Delhi - the Threshold of India

Whenever I come across a place name, I tend to wonder how did this place get this name!!!

'Delhi' - I was told in one of my Linguistics classes that Delhi was derived from the Hindi language word - 'Dehleez' meaning 'Threshold', as it was a kind of threshold to enter India.

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Ambidextrous Vs. Ambisinister

Quite difficult looking words….aren’t they? Let’s start with ‘Ambi’ , which is common between the two words – Ambi is not a word but a root which means ‘both’ or ‘both sides’ . ‘Ambidextrous’ is someone who is skillful in using both the right and left hand equally well. Similarly, ‘Ambisinister’ is someone who is clumsy or unskillful with both the hands.

Coming across 'Onamotapoeia' in the 1st Year of Linguistics

The first few classes of Linguistics and the strangest (funny to pronounce) word I came across was ' Onamotapoeia '. Looks like quite a complicated meaning to be unveiled, isn't it? But you have come across Onamotapoeic words ever since you were a toddler. Remember those 'Bow-wow', 'meow', 'tick-tock', - those are what it means. Words that imitate the sounds of what's been described. Words that resemble natural sounds like - the 'buzz' of bees, the singing 'cuckoo', the 'quack-quack' of ducks and 'oink-oink' of pigs. Onamotapoeic sounds can be understood beyond language barriers. They belong to the language that uses these natural sounds in their vocabulary and for that matter even a kid can interpret what that word stands for - we've all heard those bow-wows and meow meows. ~ ~ ~

Throw out of the Window - in one word - Defenestrate

Wish I had come across this word in the 1990’s when my cousin often threatened my little sister that he will throw her out of the window (kiddingly - the intention was to show her that she’s so small that she can be thrown out of the window, despite the little space between the window grills). So must be clear by now – the next time you want to tell someone – I’ll throw you out of the window – you can save yourself some words and instead say – I’ll defenestrate you :) Hey, it’s not just for throwing people out; you can even defenestrate things!!! ~ ~ ~

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