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Author: HotForWords
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Word request: Laconic.
I would like to make a word request.
Where does the word “shampoo” come from?
It’s what hucksters and charlatans pass off as real poo.
lol… I don’t even want to know why the instructions say, “Lather, rinse, and repeat”.
What a coincidence. I happened to be watching sex kitten videos and happened to come across hotforwords and… I’m a bad person seeking forgiveness, I really am.
Strange how I was simply watching kitten videos on Youtube…
and came across your videos by accident only 2 hours ago, before that I never seen or heard of you….now your forever in my photographic memory…
Some words found on earth are date over 30,000 yrs old..but those are human words.
All words are human words, aren’t they? And, what words are dated over 30,000 years old? How were they dated, given that the earliest known writing is from about 5300 years ago in Sumeria?
You raise a good point… how would one date, except by wild speculation, the origin of a spoken word? Perhaps icybluesun refers to a theory concerning the rise of spoken language in our human ancestors? I would guess that anthropologists would date verbal communication in hominids much earlier than 30k years ago… perhaps Buzzword has some insight here.
A side note… though I strongly believe that writing was first developed in Sumeria, there is an effort to date some writing (in the form of glyphs on accounting tiles) in Egypt from the period of King Scorpion. Some scientists have suggested that there is proof that these tiles, these rudiments of the Egyptian hieroglyphs, predate Sumerian cuneiform. I’m not sure how the dating estimate was achieved, but it was stated to be a couple of hundred years prior to the Sumerian system. If you’re interested, I’ll try to find my source again… it may have been NatGeo.
Thank you Campkohler for your explaination on my query
of ‘flash in the pan’ – interesting to know that it as origins
in photography. Player
There is also……..SOULMATE
I lost mine 11 yrs ago I wonder when was it 1st spoken.
Well Malina…mmm
I’m surprised no one mentioned the word BEAUTY for if you had not been born such a goddess…mmm no one would bother to take notice.
BUT if you have it use it….
Gorby is utterly adorable my kind of puppy.
Thanks for the info about “subscribe.” Yes, I did subscribe to this website.
You wearing teal again…beautiful…
The subscribing is writing…how is originalistrick?…computer laid-up? “U.S. is a puppet of private bankers” – Alex Jones…this pop into my ‘puter…hope everything gOOd
Marina, I had no idea how much I’d need her
In peaceful times I hold her close and I feed her
My heart starts palpitating when I think my guess was wrong
But I think Ill get along
Shes just a girl – shes a bomb
Marina, all I ever want to do is please her
My life has been so settled and shes the reason
Just one word from her and my troubles are long gone
But I think Ill get along
Shes just a girl – shes a bomb
Marina, my heart felt like a shattered glass in an acid bath
I felt like one of those flattened ants you find on a crazy path
Id of topped myself to give her time she didnt need to ask
Was I a suicidal psychopath?
Shes just a girl – shes a bomb
(Adaptation of the Who song ‘Athena’)
Marina, I swear I never knew I needed you until I saw you.
A loyal subscriber since the word Mischievous,
Always yours,
Runawayscott
Average Registrations per day: 8,534.20 that cant be right?
What is that from James?
the stats on the blog
James.. I have no idea what you are talking about.
http://bb.hotforwords.com/?mini-stats
I didn’t get a reply mail on that 4th level comment you sent me… Can you reply to this and I will let you know if i get one through?
Actually, I was hoping you could help me find a particular word.
I once ran across a word which mean, as I remember it, “to confuse an issue by changing the subject”.
The word is not “obfuscate. I’ve tried various reverse dictionaries, but with no luck.
Can you help?
New video is uploaded and processing on YouTube… it’s a video for Gorby!
Tnx Marina
was fantabulous seeing Gorby 
happy & playful again 
waiting to learn more about the 
poisoning 
your dear student 
B.B.
/\ thought i had best put a hat on.,.. everyone else has
Marina,
I’m sorry to say that I’m not a subscriber of yours (Capman and Captain Jack know more on that subject) Darn youtube verification problems… You always call us your darling students (i like), but what does student mean? Where did it come from?
Hi, Marina the word I would like to know is Neo-Nazi because I dont exactly know what it means. BTW ur really hot
Neo-Nazi is just a general term for any organization or ideology still loitering around today and is based on or similar to that of the Nazi party.
What happened to marina and cocomment?
I dunno!
Just faded out…..
Hello Marina,
The golden word from me is: GOD!
Where does this word come from [as this word is not related to the religion itself]?
The old testaments uses the world ILAH/ and the holy Qur’an uses ALLAH for the name of the creator; none uses the word GOD for the name of the creator, if I understand it correctly.
Thanks Marina!!
Genesis 1
Marina, I hope that this qualifies for your area of expertise but why do we accept names like Bob for Robert, Bill for William, Hank for Henry and Jack for John? Is this unique to male names?
Thanks Marina for removing the [] and making the edit buttons smaller. It was getting obtrusive. Also I like the current size of the gravatars. They where a bit too small to see what they were. Thanks for the tweaking.
Not everyone sees all the buttons we have CaptJack.. but yes.. they were annoying!
# New video: Super Girl HotForWords http://cli.gs/E39aDV about 1 hour ago from WP to Twitter
thats not a video though.
My twitter plugin said video.. so I had to change it to post. I forgot that it posts all my posts to twitter
Oops, I should have said button and not button(s).
Oh even the term button is incorrect. 
Ahh, what about “proscribe”? Etymologically, it means to “write forward or in front of,” but its English meaning is “to condemn or denounce.” How did that happen?
Thanks for the response to the comment on YouTube. I’m glad to be able to post here.
Here’s a request to save for a day when interest seems to be lagging. If anyone wants to make this a video request, they have my permission. This would go particularly well with a British accent and a harrumph or two. Could we interest John Cleese?
Many viewers of your videos seem to be interested in fornication. Strangely, my attempts to enlighten people on points of Roman architecture are met with something like hostility, even when I try to discuss the groins they mention. What am I doing wrong?
p.s. Please watch spelling. Shun formication!
Heres a Christmas song for Gorby, he’ll love it!
What is the origin of the word RETINA.
/Word Request
Unfortunatly… that was my baby name.
I believe my grandfather called us the same, but a Dutch Rub would usually follow.
Who made this Super Girl image? For the life of me, I can’t remember who!
Super Girl
Editor would not work for error above.
Worked on this message, though.
Think it was Tazman???
Great image. I love the colors.
I remember the comment. I think it might have been on the animated lesson or around there. I think it was definatley on an HD video though
It was Tazman in the Sarcasm lesson. December 10 at 3:37pm.
http://www.hotforwords.com/2008/12/12/super-girl-hotforwords/
Tazman on December 10th, 2008 3:37 pm (Edit)
I don’t think Marina saw this in the other video.
I would really like to know what she thinks of it.
P.S. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Click here.
Ok, why did I bother? heheheh you guys are so fast. I guess I need to deal with these 51 mph winds. Take a look at the weather I’m experiencing. http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/Bridges/sr520/
H2O is hot water, and CO2 is cold water.
Yep Tazman. He did a great job on the picture
Supergirl!
I just returned a lost dog today.
I was walking to the library, on the bike trail, and spotted a dog with its leash still attached. It was some type of 40lb. black terrier/schnauzer mix. It didn’t have any ID tags, it only had the number of the kennel along the leash.
I walked it back to my apartment’s leasing office and called the kennel. They weren’t aware of any lost dog, but decided to come by and pick the dog up. While I was waiting, the dog was acting very friendly with the leasing consultant, as she fed it doggie treats and a bowl of water. The dog was definetly hungry and thirsty, after walking out in the snow for I don’t know how long. The lady from the kennel recognized the dog by name, Cici (I think she called it), and said she has the owners on file and it all worked out. She just picked the dog up about half an hour ago.
Word Request: pipe dream
Whoops.. now I can’t edit comments.. just testing here.. sorry
Hey Marina fancy meeting you here lol, it is your site.Very happy to add my little say here & there & to see if I can edit without too much trouble.B.B.
took some xtra time BUT it looks like it works??
I guess I should never ever contradict Miss Marina Orlova..My BAD
SEEMS TO WORK OK FOR ME…
Its lady now.
Marina, please use the test page..
lol
James I am sorry however I do not understand your reply to my post. “it’s lady now”??? My ” IT SEEMS TO WORK FOR ME ” was an edit as is this & it works ok{I THink}
Marina I am sorry to bring up about Gucci. I didn’t know he had passed away. I am truly sorry.
Cap a major problem with large dogs, they dont have a very long lifespan, My last was a sheppard & it hurt so much I decided he was my last..B.B. Marina, I hadnt heard about
The little ones like Coby live much longer. : 
Gucci either and am also feeling sorry..
Sorry, I didn’t know either!
Gucci was hit by a car when I was in Hawaii.. it was a hit and run as well.
That’s really sad about Gucci. You have my sympathy.
I’m so sorry about your great dane. I hadn’t seen him in your videos in a long time. I’m sure youmiss him and you have my condolences.
Some good ol’ Christmas songs from yesteryear
Run Run Rudolph
I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas
Have A Holly Jolly Christmas
Capman911 ty for the info on gravitars I dont have a replacement yet, however I would appreciate if you intervined for me with Dezdkado I really like his Dragon. my handle back in the day with CB’s, was ” Puff the Magic Dragon ”
I hear Dez is a cool cat. B.B.
I think Dez’s Gravatar is the Grinch
I just Googled Puff the Magic Images and got this
Puff
There is a bunch out there
hey thanks Che, you may be right about it being a grinch BUT it looks cool . your Puff looks like the real thing , Ty for the help. :
B.B.
Thanks Che I was just looking for a Puff for him to use.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YTQN4Rg5U9Q/R_gkesRRxgI/AAAAAAAAAPc/WkG4khMFv2I/s1600/SowdDragon.jpg
BB,
Thanks for the compliment. Che is correct. The graphic is the Grinch. Here is the address of the pic I used. I had to put it through photoshop to clean up the background. I didn’t exert any real effort on this. I’m sure if you spend some time, you can find your own graphic or modify this one. Here’s the address info:
http://rantventrant.files.wordpress.com/2007/12/grinch.jpg
My new graphic… biker chicks!
thanks Dez, the dollarthree eighty is in the mail
cant see the biker chicks yet, still a dragon head (grinch)
I ride a H/D so I may look for a dragon on a bike..
B.B.
Marina, my latest video is going to going to be called understanding youtubes most popular but how should i word the title?
1 Understanding YouTubes Most Popular <capitals
2 Understanding YouTubes most popular <no capitals
Understanding YouTube’s “Most Popular”.
Thanks!!!
You have solved the MP algorithm? I thought I had solved it, but later retracted it for Marina found anomaly in my theory. I now have a new theory but I needed some details from PhillyD stats to prove what I have found. Maybe you have a better theory?
Sort of.. I have tried to help people understand it but I don’t know how it selects vids.
Viral, It has to do with how a video spreads. I took some screen shots of the ‘Most Popular’ page and watch how PhillyD’s vids where ranking. I did some google searching and notice inbound links to his vid. I then measured the number of google hits. The number of YT Views. Subtracted page one which if your a ‘featured video’ then you automatically go to the front page. I see the videos are weighted by current activity. If I knew how these vids where weighted then I could accurately predict how a video would rank in ‘Most Popular’ tab.
tintinnabulation
Tintin and Gorby in America.
RinTinTin
Hey Marina,
being the hottest teacher on the planet I’m sure your know the origin of the word “Gingerly” as in I gingerly approached Marina to ask the origin of the word “gingerly”, but decided to write it in here instead
Has anyone figured out the edit feature yet?
how do you mean?
Marina told us in one of her videos that Gucci was to big for her apartment so he is living with friends.
No change, Mike. It still freezes after hitting the save button and you have to refresh the page to get out of it.
Thanks Bob.
Hello Bob,
“Speaking” of subscribing, when are you going to get a YT channel? Some vids, talks are off topic and interesting but not useful here.
am a newbie however it worked for me on the site upgrade post {my first} BUT it did take a few seconds to disapear when cicked on X & my spot came back..B.B.
Hey bighd95 and welcome to the site. Thanks for the info.
Making or changing Gravatar.
If would like to get rid of that monster next to your name just click on the monster and it will take you to the http://www.Gravatar.com site where you can upload a picture that you want for your Gravatar. Just use the same email address as you did when you signed on to Marina’s site.
I would like to add that the Gravatars are worth while for many website now use Gravatar.com for avatars. Make one avatar that works on many website. Its worth while investment in saving time not having to make a new avatar for every site you comment on. Oh did I mention this is free?
Adding a Web link to you name or handle.
If you want to link a web page to your name go to the dashboard at the top of the page and enter it then click on profile. There you will see about halfway down the page a place to put a web address, this turns your name blue and members can visit your site or Youtube site. If you run into any problems just ask and we will help.
Just read your distress call for the image thing, I’ll go there now and write instruction.
Go to the sandbox tread
Go to Sandbox thread on HFW Video Forum Website now, instruction are in comment section bottom page two
checking edit button
edit button still locks up
must hit refresh to get back to this page
Refresh want bring me back to here. I have to close out the program and start HFWS over.
What happens when you click on the X in the edit box
Your problem is unique, no other similar reports and I’ve been keeping up on reading comments
X want even work for me either. I tried it all. So I want use the edit feature.
I was looking at the comments on youtube and marina mentioned she had a great dane. I guess this was gucci ( i didnt know it was hers) I have never seen gucci in a video other than just a picture. Is there a video with gucci in it?
Good point, James. Gucci was probably a cardboard cut-out, just like the one of the lunar landing module in the Hollywood studio.
You don’t really believe that men have walked on the moon, do you?
.
So did you figure the URL/IMG thingy yet?
Gucci is in a bunch of videos.. like harlequin for example.
Oh, by the way marina, I sent you your present and your story today, it should be there in a few days. X I am also about to make a video about the most popular category. Is it ok if i post a link in the forum?
Whatever happened to Gucci?
I do seem to remember a video clip in one of the videos of Marina playing in a park with a bunch of dogs, including a Great Dane.
Haven’t a clue which one it was though.
Word Request – Blue Plate Special
Why is it blue & why is it so special & why is it a plate
Che how do you post a picture on the Word Game Site. I tried the url thingy at the top of the comment box, but I couldn’t get it to work.
it’s the IMG thingy you want
Full instructions in Sandbox at Video Forum Website
Thanks Che. I went there and wrote down the instructions. CRS, big problem with old geezers.
No not yet, I’ll give it a try in a few minutes. Thanks.
In the spirit of winter, I have a word request: Abominable.
How come the word “abominable” is never used except with reference to snow men? And how did snow men, who (not to generalize) have never done anything particularly terrible?
Is it perhaps because they are abominations? Is abominable related to abomination?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JlVqfC8-UI&feature=related
Merry Christmas
Well, obviously abominable and abomination are the adjective and noun forms of the same concept, and the word abominable is used for plenty of things other than snowmen. But you have a good point: I’m curious to know how the legendary Yeti got to have the nickname “abominable snowman.”
Hey marinachka,
I would like to find out where the word deejay comes from.
Hello dimachka89,
“Deejay” is not a word… it is the acronym “D.J.” The acronym stands for “Disc Jockey”, and that would be interesting to learn about.
What does it do with riding horses?
More to do with riding turntables
Hi Dezdkado would like to offer you a dollar three eigthty for your latest Gravitar, is it a deal? Think about it..
B.B.
Disc Jockey – The ‘D’ & the ‘J’
MY MY MY! Look at all the pretty new bells and whistles
Sweet! The recent comments box is much improved.
Christmas must be comin’
(or X-mas, from the Greek – LOL)
Homework: Yeah! Twice!
Of course I’m a subscriber. I remember when I first stumbled across the podcast on iTunes (way before the Internet fame)
of course i m a subscriber of this site and youtube. do you want me to subscribe to your youtube? anyone who has an account?
Good video. Also, I have a word request:
Research
It is clearly made out of search and the affix ‘re’. But, why attach the ‘re’ to search? Surely searching for information is enough, and research is used to find out stuff we don’t already know. Since ‘re’ is used to mean ‘do again’, how are we searching again for information that we do not actually know?
Doesn’t research imply searching many sources, collating and evaluating the results gained in order to weed out the false information/urban legends and discover what appears to be closest to the truth or, at least, a consensus of what is believed to be the truth?
Perhaps Marina will confirm or correct my hypothesis.
Stealing from the writings of one person is plagiarism, stealing from many is called ‘research’.
Phrase Word Request
Flip-Out
Has two meanings
Flip out an object like a credit card
Flip out go crazy
Another nice video! You proof that the clichéd “blond womens are stupid” is wrong!
I want to now the word “Rock” ’s origin, too (But not the elemt, I mean the music style)
P.S. If you need someone to help you with english words, wich come from a german word, i could help you ( I’ve seen, that you often explane the origin of words eich come from a german word).
Gesundheit
Sturm und Drang
Gotterdammerung
Dummkopf
Blitzkrieg
All good English words, ja?
The fact is, that they are all german
Gesundheit = Dont know the english explanation ^^
Sturm und Drang = from Goethe
Dummkopf = a stupid person
Blitzkrieg = a German War tactic (very popual today)
Marina, I think you are really cute and smart. Now how often is that? But I was wondering where the word “Rock” come from? Like Rock music you know?
was just thinking exactly the same thing
Dear Marina ! I wonder what could be the origin of the word : “word” (I am sure not alone to have that question) ? But in that question in itself there is a little mystery – In the sentence : “origin of the word “word”". it seems that the content is identical to the container… But is that right ?
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
–John 1:1 (I think)
Yeah, you’re right, Evan.
“The right word may be effective, but no word was ever as effective as a rightly timed pause.”
- Mark Twain
Hey Marina,
Yes, I am of course a subscriber of yours on YouTube. I followed you on YouTube for some time before making the jump to the real website. Now I just quickly go to you new videos on YouTube, give it five stars, and then come here to actually watch it and comment.
This has already been said, but it’s totally true: the people who post on YouTube are completely worthless. It’s just great that YouTube can serve as an outlet where you can catch worthwhile people’s attention, and then bring them to your regular site. You’re like our own beautiful blonde Avalokitesvara: taking on whatever means [in this case appearing on YouTube] are needed in order to bring us to Enlightenment. Bless you, Marina!
I would like to know the origin and meaning of the phrase “bloody” as in “bloody hell”. Britains seem to use the phrase quite a bit.
I’m a subscriber here, there and just about everywhere with this talented lady.
Need a whole new career just to keep up with all her doings.
But it’s fun stuff.
Silver on blue, very lovely, by the way.
Hello Marina,before I start, I’d like you to know that I’m not sure if you’d search for this word. I remember seeing some online commercial the other day about casino’s, and I saw the word Jackpot. Why is it called Jackpot ? Can you please help me ?
Homework
Oh yes I am a subscriber of your Youtube channel! But, it’s more fun over here to make comments
Hello marina! I recall watching a word lesson where you requested that people send you in a word from greek mythology or mythology in general, so I request the origin of the word prometheus god of knowledge. You are amazingly striking both for your looks and brains.
Hello Marina,
I have a word request: bollocks.
Thanks,
-mumanate
Same to you, m’ate.
Water, H20
Your kidding right?
Hcl
Good one! But nope. Try again.
h2s
Im going to bed now and will give the answer out in the morning. Have fun.
Smell was the only category it didn’t fit but I thought I give it a shot.
I don’t think Nitrogen, Hydrogen & Oxygen are compounds they are elements.
Oops Yep your correct they are elements. That what I get when I do a late late quiz. I made this quiz from scratch. Not one of those damn cut and paste jobs the kiddies are doing now days.
NaCl
SO2
Alcohol
ETOH
Still walking in the air?
H2S
Chlorine?
My guess, Hydrogen Sulfide – A fart
Where we got ‘Raspberry Tart’, shortened to ‘Raspberry’, and then ‘Razz’ from.
Acid
Yuk ! Could it be the wellknown NH3 Ammonia ?
… Well I used the interjection yuk but it’s all I found to correspond to the one I know in my native language : Beurk…
Since you are a Salty Sea Dog, I’m going to choose the “I’m feeling lucky” selection: Salt, as we can’t live without it, but too much will shut down the body.
If stranded in a life raft in the ocean, Captain, how would one obtain fresh water?
You could obtain fresh water from the eyes of fish. This is probably the only reliable source of fresh water if you were stranded.
LOL. That’s funny you picking the “I’m felling lucky” selection button.
It also shows the distiller is not perfect. Which is why pollution is very bad for us.
I would make a solar powered distiller. Here is a YT video showing you how to make one. I like the part of the video where the cat is eating his grass while he films the video.
CuSO4? Lol
methane
ammonia
Chlorine? Bleach?
aresols?
hydrochloric acid?
Sounds remarkably like the ammonia in urine to me – as one is constantly perspiring (even if only a little bit), and urine has all the traits the Captain describes, including the periodic daily expulsion.
Salt and water are both close, but no cigar for they are odorless.
hydrogen sulfide
farts…… ? containing hydrogen sulfide and other crap…
edit: great…. just noticed buzz already mentioned that
Hydrogen sulfide (or hydrogen sulphide) is the chemical compound with the formula H2S. This colorless, toxic and flammable gas is partially responsible for the foul odor of rotten eggs and flatulence.
It’s funny how we guys like to rate the quality, strength, of this compound. My question is inhaling this and other elements that was recently in someones colon a part of the male bonding process?
If so then would it be more efficient just to speed up the process and place ones nose near the sphincter and take a quick whiff? 
You could save time by not having to wait for someone to fart and safe others from having to smell him again…. 
I hope you enjoyed this little quiz.
Do I detect a hint of sarcasm in this post?
Marina,
You look so good in blue
TOF
Hey I am a subscriber and i was wondering if you could tell me the orgin of the word sensible.
I don,t care for the vulgar comments left over on You Tube either for your own You Tube channel or the general use You Tube channels. Thats why I unsubscribed from You Tube, I am still subscribed to Google though, except they don’t offer anything i use much except search and trying out their new browser.
Ok i do like to read the posts Marina responds too.
WORD REQUEST : assume
What’s the origin of this fun word that makes an ass out u and me ?
Hello, I rarely have time to check out new lessons lately, but I found something curious today that I want to ask about:
I was reading an article somewhere and I noticed the usage of “an” article before a word beginning with a non-vowel: “It also includes an new implementation using XML Schemas.”
I did a google check on “an new” and I found many other examples. I want to ask if this usage of “an” instead of “a” article is a rule I didn’t know about, or it’s just a “common-mistake-turned-rule” thing?
Cheers
The error you located is one reason that a Web search is not truly complete until you have searched by all the common errors that are likely to occur. You will find this to be true the first time you realize you have a low return and then see that you misspelled something. However, it is very illuminating to see that searching for the word “frustration” gives 27 million pages, but that searching for “frustratoin” gives another 27 million pages! That is a real eye-opener. Perhaps the next big thing in search engines will be automatic error permutation (or “permutatoin,” as it is sometimes called).
You’re right. It’s the first time I deliberately search with a typo and the amount of results got me confused. Well, so it must be just a very common typo then.
But unlike the typos you’re showing, the mistake with “an new” can’t be called a typo. This is not mixing up letters due to your right hand pressing keys faster. The “an new” mistake is an addition, not an exchange of letters.
Typographical errors originally were those made in the typesetting process, independent of the author or editor. I think typo has now come to mean anything typed that was not intended to be typed, whether by a keying error or an authoring error. Nevertheless, it does not matter how an error gets to be on a Web page; if you wish to find a page, you must search for what is on the page, not what you think should be on the page.
You will notice that Google asks you “Did you mean…?” when you search for a misspelled word. They are suggesting that you spell something correctly that Google thinks is misspelled. But they do not go the other way around and suggest a list of probable misspellings as recommended search keys. Perhaps someday computers will be able do all this for us, but if that day comes, most likely everything you typing will be vetted by a computer, so there will be no errors to search for anyway — the solution will be just in time for the elimination of the problem!
what you are referring to is a grammatical rule. according to dominating u.s. grammatical rules this usage of “an new” seems to be in error. however, grammar rules are relative in context and conservatively change over time. regarding spoken language, the rules of written grammar are of limited use.
If the usage of “an” before “new” is done not by error but in compliance to a grammatical rule, can you please give me the rule itself?
i assume you are using dominating u.s. grammatical rules. those taught in u.s. schools and the accepted standard of formal written language in the u.s. within that context there is not a rule that permits the usage of “an new”.
however there are other grammars, that may or may not permit the usage of “an new”. i do not know of any.
an interesting question is why does this rule exist in this specified grammar.
I meant to say that if “an new” is a demonstration of a grammatical rule, then I want to know what the rule would be. “Using the ‘an’ indefinite article is permitted before words beginning with ‘n’”? Doesn’t sound very credible.
I have always understood the rule to say that a is used before words that sound like they begin with a consonant and an is used before words that sound like they begin with a vowel. Here, word means anything written, including abbreviations, initialisms, etc. For example, it would be “an SOP,” because the first sound is “ess.” It’s the sound that determines which is used.
Just to put a fine point on it, NATO would be “a NATO,” because it is always pronounced begining with the N sound. An N initialism that is spelled out would start with the EN sound, e.g. “an NTSB.”
i agree with you that according to formal u.s. grammar “an new” is an error. yet there may be other grammars that permit such a phrase. to a linguist all grammars are equally valid and their rules credible, from english, creole, african american vernacular, etc… i approach words through the study of anthropology and linguistics. a significantly different approach than those of prescriptivist grammarians.
the phrase i am curious about is
i beg your pardon
This phrase survives from a century ago when the language (or at least those who spoke it) was far more flowery. There was a lot of “beg the pleasure of your company” and the like, but very little “‘Sup, MFer?” It was from a time when a gentleman never intentionally caused offense; he would politely utter the most charming things that only later would you realize that he had told you to go to hell.
I remain your most humble and obedient servant,
CampKohler
widow
Caucasian or black?
maker or walk
Hey
When is report card time
If it is soon I hope I have been a good enough student to receive one
oh yeah , i want to know when too
Dear Marina
I am really engaged with your style of teaching and the way you teach and I think that you are one of my best teachers up to now.
I am stydiying electrical engineering in Iran(BS student)and I want to go to other country (Canada or…)for higher education but to me just learning words is not enough to pass IELTS or TOEFL what do you prefer me to do?
Best wishes
Your student
interesting fact that I learned while studing Old Norse.
http://sunzi1.lib.hku.hk/hkjo/view/26/2601534.pdf
118 THE CHINA REVIEW.
Old Norse fadmr means ‘to embrace,’ or
‘ the length one can reach with the two
arms expanded.’ (See Wedgwood, Dict,
of Engl. Etym., Vol. II., p. 34). I may
add that the term is quite well understood
by the Chinese of the present day as corresponding
to about half a chang. In the
Chinese versions of ‘Notices to Mariners’
and ‘Lists of Lights, Buoys, and Beacons,’
issued by the Customs, the English word
‘ fathom’ will be found to be either expressed
in cluing at the rate of 5^ ch’ih
( = 6 feet English, in cases where special
care in the description of exact length is
required), or, otherwise, by ;tt t’o.
F. H.
Sorry, could not download your link to the PDF.
I’m very familiar with the USA and Canada versions of ‘Notices to Mariners’ and ‘Lists of Lights’. I teach me students how to read those documents.
On your research, it seems to verify what I have from Old English ‘faedm’, meaning the outstretched arms. the corresponding verb ‘faedmian’ meant to embrace.
In the singular use, ‘faedm’ meant chest or bosom, in the sense of clasping a person to one’s body. Hence the measure of roughly six feet. Also the nautical method of coiling a rope by separating and closing the hands holding it at arm’s length. I find that it was first attested (as the measure of both outstretched arms) c. 725 in the Corpus Glossary (Oldest English Texts, 1885)
Good find! I now feel a bit more confident of teaching the etymology of the word fathom .
__/)__
I have a word request well its really a name
John Doe
im curious were that name comes from im sure you have heard it plenty of times
Dear Miss Marina Orlova,
Did I miss some secret document, because Marina Orlova does not get delivered to my mail box every day. Of course, how could Marina get around the World in one day, every day, like Santa. OH Yeah! YOUTUBE!!!
Your Student,
ThoughtOnFire
PS …It’s okay, you can bite
One more 1711 magazine: Bundling The Guide to Ye Olde Courtship
Amish living and making love…they still do the BUNDLING
lots of tents 
Thats how Eve got Adam to build 
how about the word prescription or prescribe?
I’m starting to miss the openings from the old videos, with the whole “Intelligence Is Sexy” and that cool music. I wish that would come back.
I used to fear(and wet myself) the subscribe button. Now that I finally learned “subscribe” from you, I overcame my subscribe-o-phobia! Thanks Marina! Yes yes, I subscribed to you. (btw, loved your Sarcasm video)
I have a word request. Can you find the origin of the word “Clover?” You seem to be in clover.
Oh, by all means, let’s hear clover.
or Clover
I understand the lover bit but who is C.
Only Mlovers allowed in here.
“They are always after me lucky charms.”
Yeah I want to hear the word spank too.
I went on amazon and noticed that all the items on Marina’s wishlist had been purchased. Amazinghow willing we all are to appease her.
Now if I were a devious Hollywood type and I wanted bump the buzz, I would set up a list of items I was intending to buy anyway and then buy them all for myself.
Dear совершенная Marina, What a beautiful dress with such cleavage, and it also shows off your beautiful shoulders!
Respectfully, Your dear student, seesixcm6
It’s also nice to see you sit on the edge of your large, clean bed with such good bed covers. How nice it must be to discuss things in bed with you. For instance, how a pair of birds will work together to build a comfortable nest where they both can stay, or how bees can gather pollen from flowers to make sweet honey. Yes, it would be a pleasure to talk about the birds and bees with you.
As for your question, I’ve been a subscriber since July 3, 2008. It’s been great so far, and I’m glad you said you don’t bite!
what an exciting conversation will that be
You missed my post on HFW addiction (see below).
It will be a sticky situation, what with the honey-soaked sheets.
This gave me an idea…anyone up for establishing a “Creepiest Comment of the Lesson” award? I’d say right now seesixcm6 is winning it for Subscribe.
Naaaa….he’s just twitterpated! It’s a phase some of us go through.
that is an awesome idea! seesixcm6 is in the lead.
Homework: Yes I am a subscriber. Both here and on YouTube. I am happy to be here.
HI Capman!!!!!!!!!!
Homework: I am also a subscriber here and on YT… though I spend more time here… better crowd… whackier, sometimes creepier, but definitely more pleasant as company.
Hey Cap! Thanks for the compliment about the background. I responded to your comment in a YT email.
Will you please do the word Spank.
In the near future :
Hotforwords magazine !!!
Comes with a holotape with this week’s lessons
Then , Marina will be delivered to our mailboxes
Then in the summer the “Hotforwords Swimsuit” issue
Better invent them holotapes quickly
Interesting origins
I’ve subscribed , yes i did , but i don’t know what for nowadays cause i watch the videos on this website now .
The comments here are better than the ones on youtube . Nasty stuff , and you can’t socialize too
I agree. The Youtube comments are not very nice. The only reason I go to the tube site is to rate the videos 5 stars.
I go to YouTube to put thumbs down on all the nasty remarks on HFW videos
I go to youtube to big up the person that got first comment. Thumb down the haters and try and recruit new subscribers & people to the site.
@Smokey – I don’t go there, but when I do, a try to slip a few *****’s for Lady Orlova
@James & EO – No time for me to bother with the haters & their nasty remarks.
@James – Kudos for your recruiting efforts!
of course i subscribe to your YT channel…
but their delivery system doesn’t seem to send out the notifications very often – i think i’ve gotten eight or so since i subscribed early this year…
but, you delivered to my mailbox…oh – the idea!…yes, the very idea!…
OK HFW Addicts Support Group:
I’ve worked out the neurology of the addiction. When we see Marina’s videos, our subconscious reacts to the lifelike images exactly as if we were in the presence of this beautiful young woman addressing us directly and personally, and our emotions react accordingly: we fall in love!
This addiction should respond well to rational-emotive therapy. Just picture ourselves in Marina’s place: we’re looking not at one man, but a camera, making a video addressed to millions.
The resulting reality dose should enable us to appreciate the videos for their intellectual and aesthetic merit without getting all twitterpated.
Der isn’t that the whole idea?
It’s like drinking. Some can take a nightcap and it does them good. Others turn into problem drinkers. Now, those who can limit their involvement with HFW to an hour in the evening are OK, but some of us fall into the latter category.
No hope for a cure then ?
You’re skeptical of my prescription. But just try…
OOOH! OOOH! Marina!
***WORD REQUEST!***
Skeptical! and how is it related to spectacle!
Actually, I think that the spectacle of Marina doing a video on the origin of the word skeptical would be a treat for us all!
What with the new hi-def, we need to be even more on our guard; it looks like she could reach right out of the screen and hug us!
and the problem is?
@smokey:
See “seesixcm6 on December 11th, 2008 9:24 pm” above.
She would suffer disappointment!
and the fantasies continue…
Good edit, Buzz… lol
thanks, trying to be less hostile.
Hi. My names Pagedoll, I’m an addict. …I started watching june of ‘08 and I haven’t been able to stop since. I’ve learned so much from logging in and I don’t know what to do about it. My friends won’t talk to me anymore. The house is a mess…my dog tells me I need help. And now, now I have a calendar hanging on the wall! They said, “try it once and you’ll be hooked” and I didn’t believe ‘em and look at me now… If I must submit to my daily dose of H.F.W. and then learn something, then that is the life I choose.
…”I refuse to back to a HFWfree lifestyle! For 1) I can’t quit! For 2) I won’t quit! and for 3) You can’t make me!”
If this sounds like you your someone you know please contact the “IAmHookedOnHFW” clinic at http://www.HotForWords.com, there will be someone there to take comment, answer any questions you my have about this wonderful habit and guide you through the process of never recovering.
Thank you
THIS was the video that got me hooked. I was looking around on Youtube and stumbled apon her. It was in June (same as pagedoll). Hfw is the first thing I check when I wake up in the morning (or afternoon
) even before email.
The first thing I check when I get home from work, and the last thing I check before going to bed.
If watching or liking HFW is a disease then I don’t want the cure.
Evan’s right.
Take me for example. I probably collectively spent two hours on HFW today when I should have been working on my French paper. Now I’m sitting in my room, having just now finished and printed my paper after having literally gotten no sleep, and I have to head to my first class in about an hour, and instead of getting a few moments rest or beginning to study for my exam today–which I did none of yesterday/this morning–I’m here on the HFW boards.
HotForWords is an awesome force, the likes of which we have never before seen, and we must be oh-so-careful not to abuse our enjoyment of it, lest we be obliterated by its unreckonable power.
OOOOH! Marina! ***WORD REQUEST!***
“Hyperbole”
High-per-Bowl(ee): the ratio of the strength of your high to the number of bowls you had to pack and smoke to get there. For those consorting with Alice B. Toklas, the term is “hyperbrownie.” Scots and Irishmen are prone to “hyperwhiskey”.
I have a theory that Marina is a secret agent sent by Putin to cause maximum damage to the economies of the west.
She is achieving this through loss of productivity caused by diverting everyone’s attention from the task at hand and turning us all into Lotus Eaters.
you guys really need to get out and see other people.
Heh, you shoulda been here when I was talking them down from calling her a goddess… (Evan is a trip
) I guess they’re changing gears from polytheism to pantheism and ascribing to her the powers of nature… or perhaps, Mother Nature (and if you’re old enough to remember those commercials, you’ll remember what happens to those who fool with Mother Nature) 
I see other people, all the time. Marina is like having a favorite bartender, or waitress (or teacher). You just start to plan your schedule to include a visit after awhile. The psychology of the response mechanism works best “live”, since you know they are responding to you. Evan’s point that Marina only interacts with a camera is valid. Of course, Dezdkado’s point that “Evan is a trip” is also valid – LOL! (I meant that in a good way).
unfortunately quixotic chivalry and infatuation inspired poetry is the common offering.
I do like the new upgrades.
I sure hope that it doesn’t cause a drag on the server.
So far, so good – Friday server loading will be a good test.
Did you notice Marina’s “pouty face” in the Sarcasm video?
She purses her lips, but turns her head, as if to say “No sugar for YOU”. But she keeps her eyes on you while she’s doing it. Hmmm….I’ve seen that before…
scribere (L) survives in
ecrire (Fr)
ecrivire (It)
escribir (Sp)
ysgrifennu (Cym)
all meaning “to write”
Of course I am. And I would wnat you delivered to my home every day. But I guess all that bakc and forth from LA to NY would probably wear you out so lets just say the once would be nice for both of us. Well, how ’bout it? I can cook. I’ll learn Russian. I’ll do just about anything.
Scott,
Check my post on HFW addiction above.
Evan
Magazines to subscribe to in 1711
Ale & Chips
Closet A Lifestyle Magazine
PlowBoy
Alchemy American
Forge
Butter Churn Digest
Cosmoharlotan
Squire
Tobacco Aficionado
Timber & Thatch
Goat Fancy
National Harpoon
You know in the 1800’s they would advertize tapeworms in magazines as a weightloss product.
“Timber & Thatch” , “Goat Fancy”
Fire&Iron
Today’s Puritan
You came up with some good ones Smokey
Where I live, the mags would be in French, New France of 1711….America and its great history, hey times…Hay For your horses(feature article) cut down on gasses from the old plug and feed her more oats….A working horse always farts(1711,gas_)
(for the hangman) New Noose
I “Subscribe” to chaos.
By the way Marina. What ever happened to your evil sister? Do you have her locked up in a basement or something?
Hey
Where’s my (SHOUT-OUT) you promised me 
work
“Bite me” people used to say it and I never got it? My first You Tube subscription was HOTFORWORDS….TWICE fanzines
I was wondering if you could trace the origins of the word “copacetic”.
It’s an interesting word, and it’s background seems to be pretty mysterious.
Yes I am a suscriber. It is the best thing I have ever subscribed to.
I’m subscribed and can’t wait for that holiday card!
What kind of magazines did they have in 1711?
Life in the Colonies
Good Cabin Keeping
Witch
Hour Glass Magazine
Plow & Hearth
Canoe-it-Yourself Magazine
Birch Basket
Village Idiot
Gristmill Quarterly
Yes, they did. I looked it up.
My favorites were Horse&Rider and BuggyTrend. 
New Antiques
Butter churner Monthly
Horse & Rider is a real magazine today
Stoning Weekly
WOW!
3! Yippee! – now to work.
Homework: Of course!
2nd?
YO! Just refreshed my Twitter page at the right time
Isn’t it great how that just happens sometimes?