The delightful history behind serendipity suggests it’s not mere luck – NPR

Special Series, Word of the week

The delightful history behind serendipity suggests it’s not mere luck

January 7, 20265:00 AM ET, Heard on All Things Considered

By Juliana Kim, 2-Minute Listen

Transcript

In the new year, we can all use some serendipity, right?

Since the word was coined in the 18th century, “serendipity” has been used to describe all kinds of scientific and technological breakthroughs, including penicillin, the microwave oven and Velcro. (More on these below.)

The whimsical term has also been the title of countless poems, songs and books about remarkable coincidences or eureka moments. And let’s not forget that it was the name of the charming 2001 romantic comedy about two strangers — played by John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale — meeting and reuniting during chance encounters.

“Serendipity” — as the Merriam-Webster dictionary defines it — is “the ability to find valuable or agreeable things not sought for” or “luck that takes the form of such finding.”

While the word has often been associated with good fortune or happy accidents, its origin suggests that serendipity goes beyond just happenstance. Some researchers argue that serendipity can be acquired through skill and that opportunities for serendipitous moments occur more frequently than we realize.

In this week’s installment of NPR’s Word of the Week, we dive into the roots of serendipity, its impact throughout history and tips on how we can cultivate it ourselves.

Serendipity’s wayward journey

While serendipity is all about the unexpected, its origins are less mysterious.

Continue/Read Original Article Here: The delightful history behind serendipity suggests it’s not mere luck : NPR

Why the origin of the word ‘dog’ remains a mystery : NPR

Why the origin of the word ‘dog’ remains a mystery

By Juliana Kim, 2-Minute Listen Transcript

They’re known as man’s best friends, fur babies, pooches.

But the most widely used word for these beloved animals — “dog” — is also a great linguistic mystery.

“The most everyday, commonplace words are often the most mysterious,” said Colin Gorrie, a linguist who has written about the origin of “dog.”

Descended from wolves, dogs were among the first animals to be domesticated, and their close bond with humans can be traced back thousands of years. Much like the animal itself, the word used to describe canines has evolved over time; “dog” only became the standard term within the past 500 years or so, according to Gorrie.

“This is a process that we see over and over again,” he said. “I think what the source of it is — is the fact that dogs live with us so much and we have such an emotional association with dogs, they become parts of our family and they attract these kinds of pet names.”

From insult to standard pet name

Centuries ago, dogs were more commonly called “hounds” — a term derived from the Old English word “hund.” Today, “hound” typically refers to a specific breed of dog, but back then, it referred to all domestic canines, according to Gorrie.

Early forms of the word “dog” did appear in land charters and place names over a millennia ago. But most notably, during the Middle English period from roughly 1100 to 1450, “dog” was often used as an insult directed at people.

“ The use of terms for dog to insult people are pretty common historically and across cultures and we see it all over the place,” Gorrie said. “So not just in the history of English but in related languages of Europe and Asia.”

Over time, the positive emotions people felt toward the four-legged creature eclipsed some of the word’s negative, derogatory charge, he said. Around the 1500s, “dog” replaced “hound” as the standard term we use for the pet today.

Continue/Read Original Article Here: Why the origin of the word ‘dog’ remains a mystery : NPR

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Francis becomes the third Catholic pope to be given the Presidential Medal of Freedom from the second Catholic American president, Joe Biden: https://www.npr.org/2025/01/11/nx-s1-5256937/biden-pope-francis-medal-of-freedom

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A reminder to my American friends that the tripledemic is still surging: https://www.npr.org/2022/12/11/1142099805/indoor-masking-advised-washington-california-new-york

None of these infections is that dangerous, but being sick for three weeks or having no medicine is nasty. Please be safe.

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