59. Death

10/13/24 • 14 min

Etymoleon - Word History, the etymology podcast.

In this episode, we dig deep into the grave origins of words related to death. The term eulogy comes from ancient Greek and etymologically translates to 'good words' while euthanasia means 'good death'. An executor ensures that the wishes in a will are fulfilled, deriving from a Latin word meaning 'to follow', which also gives us the word sequence. Discover the surprising connection between cemetery and coma, and learn what popularised the idea of a bucket list.

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58. Autumn/Fall

This episode takes a look at the origins of autumn/fall related terms, from harvest and foliage to Halloween and the months September, October and November. Find out why the school year starts in September, when fireworks became an autumn tradition, and what was originally burned in bonfires. We also explore the autumnal colours of ochre, amber and maroon.

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60. Names: Pop Queens

This time, we're hitting all the right notes as we explore the origins and meanings of names through the lens of female singers. Shania Twain, Celine Dion and Alanis Morissette share a distant relative, but only one of them carries a version of his surname. Kylie became a popular name in Australia, inspired by an Indigenous Australian word for a boomerang, while Beyoncé's name may trace back to the French word bois, meaning wood. We also uncover the fascinating origins of the names Ariana, Cher, Dolly and Melanie.