Etymoleon - Word History, the etymology podcast.

This podcast returns on April 12th 2026. This episode explores unusual words for conversations about chance, examining their origins and recognisable words from the same root. Words covered include incertitude, vicissitude, pari-mutuel, fortuity, aleatory and serendipity. 

Plus, hear how some public offices in ancient Greece were filled by lottery rather than election, reflecting a belief that randomness could serve as a safeguard against corruption. 

Sources: 
https://ccel.org/ccel/gibbon/decline/decline.viii.xli.html 

https://www.gutenberg.org/files/9105/9105-h/9105-h.htm 

https://blog.oup.com/2016/03/sortition-ancient-greece-democracy 

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This episode examines uncommon words for conversations about fixity, exploring their origins and familiar words from the same root. Words featured include intransigent, obdurate, adamantine, indelible, obstinate and irrevocable. 

Hear how a wartime survey of buildings at risk of bombing led to Britain's listed building system, granting certain structures legal protection designed to secure their permanence.  

Sources: 
https://grammarphobia.com/blog/2009/09/crying-over-spilled-milk.html 

https://utc.iath.virginia.edu/abolitn/abeswlgbt.html 

https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/news/targets-of-enemy-bombers-and-our-own-demolition-men-1598384.html 

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/about-the-list/ 

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This episode explores lesser known words that are useful in conversations about reputation, considering their origins and recognisable words from the same root. Words highlighted include perfidious, calumny, susurration, ignominy, opprobrium, obloquy and flagitious. 

Listen to the history of how a derailed train helped shape the beginnings of the modern public relations industry. 

Sources:  

https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/1857-08-18/debates/4642f51a-ffe6-4eee-a43e-9276e7fc81ac/CompensationForTheSufferersByTheIndianMutiny 

https://www.audible.com/blog/quotes-theodore-roosevelt 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Qn-XatSQaA&t=404s 

https://www.irishlegal.com/articles/irish-legal-heritage-richard-pigott-and-the-forgeries-commission 

https://www.merriam-webster.com/wordplay/word-history-spin-doctor 

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This episode investigates obscure words for discussions about error, tracing their origins and familiar words from the same root. Words examined include solecism, lapsus calami, amphibology, defalcation, misfeasance and mea culpa. 

Discover the mistaken beliefs that gave us the names West Indies, malaria and platinum. 

Sources: 

https://www.rd.com/article/malapropism-examples/ 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOU0eA03S2c 

https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/-/media/boe/files/quarterly-bulletin/2015/desperate-adventures-and-men-of-straw-the-failure-of-city-of-glasgow.pdf 

https://www.taylor-rose.co.uk/posts/misfeasance 

https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/research/library-archive-open-research-services/archives/sir-ronald-ross-collections 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anJKMZCVjxs 

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This episode considers unusual words for conversations about happiness, examining their origins and recognisable words from the same root. Words featured include gaiety, delectation, sangfroid, equanimity, ananda and rapturous. 

Hear the history of Jeremy Bentham's attempt to systematically assess pleasure and pain as a guide for moral action. 

Sources:
https://www.britannica.com/topic/eudaimonia

https://blogs.library.mcgill.ca/osler-library/aequanimitas/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqfjUTqDGRw

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