1.6 6.5 0 10.1-5.4 10.1-10.1 0-.2 0-.3 0-.5.6-.5 1.2-1.1 1.6-1.8"/></svg> </a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/https://plus.google.com/+Oxforddictionaries" class="gp"> <svg width="15" height="9" class="transition" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="-33 14 22 14" enable-background="new -33 14 22 14"><g><path d="m-26 20v2.4h4c-.2 1-1.2 3-4 3-2.4 0-4.3-2-4.3-4.4 0-2.4 2-4.4 4.3-4.4 1.4 0 2.3.6 2.8 1.1l1.9-1.8c-1.2-1.1-2.8-1.8-4.7-1.8-3.9 0-7 3.1-7 7s3.1 7 7 7c4 0 6.7-2.8 6.7-6.8 0-.5 0-.8-.1-1.2h-6.6v-.1"/><path d="m-11 20h-2v-2h-2v2h-2v2h2v2h2v-2h2"/></g></svg> </a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/https://www.instagram.com/oxforddictionaries/" class="inst"> <svg width="11" height="11" class="transition" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="-33 14 17 17" enable-background="new -33 14 17 17"><path d="m-30.8 14h12.6c1.2 0 2.2.9 2.2 2.2v12.6c0 1.3-1 2.2-2.2 2.2h-12.6c-1.2 0-2.2-.9-2.2-2.2v-12.6c0-1.3 1-2.2 2.2-2.2m10.2 1.9c-.4 0-.8.3-.8.8v1.8c0 .4.3.8.8.8h1.9c.4 0 .8-.3.8-.8v-1.8c0-.4-.3-.8-.8-.8h-1.9m2.7 5.3h-1.5c.1.5.2 1 .2 1.5 0 2.8-2.4 5.1-5.3 5.1-2.9 0-5.3-2.3-5.3-5.1 0-.5.1-1 .2-1.5h-1.6v7.2c0 .4.3.7.7.7h11.8c.4 0 .7-.3.7-.7l.1-7.2m-6.6-2c-1.9 0-3.4 1.5-3.4 3.3 0 1.8 1.5 3.3 3.4 3.3 1.9 0 3.4-1.5 3.4-3.3s-1.5-3.3-3.4-3.3"/></svg> </a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/feed" class="rss"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="25" height="24" viewbox="0 0 25 24"><path id="RSS" class="cls-1" d="M511.005,130.864a0.965,0.965,0,0,1-.32.8,1.067,1.067,0,0,1-.817.341h-2.539a1.133,1.133,0,0,1-.79-0.3,1,1,0,0,1-.347-0.724,18.45,18.45,0,0,0-1.793-6.963,19.6,19.6,0,0,0-4.111-5.726,20.472,20.472,0,0,0-5.967-3.946,20.812,20.812,0,0,0-7.255-1.738,1.079,1.079,0,0,1-.754-0.332,1.022,1.022,0,0,1-.311-0.742V109.1a0.988,0.988,0,0,1,.355-0.784,1.083,1.083,0,0,1,.781-0.307h0.054a25.505,25.505,0,0,1,8.906,2.046,24.948,24.948,0,0,1,7.556,5.01,23.907,23.907,0,0,1,5.221,7.252A22.869,22.869,0,0,1,511.005,130.864Zm-9.092-.034a1.012,1.012,0,0,1-.3.818,1.067,1.067,0,0,1-.835.358h-2.4a1.118,1.118,0,0,1-.764-0.281,1.02,1.02,0,0,1-.355-0.707,10.434,10.434,0,0,0-3.277-6.673,11.244,11.244,0,0,0-6.952-3.144,1.1,1.1,0,0,1-.737-0.341,1.023,1.023,0,0,1-.293-0.733v-2.3a0.988,0.988,0,0,1,.373-0.8,1.057,1.057,0,0,1,.763-0.29h0.089a16.459,16.459,0,0,1,5.434,1.372,15.712,15.712,0,0,1,4.6,3.094,15.09,15.09,0,0,1,3.223,4.414A14.823,14.823,0,0,1,501.913,130.83Zm-10.087-4.414a3.2,3.2,0,0,1,0,4.636,3.535,3.535,0,0,1-4.831,0,3.2,3.2,0,0,1,0-4.636A3.532,3.532,0,0,1,491.826,126.416Z" transform="translate(-486 -108)"/></svg> </a> </div> <div class="logo"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://global.oup.com/" title="Oxford University Press"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/themes/oxwords-style-2016/img/footer-logo.png" alt=""/> </a> </div> </div> </footer> <script type="text/javascript"> // <![CDATA[ var disqus_shortname = 'oxforddictionariesblog'; (function () { var nodes = document.getElementsByTagName('span'); for (var i = 0, url; i < nodes.length; i++) { if (nodes[i].className.indexOf('dsq-postid') != -1) { nodes[i].parentNode.setAttribute('data-disqus-identifier', nodes[i].getAttribute('data-dsqidentifier')); url = nodes[i].parentNode.href.split('#', 1); if (url.length == 1) { url = url[0]; } else { url = url[1]; } nodes[i].parentNode.href = url + '#disqus_thread'; } } var s = document.createElement('script'); s.async = true; s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = '//' + disqus_shortname + '.disqus.com/count.js'; (document.getElementsByTagName('HEAD')[0] || document.getElementsByTagName('BODY')[0]).appendChild(s); }()); // ]]> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//web.archive.org/web/20170606161922js_/http://s7.addthis.com/js/300/addthis_widget.js#pubid=ra-527abdb33ac1ee08"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922js_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/themes/oxwords-style-2016/js/app.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922js_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/themes/oxwords-style-2016/js/device.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922js_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/themes/oxwords-style-2016/js/resizeTo.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922js_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/themes/oxwords-style-2016/js/plugins/jquery.mCustomScrollbar.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922js_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/themes/oxwords-style-2016/js/plugins/jquery.mousewheel.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922js_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/themes/oxwords-style-2016/js/selectbox.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922js_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/themes/oxwords-style-2016/js/main.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922js_/http://27ldk4j1esh2tto962ds2vk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-includes/js/wp-embed.min.js"></script> </div> </div> <div id="shortMenu"> <div class="bg close transition"></div> <div class="topHeader"> <div class="topHeaderContainer"> <div class="headerContent"> <a class="logo" href="#"><img class="mob" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922im_/http://oxfordwords.staging.wpengine.com/wp-content/themes/oxwords-theme/img/logo-s.png" alt=""></a> </div> <nav class="nav"> <ul id="menu-deep-blue-top-bar-1" class=""><li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom first menu-item-24232"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/">Dictionary</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-24231"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/thesaurus">Thesaurus</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children menu-item-24233"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/grammar">Grammar</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-39260"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/grammar/grammar-a-z">Grammar A-Z</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-39261"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/grammar/spelling">Spelling</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-39262"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/grammar/punctuation">Punctuation</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-39263"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/grammar/writing-help">Writing help</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-39264"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/grammar/usage">Usage</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children menu-item-24234"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/explore">Explore</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-39265"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/explore/word-origins">Word origins</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-39266"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/explore/language-questions">Language questions</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-39267"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/explore/word-lists">Word lists</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-home last menu-item-39268"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/">Blog</a></li> </ul> </nav> <div class="sharing"> <ul> <li><a class="ico-fb" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/https://www.facebook.com/OxfordDictionaries"><svg width="17" height="17" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="-33 14 17 17" enable-background="new -33 14 17 17"><path d="m-16.9 14h-15.1c-.5 0-.9.4-.9.9v15.1c0 .5.4.9.9.9h8.1v-6.6h-2.2v-2.6h2.2v-1.7c0-2.2 1.3-3.4 3.3-3.4.9 0 1.7.1 2 .1v2.3h-1.4c-1.1 0-1.3.5-1.3 1.2v1.6h2.5l-.3 2.6h-2.2v6.6h4.3c.5 0 .9-.4.9-.9v-15.2c.1-.5-.3-.9-.8-.9"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="ico-tw" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/https://twitter.com/OxfordWords"><svg width="17" height="14" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="-33 14 17.2 14" enable-background="new -33 14 17.2 14"><path d="m-15.8 15.7c-.6.3-1.3.5-2 .6.7-.4 1.3-1.1 1.6-2-.7.4-1.4.7-2.2.9-.6-.7-1.6-1.1-2.6-1.1-2 0-3.5 1.6-3.5 3.5 0 .3 0 .5.1.8-2.9-.1-5.5-1.6-7.3-3.7-.3.5-.5 1.1-.5 1.8 0 1.2.6 2.3 1.6 2.9-.6 0-1.1-.2-1.6-.4 0 1.7 1.2 3.1 2.8 3.5-.3.1-.6.1-.9.1-.2 0-.4 0-.7-.1.4 1.4 1.8 2.4 3.3 2.5-1.2.9-2.7 1.5-4.4 1.5-.3 0-.6 0-.8 0 1.6 1 3.4 1.6 5.4 1.6 6.5 0 10.1-5.4 10.1-10.1 0-.2 0-.3 0-.5.6-.5 1.2-1.1 1.6-1.8"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="ico-gpl" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/https://plus.google.com/+Oxforddictionaries"><svg width="22" height="14" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="-33 14 22 14" enable-background="new -33 14 22 14"><g><path d="m-26 20v2.4h4c-.2 1-1.2 3-4 3-2.4 0-4.3-2-4.3-4.4 0-2.4 2-4.4 4.3-4.4 1.4 0 2.3.6 2.8 1.1l1.9-1.8c-1.2-1.1-2.8-1.8-4.7-1.8-3.9 0-7 3.1-7 7s3.1 7 7 7c4 0 6.7-2.8 6.7-6.8 0-.5 0-.8-.1-1.2h-6.6v-.1"/><path d="m-11 20h-2v-2h-2v2h-2v2h2v2h2v-2h2"/></g></svg></a></li> <li><a class="ico-in" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170606161922/https://www.instagram.com/oxforddictionaries/"><svg width="17" height="17" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="-33 14 17 17" enable-background="new -33 14 17 17"><path d="m-30.8 14h12.6c1.2 0 2.2.9 2.2 2.2v12.6c0 1.3-1 2.2-2.2 2.2h-12.6c-1.2 0-2.2-.9-2.2-2.2v-12.6c0-1.3 1-2.2 2.2-2.2m10.2 1.9c-.4 0-.8.3-.8.8v1.8c0 .4.3.8.8.8h1.9c.4 0 .8-.3.8-.8v-1.8c0-.4-.3-.8-.8-.8h-1.9m2.7 5.3h-1.5c.1.5.2 1 .2 1.5 0 2.8-2.4 5.1-5.3 5.1-2.9 0-5.3-2.3-5.3-5.1 0-.5.1-1 .2-1.5h-1.6v7.2c0 .4.3.7.7.7h11.8c.4 0 .7-.3.7-.7l.1-7.2m-6.6-2c-1.9 0-3.4 1.5-3.4 3.3 0 1.8 1.5 3.3 3.4 3.3 1.9 0 3.4-1.5 3.4-3.3s-1.5-3.3-3.4-3.3"/></svg></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <span class="close"><svg width="19" height="19" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="-33 14 19.1 19.1" enable-background="new -33 14 19.1 19.1"><path fill="#fff" d="m-13.9 16.1l-2.1-2.1-7.4 7.4-7.5-7.4-2.1 2.1 7.4 7.5-7.4 7.4 2.1 2.1 7.5-7.4 7.4 7.4 2.1-2.1-7.4-7.4z"></path></svg></span> </div> </div> </body> <script> jQuery(document).ready(function($){ $('.post-box img').resizeToParent(); $('.gen-post-img img').resizeToParent(); }); </script> </html>

CINXE.COM

Date Archive for | OxfordWords blog