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  1. Who changed the way vacumn was spelled 40 years ago?

    Apr 28, 2018 · According to the Online Etymological Dictionary, vacuum entered English in the 1540s directly from Latin as the substantivized, neuter form of the adjective vacuus. The earliest use was as …

  2. pronunciation - Why is "vacuum" pronounced [ˈvæ.kjuːm] and not [ˈvæ ...

    Aug 21, 2017 · +1 It seems that vacuum is the odd word out when placed in a lineup with (for example) continuum, individuum, menstruum, and residuum. I don't know why the -uum in vacuum came to be …

  3. differences - English Language & Usage Stack Exchange

    Perfect vacuum does not exist - there will always be some energy, some particles manifesting themselves spontaneously from quantum uncertainty, but generally lack of matter, including air is …

  4. What does "programming in a vacuum" mean? - English Language

    Oct 24, 2011 · A perfect vacuum would be one with no particles in it at all, which is impossible to achieve in practice. Physicists often discuss ideal test results that would occur in a perfect vacuum, which …

  5. What is the source of the phrase "phony baloney"?

    Oct 22, 2014 · The basic baloney also inspired such variations as phoney-baloney, the fake Latin phonus-balonus, and globaloney (global + baloney). .. Are you looking for evidence of first usage or …

  6. Why are there 3 different ways to pronounce "oo"?

    My German colleagues were laughing at the way I pronounce google, and it led to a discussion. With words like google, yahoo, poodle and loose, the oo has a sound similar to the German ü sound. With...

  7. Can I call a vacuum cleaner cleaner a vacuum cleaner?

    Oct 8, 2017 · If a 'vacuum cleaner cleaner' is a machine for cleaning vacuum cleaners, then the person who cleans the vacuum cleaner cleaner would be a 'vacuum cleaner cleaner cleaner'.

  8. Difference in meaning in "insulation" vs. "isolation"? [closed]

    Dec 13, 2011 · Electrical isolation amounts to using an air gap (or vacuum) as an insulating (nonconducting) medium; like most electrical insulators, air has a breakdown voltage, typically about …

  9. Idioms or phrases to answer to obvious (yes) questions?

    Jun 23, 2020 · Is the pope catholic? Do vacuum cleaners suck? Is water wet? Is the hypotenuse the longest side of a triangle? Does a bear live in the woods? I’ll answer you with my favorite ‘Y’ …

  10. Why is "zero" followed by a plural noun? - English Language & Usage ...

    Aug 17, 2011 · I could have: Two books One book Zero books Why is zero followed by a plural form? I don't expect English to always make sense, but everything has a reason, even if the reason is stupid. …