The Syrian Revolution
More Deposed Dictators
Polarizing Diction
Polarization has been chosen as the word of the year—reflecting the bitterly fought 2024 presidential election—by our sister company Merriam-Webster. The use of polarization as a “division into two sharply distinct opposites” dates back to the early 1800s, when it first described light waves. The physical meaning of polarize—“to cause to vibrate in a definite pattern”—led to the political and cultural meaning that defines the word today. Here are a few more of Merriam-Webster’s words of 2024, and their distant origins.
Pander, defined as “to say, do, or provide what someone wants or demands even though it is not proper, good, or reasonable,” was another election-year keyword. The term is often applied to politicians, but that wasn’t always the case. A character named Pandarus is an antagonist in Homer’s Iliad. But the modern usage of pander hails from the version of Pandarus who appears in Geoffrey Chaucer’s Troilus and Criseyde and William Shakespeare’s Troilus and Cressida and serves as a go-between for the titular lovers.
WeirdThe term that vice presidential candidate Tim Walz used to describe his Republican opponents, weird has an ancient origin. The term wyrd was originally an Old English noun essentially meaning “fate.” In Greek and Roman mythology, fate described any of three goddesses who determined human destinies. This led to the fates being described as sisters. Weird’s modern usage, meaning “of strange or extraordinary character,” derives from the Weird Sisters, the three creatures who prophesy the destinies of the main characters in Shakespeare’s Macbeth.
DemocracyDemocracy saw a big uptick in search volume this year. The term is derived from the Greek dēmokratia, which was coined from dēmos (“people”) and kratos (“rule”) in the middle of the 5th century BCE to denote the political systems then existing in some Greek city-states, notably Athens. Although the word itself never appears in the Declaration of Independence or U.S. Constitution, it is closely associated with American government.
Popular on Britannica
Features
- Why Is Christmas in December?
- What’s the Difference Between Modern and Contemporary Art?
- Is Mount Everest Really the Tallest Mountain in the World?
- Who Was the First Woman to Run for President of the United States?
- How Did the Tradition of Christmas Trees Start?
- What’s the Difference Between a President and a Prime Minister?
- Was Santa Claus a Real Person?
- Do the Relics of Saint Nicholas Really Emit a Holy Substance?
- What’s the Difference Between Bison and Buffalo?
- Is It ISIS or ISIL?
Lists
- 8 Deadliest Wars of the 21st Century
- Titanosaurs: 8 of the World's Biggest Dinosaurs
- 10 Great Sports Rivalries
- 5 Fascinating Facts about the Births and Deaths of U.S. Presidents
- All 119 References in “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” Explained
- 8 Animals That Suck (Blood)
- 6 Questions About the Sun Answered
- Major Events in the Life of Constantine I
- 7 Deadliest Weapons in History
- 12 Questions About the History of Space Exploration Answered
These firearms are assembled by the owner, either from separately bought pieces or as part of a kit, and can also be made using 3D printers.
Numerous writers have recounted or drawn from their war experiences to produce great modern works.
The world’s largest frog species can grow as long as 12.6 inches (32 cm) and weigh as much as 6.6 pounds (3 kg) or more.
These are urban areas where numerous people perform sex acts for money or participate in sexually evocative performances.