Where Did the Word “Breakfast” Come From? Breaking the Fast
“Breakfast” comes from the Middle English phrase “breken fast” — “to break one’s fast,” or end the night’s abstinence from...
Why Do We Say “Goodbye”? The Blessing Hidden Inside a Farewell
“Goodbye” comes from “God be with you,” a Middle English parting blessing. Through centuries of hurried speech, the phrase contracted...
The Origin of ‘OK’: How a Joke Abbreviation Conquered the World
The origin of OK is a joke that refused to die. In 1839, Boston newspapers were gripped by a fad...