Latest news with #MiddleEnglish
Daily Record
13-06-2025
- General
- Daily Record
16 'rare' Scottish baby names that were used only a few times in 2024
Hardly ever used in Scotland, these uncommon names all deserve a comeback. All over Scotland, you will come across people with all kinds of names. From classic picks to one-of-a-kind monikers, a name can tell you a lot about a person. When it comes to choosing a name for your own little one, the pressure can be overwhelming. While many people prefer traditional Scottish names, others want their baby to have a truly unique name. The National Records of Scotland previously shared a list of all of the baby names that were used in 2024. The non-ministerial department of the Scottish Government also revealed how many times each moniker was used during the year. The Daily Record has rounded up 16 names that were used just three times each in 2024. With the most popular picks last year—Noah and Olivia—being used hundreds of times last year, they offer a much more distinctive alternative. National Records of Scotland website. 1. Clyde Unlike many of the names on this list, Clyde actually has Scottish origins. The boys' name is derived from the River Clyde that flows through Glasgow, and was originally used to refer to those who lived on its banks. 2. Cece The beautiful girls' name Cece has both Latin and Italian roots, and is a shortened version of the name Cecelia. Coming from the Latin word 'caecus', it means 'blind' and is associated with virtue of faith. 3. Cash The boys' name Cash has both English and Irish origins, and was originally exclusively a surname. It derives from the Middle English word 'casche', and means 'maker of chests' or 'box maker'. 4. Sage There are multiple possible origins of the gender-neutral name Sage, with potential roots in France, England, and Germany. It also has a range of potential meanings, ranging from 'wise' and 'prophet' to 'safe'. 5. Gene Gene is another gender-neutral name, though it is more commonly used for boys. German and Greek in origin, it means 'well-born' or 'noble'. 6. Percy Percy is a masculine name with Norman roots, being brought over from Normandy to the United Kingdom. It means 'one who pierces the valley', although another possible meaning is 'spirit of battle'. 7. Dolcie Pronounced 'DOLL-see', Dolcie is a girls' name that is a modern variation of the Latin name Dulce. It means 'sweet', 'pleasant', or 'sweet one'. 8. Tallulah Tallulah is a lovely name of Native American heritage, and is usually used for girls. It is said to come from the Choctaw tribe, and means 'leaping water' or 'lady of abundance'. 9. Helena The feminine name Helena has a rich history, originating from Greek mythology. It means 'torch', 'bright one', or 'shining light'. 10. Briar Briar has English roots, and comes from the Middle English word for a thorny bush. Originally used to refer to people who lived near spiky plants, it has connotations of nature and resilience. 11. Keelan The boys' name Keelan comes from Ireland, and is an anglicised version of the traditional Gaelic name Caolán. It means 'slim', 'slender', and 'fair'. 12. Elowen Elowen is believed to have both Celtic and Cornish roots, and is usually used as a girls' name. It comes from 'elm', and means 'loved' or 'beautiful'. 13. Lawrie Lawrie is another traditional Scottish name, though was originally a surname. It is thought to come from the more common name Lawrence, and means 'crafty' or 'foxy'. 14. Roxy Roxy is a beautiful girls' name that is a shortened version of the name Roxanne. Persian in origin, it means 'dawn', 'bright', or 'star'. 15. Salma This is a feminine name that is believed to have Arabic and Hebrew roots, and is thought to be a version of the names Salāma or Salam. It means 'peaceful' or 'safe', and has connotations of harmony and tranquility. 16. Leland Leland is an English name that comes from the Middle English words 'lea' and 'land'. It means 'meadow land' or 'fallow land'.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Tips and tricks for edging yourself or your partner from sex experts
There are so many exciting, sexy time activities to try. A true buffet of kinks, sex toys, positions, and role-playing options to ramp up your orgasms. But what about withholding orgasms to prolong pleasure? No matter your sexual orientation or gender identity, 'edging' can be a fun way to enhance pleasure and extend sex. You've may have already done this to yourself as you watch porn, but edging isn't just a solo activity, it's also a way to tease your partner by withholding orgasms. To find out if edging is for you and what you should do to make it good for you and your partner, we spoke with sex experts to explain it all. According to gay cruising app Sniffies' 2024 statistics, edging is the most popular kink in America, and with good reason! Edging is the ultimate tease; it's the practice of intentionally bringing yourself and/or your partner to the point right before you climax, but instead of finishing, you pause the stimulation until you've calmed down and then repeat the process before finally allowing an orgasm. Not only does this extend playtime, but it intensifies pleasure and arousal, and often lead to a more intense, longer-lasting orgasm when you are finally allowed to climax. You can edge yourself during masturbation or while having sex with other people to add a little spice to your sex life, but it can also be a great way to explore dom/sub dynamics. Both partners can edge each other, but you can also play with power dynamics where the dominant partner takes control over the submissive's orgasms and decides when they can climax. Edging can also help with premature ejaculation, and for gay men, it is also a great way for tops to manage performance so that no one finishes too early. "For some, edging is a part of kinky play where power dynamics allow for orgasm denial or advanced teasing,' Birna Gustafsson, an LGBTQ+ sex educator and public health advocate, tells PRIDE. 'Many people love edging because of the elements of control, heightened sensations, and subverting expectations of what sex should look or feel like.' Also known as 'surfing' and 'peaking,' the term edging comes from the idea of approaching a metaphorical 'edge' of orgasmic inevitability but stopping from you tip over the edge. Although the word itself is from Middle English, the internet and sex positive online communities helped to popularize the way people use the term today, and it has since entered the Gen Z lexicon on TikTok. Iryna Kalamurza/Shutterstock If you've ever finished and been like, 'is that all?' then you'd probably like edging. For people who feel like the peak of their climax is too short or want to make their sexual experiences last longer, edging is a great technique to add into your playtime repertoire. If you're curious about edging, try exploring it during solo masturbation first before trying it out with a partner. 'It's also great if you're in a sexual rut, exploring solo play in a new way, or curious about adding something fresh to partnered sex,' Gustafsson says. 'It can take some people up to twenty minutes for their genitals to fully engorge and hit peak arousal, and edging offers a fun way to explore as you welcome pleasure in waves, not a flood of sensations all at once.' According to Tim Lagman, a sex expert and board certified sex educator with the lube company pjur, those who already enjoy 'intense build-ups or teasing sensations' or want to explore orgasms control and power dynamics, should give edging a try. It's a low risk, high reward way to make your sex life more interesting! If you've never played with edging before, try it on your own first. That way, you'll get an idea of whether or not you'd like it, then you can try it out with a partner and decide whether you like to be the giver who is in control, the receiver who relinquishes control, or both! Try to slow down your breathing to help you or your partner stay calm and in control. It's also a great way to focus on the sensations in your body instead of rushing into an orgasm. Communication is also key with anything sex-related, but with edging, you have to be aware of your partner's body language and listen to their words so you know when they are getting close and you need to pull back before starting again. You should also talk to your partner beforehand about how they like to be edged, what techniques ramp them up the most (like fingering, oral, or penetrative sex), and what intensity is good for them. Switch back and forth between fast and slow movements and play with different pressure, sex positions, and techniques to make the edging experience more dynamic. You can also tease your partner with different timings. Try doing five second of fast sensation, slow down for five seconds, a then each round add five seconds to each interval until you get up to a minute before you let them finish. And if you're into a sub/dom relationship or are into power play, the dominant partner can count out loud to dial up the heat. Lube should always be in your bedside table drawer, but when you're planning on extending the amount of time you are having sex, make sure you use lots of lube to keep it feeling good all night long. There are so many you can incorporate into edging, the options are limitless! You can try teasing your partner with a blindfold, feathers, or a whip. Or add in vibrators, sex machine, strap on, butt plugs, cock ring, or prostate massager, or anything else that will ramp things up for you or your partner. Try switching things up between using your hands, oral stimulation, powerful toys, warm and cold sensations, and internal and external stimulation. You don't need to go from zero to 60; instead, try alternating between two different sensations and cycling through different rhythms. For instance, try changing between rubbing their clit and using gentle tapping to tease your partner. If you've already mastered the basics, try this more advanced technique: when you feel like you or your partner are about to climax, don't slow down, just stop using your hands and sex toys completely. Spend some time breathing and let the pleasure settle in your body before you go right back to the same intensity you were using before. If you enjoy edging, consider trying gooning too which is an extreme form of edging where you masturbate for hours while watching porn, but never let yourself have an orgasm. Getty Images Edging is versatile, and can be adapted to work with all different kinds of bodies and can be a great way to affirm gender identity. 'For those experiencing gender dysphoria, edging can center sensation elsewhere in the body than just the genitals,' Gustafsson explains. 'Using toys and tools like strap-ons, prosthetics, or powerful vibrators that send sensation through layers of material can all be a part of edging, too.' Sofie Roos, a bisexual licensed sexologist and relationship therapist, has suggestions for all genders and sexualities. For queer men, she recommends combining deign with stimulation of the anus or penis through penetrative sex or using a toy like a vibrating butt plug. Or go the advanced route and focus on edging the prostate alone for an extra strong orgasm. For sapphics, use your hands, vibrator, or tongue to stimulate the clitoris by starting off with calm, light touches, before increasing the stimulation and then starting over again. She also said if you or your partner's clit gets overstimulated switch to focusing on the G-spot, and unlike people with penises, you can keep going until you, your partner, or both achieve multiple orgasms. According to Roos, trans folks can use edging to 'explore their body sexually in new ways that feel more natural than other types of sex' and can also use it to explore new sexual dynamics. For nonbinary people, she says that edging can provide the kind of control that allows for experimentation. 'Nonbinary folks can use edging to feel as if they're more in control of how they get pleasure, and that they can discover their body [on] their own terms and take control over their orgasm,' Roos says. Edging, truly is for everyone! Birna Gustafsson, an LGBTQ+ sex educator and public health advocate. Tim Lagman, a sex expert and board certified sex educator with the lube company pjur. Sofie Roos, licensed sexologist and relationship therapist & author at Passionerad.
San Francisco Chronicle
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
‘Secret sauce' behind national spelling bee is mixed by a UC Berkeley student
Hundreds of logolept tanquams will compete against hindermates this week in the famous Scripps tournament of orthography. Put another way, 243 brainy young students are about to face off in the national spelling bee, which runs Tuesday through Thursday. However you say it, the kids will be spelling and misspelling a lot of complicated words. And someone has to choose all of the lexical ammunition that will make or break the would-be champions. 'I'm the national word list coordinator,' said Frank Cahill, 27, who is also a UC Berkeley doctoral student in comparative literature. His spelling bee work is highly secretive. Cahill won't even say how many people are on the panel he oversees, which he calls a 'small team.' They work together for a full year ahead of the competition, not only curating the official cornucopia of words to be spelled, but also inventing the sentences that spellers may ask to hear before they venture an answer. And no, Cahill won't say how many words he and the team vet and approve. With a $50,000 grand prize at stake, no leakage — even minimal efflux that could lead to more serious exudation — can be allowed. Part of Cahill's role is to preserve an element of surprise during the competition. During the bee, for example, he pays close attention to how the spellers are doing: Are the words lobbed at them too easy? Too challenging? If so, Cahill might suggest that the judges skip to a more or less difficult section of the word list he and his team have provided. 'What makes the spelling bee such good TV is that anything can happen,' said Cahill, whose modest demeanor belied his puissant position as he chatted with a reporter in a dusty upstairs library on campus, a room fittingly redolent of old books and beloved words. 'One lapse — one double letter — and you're eliminated.' Cahill knows this all too well. The year is 2012. Cahill, a 14-year-old competitor from Colorado, is one of seven spellers remaining on the national stage, having correctly spelled 'dedans,' meaning spectators at a tennis match. Now he is up again. His word, pronounced clearly for him, is from the Middle English and means tadpole. He spells: 'p-o-r-w-i-g-g-l-e.' Porwigle, as Cahill and the world quickly learned, has but one 'g.' Cahill lost the competition. But he gained a love of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, whose gifts, he said, include helping children around the world develop a critical balance 'of nerves and poise.' And ethics, he added. 'Part of being a good citizen is speaking precisely. Understanding the nuances of the words you use and their effects. Having a robust vocabulary so you can say exactly what you mean — and understand what others say, and what they mean. Those are necessary civics skills.' Today, Cahill's academic interests lie in the interplay among classical Japanese, ancient Greek and Latin and modern British literature. His dissertation has yet to be written or titled, but expect it all to be explained when that happens. The allure of language and its evolution came to Cahill not only from his mother, a former English literature major at Northwestern University, but also from the spelling bee. He has worked with Scripps since 2019, first as a volunteer and then as a year-round contractor. National word list coordinator is a new role for Scripps, and in that position Cahill contributes many of the bee's official words. He declined to reveal any of them or even how many years must pass before a word can be reused for the bee. The whole list changes every year. 'This is secret sauce territory,' he said. What he can reveal: He and his team, with full-time staff, proof the final word list for mistakes. They ensure definitions are 'faithful to the dictionary,' which is Merriam-Webster Unabridged. They verify pronunciation with the bee's official pronouncers. And they substantiate the etymology of every word. Then there are the sentences. Spellers commonly ask how a word is used. So at least one sentence for every word must be at the ready. That's a lot of words and a lot of sentences. Honey, I'm going to the eisteddfod after dinner tonight! A reporter came up with that one after Cahill said that eisteddfod, a Welsh singing or poetry competition, was one of his two favorite words (neither of which is on the list this year, spellers). He likes it because, as a Welsh word, it is uncommon, fun to say and provides 'a window into another world.' Yet that sentence turned out to be an example of what not to do if you are going to offer it to the spelling bee. Making up sentences out of thin air is verboten, explained the national word list coordinator. 'You need to do research,' said Cahill, who first imagines a scene for each word. 'Do eisteddfods (alternatively, eisteddfodau) happen at night? Maybe someone isn't going to just watch the competition but perform in it. That would add specificity.' Then Cahill does what everyone does when they need more information. He turns to Wikipedia. He pokes around online. 'I do this for every word. Some are easy. But something I really love is bringing up historical specificity to the sentence, because ultimately, the bee is a pedagogical program,' he said. 'We want to teach young people.' The youngest speller this year is 8 and in the third grade. The oldest are 14, and there are 72 of them. Contrary to a popular belief about the avid wordsmiths in the national spelling bee, most are not homeschooled. Just six of this year's 243 kids are taught at home, while 170 attend public school. Until this year, Cahill's many tasks — including the cat-herding role of organizing online meetings of the Word Panel — had been spread out among its members, said Corrie Loeffler, executive director of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. But having Cahill as coordinator has already become essential, she said. 'Frank brings a powerful mix of passion and precision to this role,' said Loeffler, who credited him with adding 'a distinct humanity' to the job. Evidence of that might be found in Cahill's other favorite word. 'I love pogonotomy,' he said. Shaving. 'It's a word for such a common thing.' Like that thing everyone does when they put letters together to come up with a greater meaning. This year's Orthography Bee will run May 27 to 29 at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Md. California has 20 competitors, including three Bay Area spellers. They are Aren Lee, 13, Aiden Meng, 12, and Rithvi Balajee, 12, all from Danville.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
These Are the Most Unique Boy Names in the U.S. Right Now
There's something so satisfying about finding a baby name that nobody else seems to be using. Not because you're trying to be weird for the sake of being weird — but because it feels like a secret. Like you've uncovered a hidden gem buried deep in a pile of Liams and Noahs and Jameses. Each year, the U.S. Social Security Administration releases a massive list of every baby name given to five or more newborns in the United States — and let me tell you, it's long. (Like, thousands and thousands of names long.) But the real magic isn't in the top of the list. It's way, way down at the bottom, in the names that barely squeaked in. Names that were given to just five baby boys or fewer the entire year. And that, friends, is where this list comes from. We dug around at the bottom of the list to find rare boy names that are cool, handsome, and unusual without being un-usable. Some are old-school and unexpected, others are brand new or invented-sounding, but they all have one thing in common: they're barely out there. Which, in a world of copy-paste names on every playground, honestly feels kinda refreshing. (One quick note: although this list was released in 2025, it's actually based on babies born in 2024. So while these names are new-ish, they're not predictions — they're real, actual names that real, actual parents used … just barely.) Let's dive into the rarest boy names in the country — the ones that most people missed, but you won't. More from SheKnows The Newest List of Most Popular Baby Names Was Just Released - See What's Topping the Charts Now Best of SheKnows 19 Celebrity Stepparents Who Have a Tight Bond With Their Stepkids I'm 29 Weeks Pregnant, & Comfortable Sandals Are a *Must* This Summer—These Are the Best Ones on the Market Recent Baby & Toddler Product Recalls Every Parent and Caregiver Should Know About Where Spencer sounds more former, its short form — Spence — has a cool and casual vibe. They both come from the Middle English word spense, meaning 'larder' or 'pantry' — the surname Spencer would have indicated someone who dispenses provisions. Tyro sounds a bit like a made-up name — maybe inspired by other Ty- names such as Tyrone or Tyson or Tyler. However, some sources say it may come from the Greek word tyrôs, meaning … well, 'cheese.' But even the most beautiful names can have less-than-desirable meanings, and it doesn't make them any less perfect! Willoughby is the perfect option if you love the nickname Will, but William is a little too popular for your liking (it is the #10 most popular boy name in the U.S., after all, and its nickname Liam is #1). It's an Old English place name meaning 'willow town.' As a name, Loden is invented, perhaps as an alternative to the more popular Logan. But in Dutch, loden means 'lead' — as in the metal element, which is kind of a neat meaning. The origin of this unique boy name is unknown, but it may be a variation of the Spanish name Xaviel — which itself is likely a form of Xavier, meaning 'new house.' There are lots of different ways to spell this German surname-turned-first-name (which means 'shepherd'): Schafer, Shaffer, Shaefer, etc — but we like this rare version, Schaefer. Shae could be a cute nickname! Stemming from the name George, which comes from the Greek word georgos and means 'farmer,' Geordie (pronounced jor-dee) is a less-stuffy — and more rare — alternative. Whether you're a Tolkien fan or just like the magical medieval feeling of the name, Lorien is a rarely-used winner. In J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, Lorien is a short form of the name Lothlórien, meaning 'land of gold.' With the name Milo quickly rising in popularity, you hear it more and more often — but the very similar Rilo is so unique that it was only given to five baby boys in the U.S. last year! It's likely a fresh spin on the name Riley, meaning 'rye woodland.' Woodsen is a surname that probably comes from the place name Woodsome, meaning 'from the houses in the woods.' It's a good way to get to the quirky-vintage sounding nickname Woody while still having a longer, more distinguished form to lean on in professional situations. This is a surname originating from the place name Livet, which is in Normandy, France. It's also the perfect way to get to the nickname Lev (which means 'heart' in Hebrew). Gabrien is a unique and rarely-used variation of Gabriel, which comes from the Hebrew name Ḡavriʾel, meaning 'God is my strength.' This sleek-sounding pick means 'black' — it's derived from the animal of the same name, the sable marten, which has a luxurious thick, dark coat. Considering the popularity of names like Trigg and Trip, Brig is a logical choice — you could say it's from the word 'brigadier,' meaning a military officer in charge of a brigade. Another surname-turned-first-name, Marsden is a distinguished-sounding and rarely used choice. It comes from an Old English place name meaning 'valley boundary' — and comes with the cute nickname option Mars! Peter (meaning 'stone') has been one of the most popular boy names for literal decades. As of last count, it stands at #192 of the top 1000 most popular names for boys, but has reached as high as #35 (back in 1955). So what does that have to do with Piers? Well, Piers is the medieval form of Peter! And for a modern baby boy, it's a fresh alternative to a classic name. Color names have been on the rise, and Cobalt is — dare we say — 'blue'-tiful?! Cobalt is a deep blue color made by mixing cobalt oxide with aluminum oxide. And it's the perfect way to get to the nickname Coby! Speaking of blue hues, that brings us to Mavi, another rare boy name given to only five babies last year! You might not expect this name to mean 'blue' — unless you're familiar with Turkish! Mavi, which means 'blue' in Turkish, also works as a unique name with a cool blue vibe. This is an invented name, so it has no discernible meaning, though you could base it on the names it's likely inspired by. There's Kai, which is Hawaiian for 'sea.' Or it could have pop culture roots, inspired by Kylo Ren from the Star Wars franchise. You could pronounce it KY-lo, or KAY-lo. Either way, it's a versatile and unique pick! There are lots of Parkers out there, but substantially fewer Parks — which puts this name firmly in the sweet spot of underused, but not strange or unfamiliar! This is another invented name with no meaning — so that indicates it can mean whatever you want, right?! If you must attach a meaning to it, you could say it's a fresh alternative to Andrew (unlike Andy or Drew, which are both frequently used), meaning 'masculine.'
Forbes
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Today's ‘Wordle' #1407 Hints, Clues And Answer For Saturday, April 26th
How to solve today's Wordle. SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Looking for Friday's Wordle hints, clues and answer? You can find them here: The weekend is here at last and what a lovely weekend it is, too. It's hard to believe that only a week ago, it snowed nine inches here in the mountains. Now it's sunny, the birds are chirping, the snow has all melted and other than some wind it's quite perfect outside. So let's get right to this Wordle so we can get out into nature! The Hint: When things collide, noisily. The Clue: This Wordle is onomatopoeic. Okay, spoilers below! . . . Today's Wordle Credit: Erik Kain Every day I check Wordle Bot to help analyze my guessing game. You can check your Wordles with Wordle Bot right here. ANKLE was a decent opener today, leaving me with just 98 words and two yellow boxes. SPOIL was not as good, only slashing this to 7 remaining solutions. With one new yellow box, I took a leap of faith and guessed CLASH. Lucky for me, that was the Wordle! Today's Wordle Bot Credit: Erik Kain The Bot and I each get 1 point for guessing in three and 0 points for tying, bringing our April totals to: Erik: 12 points Wordle Bot: 16 points The word clash likely originated in the early 16th century as an imitative or onomatopoeic word — meaning it mimics the sound it describes, like the noise of loud, sharp collisions. It may have been influenced by Middle English clashen ("to clash, strike together noisily") and is related to other sound-imitative words like clatter. FEATURED | Frase ByForbes™ Unscramble The Anagram To Reveal The Phrase Pinpoint By Linkedin Guess The Category Queens By Linkedin Crown Each Region Crossclimb By Linkedin Unlock A Trivia Ladder Let me know how you fared with your Wordle today on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook. Also be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel and follow me here on this blog where I write about games, TV shows and movies when I'm not writing puzzle guides. Sign up for my newsletter for more reviews and commentary on entertainment and culture.
