A palindrome is a word, phrase, or number that reads the same backwards as it does forward. The name Hannah, for instance, is also a palindrome. The word “palindrome” has Greek origins, from the roots palin meaning “back” or “again” and dromos meaning “to run”. It has been used in English as early as the 1600s, specifically referring to words or phrases. True eight-digit date palindromes are actually relatively rare, as 02/02/2020 is only the 4th one of the 21st century. The three previous ones included 10/02/2001, 01/02/2010, and 11/02/2011. When you omit the first two digits of the year, several more dates become valid. I imagine you can also find a different group if you use the day-month-year date format instead of the month-day-year format that is most common in the U.S.A.. For a fun listing of several English palindromic phrases, listen to Weird Al’s song “Bob” from his album Poodle Hat, released in 2003. 

A palindrome can refer to pieces of music as well, where the second half of the composition mirrors the first half. One example of this is found in Joseph Haydn’s classical piece Symphony No. 47, commonly known as “Palindrome”. Another natural palindrome is found in science – palindromic sequences are nucleotide sequences that are considered palindromes when their components are equal to their reverse complement. 

Whether you are a word-lover, math-lover, or music-lover, there’s a palindrome out there for everyone. So always remember this historic day and hopefully you discovered some fun family activity to celebrate. If you need a suggestion, come up with with a fun word palindrome and turn it into acrostic poem. If you are really clever, you could try making every line in the whole poem a palindrome. I am not that clever, but here’s an example nonetheless.

RADAR

Rain clouds go away

Allow the sun to shine today

Drive away the dark storm

Allow the sun to shine today

Rain clouds go away

An assumption might be that ketchup was an American invention, since we consume so much of it, but the original word referred to a Chinese (or maybe another Asian origin) sauce, and came from the the Chinese/Asian pronunciation of the sauce name, ke-chiap. Original ketchup was likely more of a fish sauce (mmm…fish dogs/burgers…). The recipes were pretty variable even after the word entered English, including ingredients such as walnuts, oysters, anchovies, or mushrooms. Tomato ketchup did not become the most popular choice until the late 1800s. F. & J. Heinz launched their version of ketchup in 1876, and today they are the market leader in the USA and U.K (60% and 82% of the market respectively). Hunt’s has the next biggest share, but if you have specialized cravings for other varieties or flavors of ketchup, never fear!

You will find a diverse array of options to choose from at your local grocery store. You may be in the mood for “Fancy” ketchup, if you are the more sophisticated type, which has a higher concentration of tomato solid than other ketchup grades. Or you may want one with jalapeno flavor or sriracha. Or maybe you just need it as a fake blood prop in your next play. At one point in the past, you would have been able to obtain purple, green,and a rainbow of other colored ketchups for your enjoyment. Unfortunately, those were discontinued by 2006. I guess people didn’t love green and purple hot dogs?At least they no longer included marine ingredients.

All ketchup eaters can probably also relate to the annoying issue of leaving a decent remainder of the delicious sticky substance in the container as it nears the end of its use. An engineer at MIT has recently found a scientific solution to this problem, which provides the composition for packaging for multiple condiments with high viscosity levels (thick, sticky liquids) that allows for easier removal of the last remnants. You can read more here:  MIT Engineer-Ketchup Bottle. It’s pretty obvious, despite added complications it can bring, ketchup has taken the world by storm. It’s sister (brother/aunt/mother?) condiment, mustard, has done so as well.

Mustard, while paired perfectly with ketchup, has a very different origin story. It comes from the word “must” from the Latin mustum, which referred to unfermented grape juice. Must could be applied to any crushed fruit juice that contained the seeds,skins, or other elements of the fruit. Must was a common food product in the ancient world that was central to the process of winemaking. Mustard was originally made by mixing the mustard seeds with the must (grape juice) by the Romans. Dijon, France became a recognized mustard center by the 13th century as this process spread. The seeds originally came from India and were first cultivated by the Indus Valley Civilization. The first use of mustard as a hot dog condiment was in 1904, as a showcase for French’s mustard (sound familiar?) by the R.T. French Company at the St. Louis World’s fair. Today, the French’s brand is owned by McCormick & Company. Like our exploration of orange in a previous post, mustard has also come to mean a color as well as an edible condiment. Perhaps we just like to identify our surroundings based on what we eat.

So just remember, the next time you go to bite into a juicy burger or hot dog, keep in mind you are experiencing a mryiad of cultural history in your mouth, combining American, Chinese/East Asian, Indian, and Roman elements (just to name a few) in that single bite. Or you can try out this  fun home recipe that use both of these condiments in a different format.

BBQ Meatloaf

1 lb ground beef

1 ½ cup ketchup

¾ cup BBQ sauce

¾ cup bread crumbs

1 TBSP Worcestershire sauce

3 eggs

1 tsp onion powder

1 tsp salt

1 tsp ground mustard powder

¼ tsp black pepper

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Farenheit.

In a large bowl, mix together meat, eggs, bread cumbs, 1 TBSP Worcestershire sauce, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Add in 1 TBSP of the BBQ sauce and mix in thoroughly.

Form into a loaf and put in a loaf pan.

Mix together the ketchup and the rest of the BBQ sauce. Spread a thin layer of the mixture over the top of the meatloaf.

Bake in the oven for 55 minutes covered with foil.

Remove foil add the rest of the ketchup and BBQ mixture over the meatloaf, and bake for another 15 minutes.

Let cool and enjoy!

Pesky germs that bring on the annoying cough, stomach ache, or fever can send us all scrambling for the medical professionals  in our lives that seem to be the only ones that can make it better (or at least tell you there is nothing they can do to make it better). There are a lot of relatively new developments in the field of medicine in recent years, but the term “doctor” that has come to mean practitioners in the medical profession actually has a history that goes back farther than our current perception of the career.

The original use of the the word doctor referred to religious leaders and teachers and came from the Latin docere which meant “to teach”. The  Latin has roots going back to an Indo-European base that  meant “to think”. The church was the only entity for quite awhile that had the authority to make someone a doctor, and their focus was of course on teaching religious practices and the Bible.The use of doctor later was applied to those who were given degrees from universities that licensed them to teach, after the first European universities were founded in 1088 (University of Bologna founding date, one of the earliest). The use of doctor to refer to medical professionals was not applied until the 14th century, and did not really become common until the 16th century. Surprisingly, it wasn’t until 1838 that the term doctor was officially applied to anyone in the medical profession, without implying that they held a university doctoral degree of some sort.

Before doctor, the word leech was often used to refer to those in that profession. Not exactly a positive description in present connotations, and immediately it brings to mind the squirmy bloodsuckers commonly prescribed in previous time periods as a cure-all.  I am quite relieved that the practice of applying leeches as a general treatment for most ailments has gone out of style. It didn’t work out too well for Robin Hood, per one version of his legend, where being overbled with leeches by a grudging cousin led to his death. What is interesting to note is that  leech actually referred to the person long before it was applied to the parasitic worm, and may have come from words like lekjaz from Proto-Germanic origins, which meant “enchanter, healer, or physician”. It fascinating to imagine doctors in today’s day and age as magicians or enchanters also. It seems current cultural trends emphasize separating out these two professions as much as possible. Of course, if my doctor looked and acted more like Gandalf from Lord of the Rings, it would probably make for an interesting experience, and I honestly couldn’t tell you if it meant that they were more or less credible.

Another noteworthy facet of the word doctor is that we use it as both a noun and verb.  The noun typically came first and the verb developed from there. The usage of “doctoring” as related to actions of a doctor did not really become common until 1712, and it was even later that the meaning shifted to also include “altering or fixing” something, such as doctoring a photo.

So the next time you’re struck with the latest common ailment going around, and your apple a day failed to keep the doctor away, maybe you can strike up a lively religious debate with them as they say “Open wide and say aaah”  or explore their knowledge of potions and spells to see how much of the heritage from their title has been passed down to them. Or maybe just get them to write you a prescription.

As a takeaway from a non-doctor, here are a few home remedies that our family has found comfort in over the years. I make no claims or guarantees to their effectiveness for anyone else, but they work for me. So take it or leave it! And feel better soon.

Sore Throat

Hot earl grey tea with honey and lemon

Stomachache/Nausea

Hot chamomile tea with 1 tsp ground ginger

Headache/Sinus Pressure

Cold damp washcloth across the eyes or caffeine on occasion
Warm wash cloths are also helpful for sinus pain specifically

Muscle aches and cramps

Ice compresses or heat pads (our favorite is the Bed Buddy microwaveable rice bag)

General grumpiness

A warm blanket, a good book, and a cup of hot tea

One of the earliest known pet names was found on a tablet from an ancient Egyptian tomb and was written in hieroglyphs. The name is thought to be Abuwtiyuw, and while the translation is not certain, one historian seemed to think “With Pointed Ears” was a strong possibility. Clearly, naming our pets in relation to their features is not a new idea. I’m sure we’ve all seen a Mittens or Spot at some point in time. Even the Romans and Greeks had names that meant something along the lines of “Soot” or “Spotted”. Sometimes we get more creative with the features and tie in a breed or reference to the type of animal they are, such as President Rutherford B. Hayes and his cats Siam (the first Siamese cat in the USA) and Miss Pussy.

Other popular names include literary figures, celebrities, or just names that didn’t quite fit for our children. Bella saw a major surge in popularity after the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer became a hit book and movie series. Other pets of celebrities have also started their own naming trends, including Fido, Abraham Lincoln’s dog, or Fala, the dog of Franklin Delano Roosevelt.  Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president of the United States, might win the prize for the most variety of pets as well as pet names during his time in office. His repertoire included a variety of the usual cats, dogs and ponies, but also a laughing hyena named Bill, a Hyacinth macaw name Eli Yale, a badger named Josiah, and a garter snake named Emily Spinach, among many others.

Our household currently contains three fur babies, whose names come from a variety of the above named trends. Sasha is our oldest, a terrier mix with a high maintenance no-nonsense personality to match. Her name is a derivative of Alexandra which has slavic origins, and means “defender of mankind”, which Sasha seems to fully take to heart.

Mocha is the next oldest, and her name stems primarily from what came to mind just from looking at her and her glossy brindle coat color. She is a sweet big dog personality in a little body, who finds her own ways of dealing with a bossy “older sister”. The word Mocha originally referred to a port in Yemen, known for trading in a specifc type of Arabic coffee that was originally called mocha as well, before it was used to also refer to the color.

Our most recent addition to our family was a ferret, named Batman by his previous owners, due in large part to kid input and a defining black mask around his eyes. We love all of our fur babies and their names, whether unique or not. Over time, just like our own names, what we name our pets becomes as much a part of their identity as the things they do or the way they act. So the next time you are picking out a name for your pet, remember you are continuing a tradition that has a history spanning many millenia.

Oranges (specifically sweet oranges) are fascinating in that they also did not occur naturally in the wild. It is believed that they were first cultivated in China prior to 314 BC, and were a hybrid of a mandarin and a pomelo. Since then, orange growing has expanded across the globe. It was spread in large part due to the efforts of Portuguese explorers in the 15th and 16th centuries, who planted orange trees all along the routes they travelled/conquered. Oranges were a key food for sailors, as they provided the nutrients needed to combat scurvy. Today, Brazil, not China as I would have thought, is the top producer of oranges worldwide.

There are a variety of ways oranges show up in everyday life. Recently, I learned that there is a family tradition still practiced by many families in the USA that involves putting oranges in stockings at Christmas time. There are several theories as to where this tradition came from, some dating back to stories tied to St. Nicholas and others citing hard times in the Great Depression, with oranges being an affordable welcome treat. Regardless of its origins, it seems to be a heartwarming and fun shared family experience to have during the holiday season.

Oranges show up in all sorts of literature and media as well, from the dystopian novel “A Clockwork Orange” by Anthony Burgess, to a popular Netflix show “Orange is the new Black”, to my personal favorite: Paddington’s favorite snack, orange marmalade, from the films and children’s book series. The color orange can be found in flags (national color of the Netherlands), or in traffic jams, or on your bathroom walls or kitchen table. We all probably have strong opinions on orange, either from a visual or tasting perspective. It may have taken our ancestors awhile to come up with the word for it, but I don’t think it’s going away again any time soon. So enjoy a bit of extra historical knowledge now added to your memory the next time you see the flashy jacket or hat, or when you take that next scrumptious bite of this delightful citrus fruit. If you are feeling adventurous, try whipping up some Orange Marmalade (courtesy of Food Network) or feel free to try this recipe for a hot cup of Cranberry Orange Apple Cider on a cold winter day.

Cranberry Orange Apple Cider

1 carton (~.5 gallon) Simply Orange juice (or your brand choice)
1 gallon Cranberry Apple juice (or other juice of choice and add apple juice separately)
3 cinnamon sticks
1 tsp ground ginger
Fresh orange slices (for garnish)

Add all of your juices and spices to a slow cooker (crockpot) and cook on Low for 6-8 hours. Serve warm and garnish with fresh orange slices.

A major part of how others view us and choose to define who we are comes from the things we love. In the English language alone, we have come up with a plethora of adjectives that convey the depth of love for all sorts of different objects, people, or places. You may be familiar with some of these types of words, often describing culture or locations, such as Francophile (lover of the French or France), Americophile (lover of the United States), or Danophile (lover of Denmark). Some other favorites refer more to things that you might love, such as your dogs (canophile) or your cats (ailurophile) or your horses (hippophile…not what you might expect). I could go on and on, but I’ll just leave you to do some of your own research on some of these fun terms. What these all have in common is of course their suffix, -phile, which comes to us from Greek -philos (dear or loving) to Latin -philus, to the French -phile (one that loves).

My choice word of the day is anglophile, a lover of England or all things English, which is a key facet of my being. This love was born and cultivated when I was a mere child of 8 or 9. I lived for 2 years in Uganda, East Africa, and my family would often fly back and forth from there to the USA to visit family. On one such trip, we were flying back to Uganda via British Airways, and due to unforeseen circumstances, our flights were changed when we arrived at the London Heathrow airport, resulting in a 3-day delay. I loved my Ugandan home and at first was heartbroken to have any delay in returning to it, but after a few days of sightseeing (Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum was a favorite spot) and an especially memorable time in Oxford, England, I was hooked.

From that point on, I was determined to return. My dreams were fulfilled as a sophomore in college when I was able to participate in Study Abroad program in Oxford. It was everything I dreamed it would be and more. I got to travel to all sorts of countries that I had never seen before and made some dear lifelong (so far) friends in the process. I learned independence, money management, and patience through all of my experiences, but most importantly, it solidified my undying love for my home base of Oxford, England. The semester came to a close all too soon and I returned home, but my cravings for daily tea, scones, and Hobnobs have yet to subside. I still have dreams of walking through beautiful Oxford parks, shopping at the weekly produce market or local bakeries, and traveling through the amazing lush green countryside to all manner of old and quaint little villages and towns. One day, my husband and currently 1-year old daughter will hopefully get to experience the wonder and joy I felt if we have to opportunity to visit England again. Until then, I’m stuck scraping together what scraps of British culture I can in my mundane American lifestyle, while reliving in my mind the precious memories of my time abroad (perhaps a bit obsessively). You might even say I’m a bit of an England monomaniac. So if you ever get the chance to visit England, and all the wonderful sights and adventures it has to offer, you might just come back a fellow anglophile.

English Scones Recipe

¼ c sugar
½ tsp salt
2 cups all-purpose flour
4 tsp baking powder
⅔ cup whole milk
1 large egg
6 tbsp unsalted butter (room temp)
1 cup golden raisins (sultanas) (optional)

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.

Mix together the dry ingredients in a bowl. Whisk the milk and the egg together in a separate bowl and set aside 2 tbsp of the mixture for later.

Add the butter and pulse in a food processor, or with a hand mixer,until butter is evenly distributed without chunks. Then pour in the wet ingredients.

Stir until you have rough dough.

Fold in the raisins (sultanas).

Place on a lightly floured surface and knead gently until you have smooth ball. Add small amounts of flour as needed (too much with dry out the scones).

Cut into about 2.5” circles and place on parchment paper or silicone baking sheet.

Brush with the reserved egg/milk mixture and bake for 13-15 minutes, until it has risen to about 3 times the original height.

Savor English tea time as you never have before, and pair with a hot cup of English Breakfast or Earl Grey tea for maximum enjoyment!

You are in your bed, snuggled up in your cozy PJs with your face buried in your pillow. Your eyes are slowly closing as your brain sifts through all the thoughts of the day, powering down for a good night’s sleep. Then, it hits you! That one thought that has lodged itself in your mind that you just can’t shake. It has been popping up all day long, all week long (really all year when it comes down to it), and you just can’t let it go. You sit back up, relinquish the sleep that was almost in your grasp, and dwell on that piece of your being that has become a focal point of your entire identity.

We have all experienced this at one point or other. We call these experiences by many names: passions, hobbies, interests, or plagues, but it all comes down to one simple idea: obsession. In the 19th century, some of these obsessions observed in asylum patients led to a new psychological diagnosis for individuals who otherwise seemed normal, but just had one area in their life they seemed to focus on beyond all rational explanation. This term was monomania.

The word itself is an old term, coming from the Greek “monos”, which can mean isolated (originally from the Indo-European root suffix men-) and the Greek and Latin “mania”, referring to madness or insanity. Perhaps it is not surprising that such a straightforward word was mostly out of use by the end of 1800s, less than a century after its introduction. Such a broad term really tells you nothing at all about the specific condition of a patient. More specific diagnoses such as kleptomania or pyromania rose up to take its place. I can’t say today that this diagnosis has found much popularity in modern psychiatry either, but the idea of having just one thing of interest that you eat, sleep, and breathe is not at all a foreign concept to me.

One of my many obsessions is the origins of the words I hear, use, or stumble across on a regular basis. I am an avid reader (don’t think bookworm, think more book-anaconda), and hobby writer, and I have had a fascination since a young age with the language I speak, and its rich history. Until now, my introversion has encouraged the vast amounts of information I’ve uncovered over the years to be kept for my own selfish private enjoyment. But as I age (much too quickly), I’ve decided the time has come to unleash that knowledge to the world, thrown in with maybe some glimpses of my boring young adult life. Thus, the idea for Word Monomania came into being. I hope that I can bring to light some forgotten histories of new and old words; some that we see on a daily basis and just never give much thought, and others that we should use on a daily basis but somehow they have become almost obsolete. Through my linguistic explorations and stream-of-consciousness musings, I also hope to tie in real life examples that allow readers to come to the conclusion more often that not that they are not “the only one” who thinks that. And maybe there will be some lighthearted fun facts to pick up along the way.   From one monomaniac to another, thank goodness for the internet, a new way to air out all of those pesky obsessions that make each us who we really are (whether we own up to them or not).