Etymology7 min read
The evidence behind a word origin
The word robot has a printed debut, an older Czech source, a later account crediting Josef Čapek, and a meaning that changed as it travelled. Each piece of evidence answers a different question.
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Language5 min read
How a dictionary decides a word has arrived
A new dictionary entry often records a word with a long life behind it. Editors weigh dated examples, shared meaning, spread and the needs of a particular readership; the entry marks a judgment about evidence, not a word's birth.