The word 'silly' originally meant 'blessed' in Old English.
Fact #3447
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The English language borrows from over 350 other languages, making it one of the most linguistically diverse.
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The word 'OK' may be the most recognized word in the world — understood in virtually every language.
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The word 'rule of thumb' does not have an origin in domestic violence — this is a persistent false etymology.
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The Basque language has no known relatives anywhere in the world — it is a true language isolate.
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The word 'music' comes from the ancient Greek 'mousike,' meaning 'art of the Muses.'
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The word 'treacle' once referred to an antidote to poison — it now means molasses.
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The word 'trivia' comes from the Latin trivium — the three subjects taught at medieval crossroads schools.
Fact #3826 · Language
The word 'assassin' derives from the Arabic 'hashishin' — a medieval Islamic sect's name.
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