As someone with more than a passing interest in the art of writing, I subscribe to several feeds and email newsletters on the subject. One of the best is Daily Writing Tips. Today’s edition, entitled 20 Synonyms for Expert was especially interesting, as it set me straight on the derivation of a few words whose origins surprised me. I always assumed, for example, that doyen was borrowed from Yiddish, because that’s the way it sounds. Not so: it’s “from the Middle French word meaning ‘leader of ten,’ stemming from the Latin term decanus, and ultimately from the Greek term dekanos, both with the same meaning.” I felt a bit better when the explanation continued with “Carries a connotation similar to that of connoisseur or maven.” Continue reading →