Use 'semantic gradients' to turn vocabulary study into a shared thinking activity that explores the subtle differences ...

Language has a way of giving shape to ideas that extend beyond a single moment, and few words manage this as gracefully as palimpsest. Rooted in history yet rich in literary and philosophical ...

Word meanings can shift radically, just like pronunciation. Called semantic change, a shift in a word's meaning occurs when frequent misuse becomes standard, or when metaphoric use becomes literal.