Word-Built World: earwitness

“If I could kick each one in the groin, I think I’d recognize his voice.” Cartoon: Dan Piraro

A.Word.A.Daywith Anu Garg

If we can overact or overreact, why can’t we underact or underreact? Well, we can. The latter two aren’t that common, but the words are bona fide members of the English language.

Similarly, if one can oversee, why not undersee? Both have been in the dictionary for hundreds of years, but since we rarely underdo these things, they’re not as familiar. Understand?

This week, we’re featuring five underappreciated words that tend to be overlooked alongside their popular counterparts.

earwitness

PRONUNCIATION:

(EER-wit-nis) 

MEANING:

noun: One who testifies or can testify to something heard.

ETYMOLOGY:

From ear, from Old English eara + witness, from Old English witnes. Earliest documented use: 1539.

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