The names of our 12 months are essentially a miniature history of ancient Rome. Some are named after gods, some after rulers, and—most interestingly—September through December are simply numbers that…

“Sinister” Originally Meant “Left” Today, sinister describes something threatening, evil, or disturbingly suspicious. But in ancient Rome, it could simply tell you which direction to look: left. The English word…

A “Freelancer” Was Once a Mercenary Knight Today, a freelancer might design websites, write articles, or manage databases from a laptop. The original freelancer, however, carried a weapon and sold…