About this Study Set
This study set covers Etymology through
18 practice questions.
An exploration of word origins, linguistic history, and how the English language evolved over time. Every question includes the correct answer so you can learn as you go — pick any format above to get started.
Questions & Answers
Browse all 18 questions from the
The Stories Behind Our Words study set below.
Each question shows the correct answer — select a study format above to practice interactively.
1
Which language is the primary source for the word 'kindergarten', meaning 'children's garden'?
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A
French
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B
German
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C
Latin
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D
Dutch
2
The word 'robot' was first introduced in a 1920 play by Karel ÄŒapek and comes from a Slavic word meaning what?
-
A
Mechanical servant
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B
Forced labour
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C
Automatic machine
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D
Metal worker
3
The word 'alphabet' is derived from the first two letters of which ancient script?
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A
Greek
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B
Phoenician
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C
Etruscan
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D
Hebrew
4
The word 'assassin' is historically linked to a group of people from which historical region?
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A
Persia
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B
Egypt
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C
Greece
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D
Mongolia
5
Which English word, meaning a 'disaster', literally translates from Latin as 'ill-starred' or 'against the stars'?
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A
Catastrophe
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B
Calamity
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C
Cataclysm
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D
Disaster
6
The word 'quarantine' originates from the Italian word 'quaranta', which refers to the number:
7
From which language did the English word 'shampoo' originate, specifically meaning 'to press' or 'to massage'?
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A
Hindi
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B
Arabic
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C
Turkish
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D
Mandarin
8
The word 'curfew' historically comes from the Old French phrase 'couvre-feu', which translates to:
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A
Close the gate
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B
Cover the fire
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C
Quiet night
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D
Dark hour
9
Which of these words is an 'eponym', meaning it is derived from the name of a person?
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A
Boycott
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B
Camera
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C
Gladiator
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D
Trophy
10
The word 'salary' comes from the Latin word 'salarium', which was an allowance given to Roman soldiers to buy:
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A
Weapons
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B
Grain
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C
Salt
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D
Clothing
11
The term 'sarcasm' finds its linguistic roots in the Greek word 'sarkazein', which literally means:
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A
To bite the tongue
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B
To tear flesh
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C
To speak in riddles
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D
To mock silently
12
The word 'candidate' comes from the Latin 'candidatus', referring to the white robes worn by those seeking office to symbolise:
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A
Wealth
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B
Purity
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C
Power
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D
Intelligence
13
'Trivia' comes from the Latin 'trivium', referring to the place where three roads meet, implying information that is:
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A
Secret
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B
Commonplace
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C
Scientific
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D
Religious
14
Which English word for a 'large number' comes from the Greek word 'myrias', meaning ten thousand?
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A
Million
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B
Myriad
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C
Magnitude
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D
Multitude
15
The word 'gymnasium' comes from the Greek 'gymnazein', which specifically means to exercise:
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A
In the water
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B
With weights
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C
Naked
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D
In the morning
16
'Algorithm' is a word derived from the name of the 9th-century Persian mathematician:
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A
Al-Khwarizmi
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B
Al-Farabi
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C
Ibn Sina
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D
Omar Khayyam
17
The word 'vanilla' is derived from the Spanish word 'vainilla', which means:
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A
Small pod
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B
Sweet bean
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C
Black seed
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D
Fragrant flower
18
The word 'clue' originally referred to a 'clew', which was a term for:
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A
A written note
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B
A ball of thread
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C
A hidden path
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D
A secret code
