background preloader

English

Facebook Twitter

Be Very Afraid: 8 Monsters of Literature and Folklore by Dictionary.com. Slideshow Be Very Afraid: 8 Monsters of Literature and Folklore [frang-kuhn-stahyn] Just years after Mary Shelley's 1818 novel Frankenstein first appeared on shelves, the title took on a life of its own. Though many people incorrectly believe that Frankenstein refers to the stitched-together monster endowed with life, the name, in fact, belongs to the monster's creator, Dr. Frankenstein. However, this error is so ubiquitous that the term is now widely used to refer to the monster as well as the man. [goh-luhm, -lem] Victorian English literature has Frankenstein, and Jewish folklore has the golem. [gren-dl] The epic poem Beowulf features one of the most terrifying creatures in the Anglo-Saxon literary canon, Grendel. [drak-yuh-luh] While many folks know Dracula as a tuxedoed vampire sired by Bram Stoker in 1897, few are aware of Stoker's real-life inspiration for this undead creature of the night.

[big-foot] [yet-ee] The yeti or the Abominable Snowman is Big Foot's Asian counterpart. 7 Spooky Words for Halloween by Dictionary.com. Slideshow 7 Spooky Words for Halloween [nik-tuh-foh-bee-uh] Are you afraid of the dark? If the answer is yes, you might have nyctophobia, the abnormal fear of night or darkness.

Derived from the Greek nux for "night" and phobia meaning "an aversion," nyctophobia is the perfect word for anyone who hides under the covers once the lights go out. If you'd rather sleep in a coffin than a bed, you'll feel nice and cozy with our next word. [suh-puhl-kruhl] Sepulchral refers to anything of or pertaining to burial. [ber-surk, -zurk] When someone goes berserk, he or she becomes crazy, deranged, overtaken by a violent destructive frenzy.

[than-uh-top-sis] Do you spend a lot of time in graveyards? [per-dish-uhn] In Christian tradition, perdition is the state of final spiritual ruin or eternal damnation to which the wicked are condemned. [trep-i-dey-shuhn] When a visit from a ghost sends shivers down your spine, or when a brush with a vampire gives you goosebumps, what are you feeling? Love our Slideshows? Histoire de la langue anglaise. 117 Most beautiful words in the English language.

There's a Word for That: 25 Expressions You Should Have in Your Vocabulary. Recently I came across this amazing little Tumblr named ‘OtherWordly‘ – itself a play on words. It consists of a collection of strange and lovely words from different languages through different times. What I like most about this selection of consonants and vowels – little meaning-carrying packages of vibration – is that they all try to point to the unspeakable, the transient or the neglected. That which we forget in the busyness of our daily grind. Words have the power to remind us – and therefore we should choose our words carefully so we are reminded of the things that nourish our souls.

You can find my favourite words below – pick five that resonate most, write them down, yes seriously – go grab a pen -, make sure to learn them by heart, teach them to your inner voice and share them with others to guide our collective attention to what truly matters. 1 – Sophrosyne 2 – Vorfreude pronunciation | ‘for-froi-duh 3 – Numinous 4 – Nemophilist pronunciation | ne-‘mo-fe-list 5 – Sillage. Expressions & Sayings Index. If you prefer to go directly to the meaning and origin of a specific expression, click on its relevant entry in the alphabetical list below. Use this alphabet to speed up your search: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z. The meanings and origins of sayings and phrases. Learning Academic Vocabulary. Here are some suggestions about using the AWL Highlighter and the AWL Gapmaker to help you expand your academic vocabulary. 1.

Find a text that interests you. For on-line sources, look at the links page. Copy and paste, or type it into the AWL Highlighter; process it and print it. "The plans include planting trees and hedges to protect crops from grazing animals and wind erosion. " 4. "Soil erosion is a problem for the farmers in my region. " 6.

What Shakespeare brought to English.

Phonemic chart. Glossary of Linguistic Terms a-m. Train Your Accent: ESL Accent Reduction Training and Conversational English. Free online Dictionary of English Pronunciation - How to Pronounce English words. Learn English Free Online. BBC Learning English | Pronunciation Tips. Yours, Etc.: Origins and Uses of 8 Common Sign-Offs.

Slideshow Yours, Etc.: Origins and Uses of 8 Common Sign-Offs [ri-gahrd] The word regard comes to us from the Old French regarder meaning "to look at. " This definition is still evident in its senses today, which range from "to look upon or think of with a particular feeling" to "respect, esteem, or deference. " [cheer] This term gained popularity in British English as a salutation before drinking in the early 1900s, but is now commonly used as a sign-off on both sides of the pond. [kawr-juhl or, esp.

When English speakers first started using the term cordially, it carried a more impassioned sense than it does today. [thangk] As a sign-off, this simple expression of gratitude offers a range of interpretations, such as "thanks for your attention and time while reading this e-mail" or "thanks in advance for tending to the request that I outlined in this e-mail. " [sin-seer] The earliest definition of sincere is "free of falseness. " [best] [yoorz, yawrz, yohrz] [ri-spekt-fuhl] English for Academic Purposes self-diagnostic test : The University of Melbourne.

The Evolution of the English Alphabet.

Games Activities to teach / learn English. Idioms. IATE - The EU's multilingual term base.