Have you ever considered that words have anniversaries? Each dictionary entry includes the date to which lexicographers can trace the word’s first usage — sometimes when it popped up in common speech and other times when it appeared in print. This allows us to get a better idea of why the word emerged at the time that it did — was it political, a scientific advancement, a social movement, an invention, or slang?
Terms including “detox,” “hard disk,” and “video game” were all coined in 1973, giving us a snapshot into the technological revolution that was beginning 50 years ago. However, the history of the English language goes back much further, and many words we use today are celebrating a 100th, 200th, or even 500th anniversary in 2023.
[Editor’s note: Different dictionaries may have slightly different information and dates. These first dates in print are according to Merriam-Webster.]
1923 — 100th Anniversary
Aerosol, debunk, dial tone, guesstimate, Hollywood, immunogenic, micro, sickle cell, snowmobile, ultrasound
Debunk
This verb has risen to the top of the political jargon list. Today, to “debunk” is to “expose the sham or falseness of” something. The word was first recorded in 1923 and uses the late 19th century root word “bunk,” meaning “nonsense.” “Bunk” came into the English lexicon around 1820, thanks to Congressman Felix Walker, who represented Buncombe County, North Carolina. During a debate, the politician gave a lengthy — and somewhat aggressive and illogical — speech for Buncombe. Soon after, “buncombe” (later respelled “bunkum”) became synonymous with nonsensical political blather.
Hollywood
The 1920s were a time of innovation that solidified America as a leader in the film industry. The golden age of cinema was on the horizon — but what word could possibly signify such a force? It was as simple as geography: “Hollywood.” The term was first recorded (to describe the entire American motion-picture industry) in 1923, stemming directly from the name of the Hollywood neighborhood of Los Angeles. The geographical name is older — it was written on a deed in 1887. One leading theory about the name is that Harvey H. Wilcox (the “Father of Hollywood”) chose it because of the widespread Christmas holly that grew in the area.
1823 — 200th Anniversary
Absolutism, bored, caffeine, diorama, flunk, gauged, misfit, puppy love, stereo, thesaurus
Caffeine
From early morning wake-up calls to all-nighters, caffeine is a golden ticket to productivity for many people. Its technical definition, however, is “a bitter alkaloid C8H10N4O2 that is used medicinally as a stimulant or diuretic.” Caffeine was discovered by German scientist Friedlieb Ferdinand Runge in 1819 when he became the first to isolate and crystallize the substance. The word entered English a few years later in 1823, derived from its German name, kaffein, from the word for coffee, kaffee.
Thesaurus
Today, a thesaurus is most often described as a book of words and their synonyms. Back in 1823, however, the term “thesaurus” entered English after it was borrowed from Latin, where it described an ancient treasury. Soon the word was metaphorically applied to books containing a collection — a “treasury” — of words or information. Peter Mark Roget wrote the first draft of his famous work, Roget’s Thesaurus (the leading English-language thesaurus), in 1805, and its first edition was finally printed in 1852. His work led to the common notion that a thesaurus was a book of organized, semantically related words.
1723 — 300th Anniversary
Aria, buoyance, calculated, cyst, geological, nearside, pedometer, pollen, reaffix, skating
Geological
Volcanoes, meteorites, fossils, and earthquakes — new geological discoveries happen virtually every day. “Geological” relates to the study of geology, the history of the Earth’s physical structure, especially in reference to rocks. While “geology” didn’t enter English until the 18th century, the word geologia (“the study of earthly things”) has existed in medieval Latin since the 14th century, proving its significance among the sciences for centuries.
Pedometer
Today, smartwatches and phones have built-in pedometers that record the distance a person covers on foot by tracking body motion during each step. While this might seem like a modern invention, the word “pedometer” has been used in English since 1723, from the French pédomètre (ped means “foot” in Latin, and mètre is “meter” in French). And the idea of a pedometer is even older than the word itself. Italian polymath Leonardo da Vinci is credited with creating the first step counter, which was worn around the waist, in the 15th century.
1623 — 400th Anniversary
Autonomy, coronate, cowboy, exposed, flushed, indulge, liberate, philanthropy, scenic, swig
Coronate
To “coronate” is to “crown” or recognize imperial power, especially in a monarchy. This word entered English in 1623 from the Latin corōnare, meaning “to deck with flowers.” Two years later, the coronation of King Charles I of England took place. Four centuries later, the word will become buzzworthy again during the 2023 coronation ceremony for King Charles III of the United Kingdom.
Philanthropy
The oldest definition of “philanthropy,” from 1623, is “an effort to promote goodwill to fellow humankind.” Later, it became a direct synonym for an organization (a charity) or a gift for humanitarian purposes. The direct translation of “philanthropy” from Latin is “love of mankind” — a fitting way to describe these generous acts. Today, some of the most famous events in the world are philanthropic, from the Met Gala to the Make-A-Wish Foundation experiences.
1523 — 500 Year Anniversary
Aloof, badger, control, dilemma, estray, gratitude, pioneer, salesman, verification, yourselves
Dilemma
As a popular headline choice for sensationalized news stories, “dilemma” traditionally denotes “an undesirable or unpleasant choice” — it’s broadly used as a synonym for “predicament.” When it first came into English in 1523, it had a slightly different meaning as “an argument presenting two or more equally conclusive alternatives against an opponent” — it wasn’t as negative as it is today. It likely came from the Greek dilēmmatos, meaning “two assumptions” (di meaning “two” and lēmma meaning “assumption”).
Pioneer
Today, the most popular definition of “pioneer” is “a person or group that creates a new line of thought, activity, method, or development.” For example, “NASA is a pioneer in extraterrestrial research.” Pioneers come in all shapes, sizes, and fields, from art and language to science and exploration. The older definition of the word is more limited and refers to a member of a military unit (usually of construction engineers). It entered English in 1523 as a French loanword, pionnier, of a similar meaning: “A worker employed on field fortifications who accompanies an army.”
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