Two Minutes Du Jour

Words fascinate me. The more I learn various languages on Duolingo, the more interested I become in the similarities, differences and origins of words I use every day.

For example, Duolingo blogged about 5 Unique English Words that Tell You a Lot About U.S. Culture, including:

Potluck – Duolingo says, “The word “potluck” comes from the “luck of the pot,” meaning you never know what you’re going to get! The first known use of this word was during Shakespeare’s time, when it meant “a meal with no planned menu,” like one you might offer to an unexpected guest with whatever ingredients you happen to have on hand.”

Housewarming – “In the U.S. and other countries, it’s common for new homeowners to host a housewarming party. It’s an opportunity to let friends and family come see your new house and celebrate together. And they bring gifts! In the past, when homes were heated by fireplaces, guests would often bring firewood as a housewarming gift. All the fireplaces would be lit, and the house would literally be “warmed.”

Today, the gifts are a little different—you might give someone a plant, candle, or bottle of wine—but the spirit of the party is the same: Your friends and family come to metaphorically “warm up” the house and make it feel more like a home!

Etymology

I enjoy etymology- the study of words, or as Merriam Webster defines it: the history of a linguistic form (such as a word) shown by tracing its development since its earliest recorded occurrence in the language where it is found, by tracing its transmission from one language to another, by analyzing it into its component parts, by identifying its cognates in other languages, or by tracing it and its cognates to a common ancestral form in an ancestral language.

Yes, Two Minutes Du Jour is Eclectic

One of the daily e-newsletters I like to read is from Merriam-Webster, offering a word of the day and supporting content. The other day, the word was eclectic – many of you have told me you’re appreciating the eclectic nature of Two Minutes Du Jour – thank you!

By now you’ve figured out that Two Minutes Du Jour (TMDJ) features a variety of topics that nudge to explore, discover and grow. It’s eclectic on purpose but always related to the process of personal growth. Content might touch joy, meaning and purpose, relationships, routines and habits, food, fitness and more.

Merriam Webster defines eclectic as composed of elements drawn from various sources: selecting what appears to be best in various doctrines, methods, or styles eclectically. That pretty much sums up TMDJ.

Two Links Du Jour:

Merriam-Webster Word of the Day and Games and Quizzes

Keep Your Brain Fit with Language Learning – International Center for Language Studies