Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

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Reposted by Ben Zimmer

Puzzmo @puzzmo.com · 5d

solve today's midi crossword by @benzimmer.bsky.social (edited by @acommonrose.bsky.social !) to see what 1992 solo debut album makes a marquee appearance (and what apt answer he paired it with)

www.puzzmo.com/puzzle/2025-...

Linguists explain why some slang words come and go quickly while others have staying power

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Reposted by Ben Zimmer

momes @momes.bsky.social · 6d

live now streaming the regulars + puzzles from @benzimmer.bsky.social, @gppasco.bsky.social, erik agard and a turtle downs only on green!
www.twitch.tv/crossweirdtv

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Ben Zimmer @benzimmer.bsky.social · 7d

Big day for lexicographical unboxing! Received the just-published 12th edition of @merriam-webster.com's Collegiate Dictionary (a big surprise to everyone in the dictionary game) and @stefanfatsis.bsky.social's long-awaited journey through modern lexicography, UNABRIDGED. Get 'em both!

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Ben Zimmer @benzimmer.bsky.social · 15d

Happy to be making my @latimes.com crossword debut!
www.latimes.com/games/daily-...

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Ben Zimmer @benzimmer.bsky.social · 28d

New crossword for @slate.com! Can you puzzle it out?
slate.com/life/2025/09...

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Ben Zimmer @benzimmer.bsky.social · 29d

The @wired.com video that @mixedlinguist.bsky.social and I did a while back on the life cycle of slang got featured today on @upworthy.com! www.upworthy.com/linguists-ex...

"On fleek" was a flash in the pan, but "cool" has stuck around for nearly a century.

www.upworthy.com

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Ben Zimmer @benzimmer.bsky.social · Aug 20

New @slate.com crossword, with a clue for the Swifties
slate.com/life/2025/08...

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Reposted by Ben Zimmer

momes @momes.bsky.social · Aug 18

live now with some regular stuff + puzzles from @evanbirnholz.bsky.social, @kayebrown.bsky.social and the stumper by @benzimmer.bsky.social on green!
www.twitch.tv/crossweirdtv

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Ben Zimmer @benzimmer.bsky.social · Aug 16

It's another Saturday Stumper (super-tough @newsday.bsky.social crossword) from yours truly!
www.gamelab.com/games/stans-...

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Ben Zimmer @benzimmer.bsky.social · Aug 7

Rounding out a busy puzzle week, it's my solo debut for @nytimes.com!

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Ben Zimmer @benzimmer.bsky.social · Aug 6

New puzzle for @slate.com! What *does* this grid look like anyway?
slate.com/life/2025/08...

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Ben Zimmer @benzimmer.bsky.social · Aug 5

It's my second puzzle for @puzzmo.com!
www.puzzmo.com/puzzle/2025-...

Hi, I'm conducting a short survey about the African American English lexicon as part of a course I'm taking at the LSA Summer Institute, under Dr. Tracey Weldon. It's a perceptual study of terms in AA...

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Ben Zimmer @benzimmer.bsky.social · Jul 23

Sorry I missed it!

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Ben Zimmer @benzimmer.bsky.social · Jul 23

New @slate.com midi crossword is ripped from the headlines!
slate.com/life/2025/07...

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Ben Zimmer @benzimmer.bsky.social · Jul 20

I've got the @slate.com crossword today! In which I try to rack up cool points by including an entry about trying to rack up cool points
slate.com/life/2025/07...

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Reposted by Ben Zimmer

Sam Corbin @samcorbin.bsky.social · Jul 12

I’m conducting a quick (anonymous!) survey about perceptions of terms in the AAE lexicon, if you could take a few mins to fill it out I’d greatly appreciate it!!

AAE Lexicography Survey

docs.google.com

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Ben Zimmer @benzimmer.bsky.social · Jul 12

a woman is dancing in the desert with the caption i see your true colors shining through

ALT: a woman is dancing in the desert with the caption i see your true colors shining through

media.tenor.com

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Ben Zimmer @benzimmer.bsky.social · Jul 9

New @slate.com midi crossword from me! slate.com/life/2025/07...

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Reposted by Ben Zimmer

Strong Language @stronglang.bsky.social · Jul 9

If you're wondering about "bee's dick", well, that's only natural. @benzimmer.bsky.social has the buzz on the Strong Language blog:
stronglang.wordpress.com/2017/08/21/a... #etymology #slang

A new cooking measurement?

On Twitter, Siobhán Britton (aka @wigglymittens) shared a recipe from the magazine Glamour (UK edition) listing an unusual ingredient: “a bee’s dick of salt.” [Update, Aug. 29: As…

stronglang.wordpress.com

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Reposted by Ben Zimmer

Strong Language @stronglang.bsky.social · Jul 9

"Bag of dicks", "bee's dick", "perviness", and "fudge" (int.; often as a euphemistic alternative to "fuck") are among the words and senses newly added to the OED
www.oed.com/information/...

Oxford English Dictionary

The OED is the definitive record of the English language, featuring 600,000 words, 3 million quotations, and over 1,000 years of English.

www.oed.com

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Ben Zimmer @benzimmer.bsky.social · Jun 28

Hey, it's my @puzzmo.com debut! www.puzzmo.com/puzzle/2025-...