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Article: Fun with words.
- Article from:
- Calliope
- Article date:
- November 1, 2008
- Author:
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WORD ORIGINS
Egad
One of many terms known as "minced oaths"--words and phrases that are used in place of offensive sayings--"egad" dates back to the 1600s. As you may guess, "Egad!" was used as an alternative to "Oh, God!" Similar phrases can be found in almost all periods in history. Even the English playwright William Shakespeare (1564-1616) wrote "zounds" rather than the blasphemous "God's wounds" in his tragedy Romeo and Juliet.
Amen
Muslims, Jews, Christians--all use this word to express agreement. Many civilizations and cultures have used it to mean "so be it" and "truly." Its origins are as ...