108: Mailbag of Etymology (with Douglas Harper of Etymonline)

We’re joined for the first time by Douglas Harper, proprietor of the world-renowned Online Etymology Dictionary (etymonline.com). He’s here to help us with our Mailbag questions, and even test us in a game of Related or Not.

In our Mailbag this time:

What’s the difference between DEPENDENCE and DEPENDENCY?
Why is TONGUE spelled that way?
What does it mean if reciting a tongue twister in your mind is just as hard as saying it out loud?
Why is STYGIAN the adjective form of the River Styx?
Why are WHY and BECAUSE the same in some languages?

Timestamps

Cold open: 0:00
Intros: 2:01
Questions for Douglas Harper: 9:16
Mailbag questions 1: 24:00
Related or Not: 41:24
Mailbag questions 2: 1:03:20
Comments: 1:14:18
The Reads: 1:18:00
Outtakes: 1:22:47

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