iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Susie Dent

Greg Jenner (Historian) @gregjenner.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Wow!! Tickets are selling VERY FAST for our live Beethoven concert episode of You’re Dead To Me on Nov 13th — if you wanna come, get your ticket 🔜 It’ll be a 2 hour special with the BBC Concert Orchestra and two fantastic guests 🎼🎻 www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/bbc...

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Susie Dent @susiedentwords.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Etymology of the day: the expression ‘you have another thing coming’ was originally ‘you have another think coming’: today’s version appeared within a year of the original, back in the 1800s. A short piece on the joyful messiness of linguistic evolution. susiedent.substack.com/p/another-th...

susiedent.substack.com

Another think coming

How linguistic evolution is as messy as it is joyful

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Susie Dent @susiedentwords.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

For those interested in how dictionaries are made, as well as the secret lives of the apparently ordinary words we use, may I recommend this podcast? It’s made by two colleagues at the Oxford English Dictionary who really know their stuff. rss.com/podcasts/lex...

rss.com

The OED’s September update enters the twerpy mountweazel timeline | Podcast Episode on RSS.com

Why do we love the mountweazel (and what is it)? Who was the original twerp? How did timeline constitute a two-for-one bargain? Join editors Fiona McPherson and Craig Leyland as they dive into some of...

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Susie Dent @susiedentwords.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

There are a few tickets left for my show in Durham tomorrow. Word Perfect is (I hope) a funny, educational, and occasionally irreverent look at language and its stories. Do join me if you can!

A poster with my upcoming dates on my Word Perfect tour. I’d love to see you there!

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Reposted by Susie Dent

Elle Cordova @ellecordova.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Rough Draft vs Final Draft

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Susie Dent @susiedentwords.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

If you like to read in bed, consider yourself a librocubicularist. If that strikes a chord, I’ve written a short piece about the language of book-loving here: susiedent.substack.com/p/between-th...

A picture of books and a link to my Substack post about the language of bibliophilia.

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Susie Dent @susiedentwords.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

In case anyone needs it, to have the ‘mubble-fubbles’ (16th century) means to have a fit of despondency or low spirits, such as the end-of-summer blues.

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Susie Dent @susiedentwords.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Welcome to all the new players of Two Words who heard it mentioned on Catsdown. For anyone who fancies a game against another player (or a brainy bot) here’s the link. twowords2.page.link/play. And a big thank you to everyone who’s joined in so far. It can be as simple or as fiendish as you like!

twowords2.page.link

Two Words with Susie Dent

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Susie Dent @susiedentwords.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

I’ve written a short piece on the Americanisms that really get our goat. susiedent.substack.com/p/the-ize-ha...

susiedent.substack.com

The -ize have it

A tale of scapegoating (verb) in English

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Susie Dent @susiedentwords.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Am looking forward to seeing what dedication requests come my way!

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Susie Dent @susiedentwords.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

If you fancy a read in the shade, I’ve written a short piece on the words that wear their hearts on their sleeves. Like ‘secretary’, originally a ‘keeper of secrets’. susiedent.substack.com/p/hiding-in-...

susiedent.substack.com

Hiding in plain sight

The stories of language that we stopped listening to

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Susie Dent @susiedentwords.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Have you ever wondered whether lexicographers occasionally make stuff up? susiedent.substack.com/p/ghost-town...

A captioned photo directing you to an article I’ve written about ghost words in the dictionary, on Substack.

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Susie Dent @susiedentwords.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

I’ve just launched a Substack for anyone who fancies being part of a word community. My first free post is out now. susiedent.substack.com/publish/post...

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Susie Dent @susiedentwords.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

Always a pleasure to work with indie booksellers, and Simon at Big Green Books is one of the best.

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Susie Dent @susiedentwords.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

Delighted to say we’re adding some more dates to the second half of the year for my Word Perfect tour. Thanks to everyone who’s joined me so far for a romp through the joys and eccentricities of language. I’m having a blast and hope you will too.

A poster giving dates for the rest of the year for my Word Perfect tour. Hope to see you there!

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Susie Dent @susiedentwords.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

A question: what are the things you wish there was a word for? And have you come up with your own word to fill that gap?

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Susie Dent @susiedentwords.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

A reminder of one of the loveliest pairs of siblings in the dictionary: ‘muscle’ and ‘mouse’. To the Roman imagination, the flexed biceps of a (typically naked) athlete resembled a rodent scuttling under the skin. ‘Musculus’, in Latin, means ‘little mouse’.

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Susie Dent @susiedentwords.bsky.social · 08/02/2026

Secret Genius continues tonight at C4, 9pm, with episodes 1 and 2 available on catch-up. Thank you to everyone who has tuned in so far.

Alan Carr and I standing in front of one of the puzzles set for the contestants on tonight’s Secret Genius.

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Susie Dent @susiedentwords.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

Word of the day is ‘fanfaronade’ (19th century): to strut and swagger about as if you own the stage.

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Susie Dent @susiedentwords.bsky.social · 22/12/2025

A little selection of my favourite words for the season. Some beautiful, others potentially necessary. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. twowords2.page.link/play

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Susie Dent @susiedentwords.bsky.social · 22/12/2025

A little list of some of my favourite words for the season. Some beautiful, others potentially necessary. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

A few words to play with this Christmas!

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Susie Dent @susiedentwords.bsky.social · 18/12/2025

Which words have given you happiness this year? I’d love to hear them. (And if you fancy some distraction over the holidays, do give my word game Two Words a try. twowords2.page.link/play)

Some of the words that have made me smile this year.

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Susie Dent @susiedentwords.bsky.social · 18/12/2025

I’m delighted to announce the next shows in my Word Perfect tour. Thanks to all my wonderful audiences this year: I’ve had a blast!

Some dates for 2026 for my Word Perfect theatre tour. Hope to see you there!

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Susie Dent @susiedentwords.bsky.social · 13/12/2025

Word of the day, should you be feeling a little huffish, is ‘apanthropy’ (18th century): a love of solitude and the desire to be away from other people.

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Susie Dent @susiedentwords.bsky.social · 10/12/2025

Thanks for all the excellent responses to this. It might make you smile on this dreich day.

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Susie Dent @susiedentwords.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

Thank you to the lovely audience member at @hayfestival who shared that her daughter had once corrected her pronunciation of ‘epiphany’ and told her it should of course be ‘epi-fanny’. Which word have you royally mispronounced because you’d only ever seen it written down?

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Susie Dent @susiedentwords.bsky.social · 27/11/2025

We have a name for our new bot! Thanks to everyone who voted, and to all of those who continue to play and enjoy the game. twowords2.page.link/play

We have a name for the new bot in my word game Two Words: Alphabetty!

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Reposted by Susie Dent

Film Stories @filmstories.bsky.social · 26/11/2025

TOMORROW! Join us for a special Film Stories 500th episode event in London with special guest Romesh Ranganathan. Details and tickets here: filmstories.co.uk/news/film-st...

filmstories.co.uk

Film Stories 500 | Romesh Ranganathan joins us in London for a special live event

Join us for a special Film Stories 500th episode event in London with special guest Romesh Ranganathan. Details and tickets here:

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Susie Dent @susiedentwords.bsky.social · 21/11/2025

Word of the day is ‘quockerwodger’ (19th century): a puppet politician whose strings are pulled entirely by someone else.

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Susie Dent @susiedentwords.bsky.social · 21/11/2025

Word of the day is ‘quockerwodger’ (19th century): a puppet politician whose strings are pulled entirely by someone else.

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Susie Dent @susiedentwords.bsky.social · 18/11/2025

This show will not disappoint: Simon is more passionate and knowledgeable about the magic of the movies than anyone I know.

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Reposted by Susie Dent

Boatman Cryptics @boatmancryptics.co.uk · 14/11/2025

It's the Seasonal Reposting Competition! Repost this over the weekend, and on Sunday one lucky person will win a signed copy of one of my books. For you or the #crossword addict in your life: 50 fiendish @theguardian.com #puzzles and all the stories behind them: boatmancryptics.co.uk/crossword-bo...

Boatman - the first 50 reportedly makes a great present or holiday read, exemplified by this image of the book opened to show the story behind the Shipping Forecast puzzle, on display on Brighton beach.

Reviewing Boatman - the first 50, Alan Connor (The Guardian's crossword editor and the brains behind many of BBC2’s quiz programs) says: "This is one to savour. Boatman's puzzles are witty and ingenious. It is an extraordinary pleasure to read how his unique mind works. The first 50 is a book I never knew I needed in my life. Gift it to yourself and to the word-lovers in yours".

Hugh Stephenson (Alan’s predecessor at The Guardian) says: "This is a unique book of crosswords" and Henry Morris: "a Boatman crossword is like a theme park. Each daunting line is a rollercoaster ... He scares you witless. But you can't wait to do it all over again".

Boatman - the second 50 contains another 50 puzzles from The Guardian, with five bonus puzzles previously only available online and including puzzles, solutions and the ideas and stories behind them, exemplified by this image of the book opened to show one of the stories, which is accompanied by a picture of a large cow.

Reviewing Boatman - the second 50, Gyles Brandreth says: "If you want a fiendish crossword, you want the best - which means you want Boatman, because he is the best" and Brian Bilston: "Cracking crosswords - each puzzle a delightful daily workout for the brain and a welcome tonic for the soul".

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Susie Dent @susiedentwords.bsky.social · 14/11/2025

We’re down to a shortlist of three names for the new bot in my word game Two Words! Thanks for all the brilliant suggestions. You can vote here for your winner: playtwowords.com/namethebot

The shortlist of three names for the new bot in my word game Two Words is in. We have:

Alpha Betty
Bottispelli
Biblio Bot

Let me know your favourite!

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Susie Dent @susiedentwords.bsky.social · 07/11/2025

We’ve introduced a new Bot in our word game Two Words, and it needs a name! Please reply with your suggestions (Botty McBotface won’t do). For those who don’t know the game, here’s the link. twowords2.page.link/play

We need a new bot for my word game Two Words! So here’s a picture of a bot on a Wanted poster.

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Susie Dent @susiedentwords.bsky.social · 07/11/2025

Word of the Day is ‘catchfart’ (17th century): an obsequious individual who sucks up to the boss and always follows the political wind.

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Susie Dent @susiedentwords.bsky.social · 24/10/2025

There is a moment at this time of year when the word ‘apricity’ really comes into view. For those who don’t know it, it was recorded only once, in 1623, before slipping out of view. Apricity is the warmth of the sun on a chilly day.

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Susie Dent @susiedentwords.bsky.social · 05/10/2025

Word of the Day is ‘tandsmør’, from Danish. It describes bread that is buttered so thickly you can see tooth marks in it after every bite. Its literal translation? ‘Tooth butter’.

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Susie Dent @susiedentwords.bsky.social · 23/09/2025

To ‘ultra-crepidate’ (19th century) is to lecture others on subjects you know very little about.

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Susie Dent @susiedentwords.bsky.social · 21/09/2025

Like many, I grew up with Woman’s Hour, so it was a special delight to chat with Anita Rani on Friday about Words for Life. It also made the weekend round-up if you fancy a listen here. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

bbc.co.uk

Woman's Hour - Weekend Woman’s Hour: Baroness Hale, Race Across the World, Cryptic pregnancy, Patricia Lockwood, Sudanese women, Susie Dent - BBC Sounds

The first female president of the Supreme Court.

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Susie Dent @susiedentwords.bsky.social · 19/09/2025

Today I offer a reminder of the word ‘forswunk’ (13th century): exhausted from too much work. To be ‘foreswunk’ (my own version) is to be exhausted before you even begin.

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Susie Dent @susiedentwords.bsky.social · 13/09/2025

Word of the Day is ‘snerdle’ (19th century): to stay warm and still beneath the covers for as long as humanly possible.

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Susie Dent @susiedentwords.bsky.social · 11/09/2025

Delighted to say that my new book of words is out today, in which I explain how ‘sneeze’ was born from a mistake, that ‘window’ is a Viking leftover meaning ‘eye of the wind’, and that the Finns really do have a word for drinking alone in your underwear. linktr.ee/WordsforLife

A picture of my new book Words for Life. Today is publication day!

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Susie Dent @susiedentwords.bsky.social · 05/09/2025

Thanks to the wonderful team at the Hachette warehouse for making this morning’s mammoth book-signing a lot of fun. Words for Life is out next week. I hope you like it. linktr.ee/WordsforLife

A picture of me signing a lot of copies of my book Words for Life at the warehouse!

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Susie Dent @susiedentwords.bsky.social · 04/09/2025

Word of the day is ‘tamalou’: a French name for an older person who no longer greets their friends with ‘how was your holiday?, but with ‘t’as mal où ?’, ‘where does it hurt?’. There follows an enthusiastic account of aches and pains and doctor’s appointments.

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Susie Dent @susiedentwords.bsky.social · 02/09/2025

An ‘ultracrepidarian’ (19th century) is one who loves to give their opinion, at length, on matters they know nothing about.

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Susie Dent @susiedentwords.bsky.social · 29/08/2025

Happening now! Do join me if you can. twowords2.page.link/play

A reminder of the Two Words tournament happening now!

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Susie Dent @susiedentwords.bsky.social · 27/08/2025

I’m looking forward to another round of Two Words challenges! I’ll be taking on as many players as I can, so do join me, whether you’re an old hand or new to the game. Details for joining to follow on the day. twowords2.page.link/play

An announcement of another Play Susie tournament on Friday.

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Susie Dent @susiedentwords.bsky.social · 21/08/2025

Word of the Day is ‘theic’ (19th century), defined as ‘one given to immoderate tea-drinking; a tea drunkard’.

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Susie Dent @susiedentwords.bsky.social · 14/08/2025

Word of the Day is ‘copemate’ (16th century): the friend in life who gets you through. It’s one of the 365 entries in Words for Life, an almanac of my favourite words and etymologies to give (I hope) each day a boost.

A picture of my new book Words for Life.

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