On this special episode of Butter No Parsnips, Kyle and Emily speak to author of the book Once Upon a Word: A Word-Origin Dictionary for Kids and word wizard Jess Zafarris (@uselessetymology) about just a few of the most illicit of her many etymological adventures.

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Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore

Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers

This week, Emily attempts to describe the nuances of Martian culture, reveals the unexpected link between beat literature, I.T. magazines, and Forbes articles, and tests Kyle’s knowledge of science fiction. You grok?

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Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore

Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers

Sweet dreams are made of words! Kyle and Emily learn way too much about architecture (it’s all about the cupolas), get personal with Mr. and Madame So-and-So, and realize modern art might all lead back to two Swiss-Austrian artists.

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Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore

Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers

This word might be familiar to some (or it might not…), but it prompts Emily and Kyle to discuss the formation of hybrid languages, the presence of indigenous terms in Seattle slang, and Mark Twain’s travels and tribulations in the tropics.

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Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore

Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers

Seth opens up the Lexiconicon once more, but this time in a jolly way, as he takes Emily and Kyle on a journey through the strange, French, and enviably productive world of Oulipo. And all to serve an incredibly contrived and festive end no less!

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Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore

Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers

Kyle and Emily are no fools in this episode, in which they discuss a play about an old lady with poor decision making skills, the 3 oldest Stooges, Tom, Dick, and Dan, and the life of one of America’s underrated and overlooked authors.

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Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore

Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers

Strap in, sports fans, because Emily and Kyle are talking about the crazy scoring of American football, the constant evolution of modern language, and the creative word-smithery of Lewis Carroll.

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Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore

Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers

Take a taste of the high life as Kyle and Emily weasel their way into the upper class intrigue of the 19th century, meet the first muppet president of Iceland, and play a long game of telephone – er, letters, we guess.

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Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore

Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers

Think you know this word already? Take another squint at it, as Emily tells Kyle about  some protrusive parish architecture, a comparably cushy form of seclusion, and a seriously saucy group of nuns.

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Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore

Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers

In this episode Kyle dazzles Emily with an ancient and magical word, alerts the world to the existence of the “werely porpapyne”, and we learn that “smaradge” isn’t just from a The Princess Bride bit.

Support us!

www.patreon.com/ButterNoParsnips

Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore

Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers