In the Bible, anointing is a sacred ceremony marking someone or something as chosen by God, typically involving the pouring of oil. In A Midsummer Night's Dream, Robin humorously references this practice in his plan to apply a love...

Tthe word nymph derives from the latin verb "nubrey," to mary in ancient latin. The word, "nymph" referred to a woman who was ready to marry because she had reached sexual maturity. In medieval English, however, nymph was used to refer...

The word "adamant" originates from the Latin word "aramas," meaning a hard stone, and has evolved to denote anything unbreakable. In Shakespeare's era, "adamant" specifically referred to a lodestone or naturally occurring magnet,...

The term "vestal" originates from Vesta, an ancient Roman goddess, and was initially associated with the Vestal Virgins who served her temple in Rome, pledging thirty years of chastity. By Shakespeare's time, "vestal" had broadened to...

The term "henchman" originates from the German word "hangst," meaning a male horse, and initially described a servant who walked beside the king or noblemen while they rode their horses. By Shakespeare's time, it referred to boys and...

In Shakespeare's era, "pensioners" referred to a group of noblemen closely associated with the English monarch, forming an honor guard and receiving a pension for their service. These gentleman pensioners were known for their extravagant...

In Shakespeare's time, excessive rain posed as much risk to agriculture and livestock as drought did, leading to crop rot, washaways, and livestock drowning. This not only affected farmers negatively but also disrupted recreational...

Explore the many ways Shakespeare creatively names his characters to reflect their respective trades. For example, "Quince the carpenter" refers to a carpentry tool, while "Snug the joiner" is a cabinet maker.

The word "mew" originates from the Latin word "mutate," which means to change, and is the root of the English word "mutate." However, "mew" is specifically used to describe the molting process of a bird. This term has been extended...

The term "triumph" originally comes from the Latin "triumpus," signifying the highest honor bestowed by the Roman Empire for a significant military victory. By Shakespeare's era, "triumph" had evolved to denote any public celebration, as...

In affirming her love for Lysander, Hermia swears by two symbols from ancient mythology. The doves represent lifelong marriage and fidelity due to their portrayal alongside Venus, the goddess of love. The fire that burned Dido, the...

This video explores the etymology and historical context of the use of the word "gaud," relating it to a Latin word "gaudere," meaning to rejoice, and its association with a special kind of bead on a Catholic Rosary. It also touches on...

The term "artificial" originates from the Latin "artificium," meaning craftsmanship or artistry, which was its initial meaning in English. Nowadays, "artificial" typically refers to anything man-made, often carrying a negative...

This video delves into the world of puns, a form of wordplay that utilizes words with multiple meanings or similar sounds for humorous or thoughtful effects. It explains different types of puns, such as homophonic, homographic, and...

In this video, the presenter explores the fascinating world of palindromes, words or phrases that read the same forwards and backwards. From the longest palindromic word in English to ancient examples found in Pompeii, the video...

This video gives key tips for remembering names. My story is that I used to be pretty bad at names but now I'm very good and I'll show you how to remember names in a very practical way.

I'm convinced ANYBODY...

Music is an important part of a TV show. But, in Arrested Development, it's not just a background layer - it's almost just as important as one of the characters in the show. It's practically a character of its own. Let's look at how...

Arrested Development has an incredibly unique use of music. In fact, they couldn't have actually told the story without the music. Music is an important part of a TV show. But, in Arrested Development, it's not just a background layer -...

For the healing of the nations there must be good will and charity, confidence and peace," President Calvin Coolidge declared at the end of 1923, as the shadow of WWI continued to loom over America. What was life actually like in the...

This video is a teacher explaining different figures of speech, including symbolism, allegory, onomatopoeia, paradox, and pun. The teacher provides examples and explanations for each figure of speech and how they are used in literature....