video thumbnail 1:55
Mysteries of vernacular: Bewilder - Jessica Oreck and Rachael Teel

2013-08-23

[public] 57.6K views, 784 likes, dislikes audio only

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/mysteries-of-vernacular-bewilder-jessica-oreck-and-rachael-teel

The history of the word bewilder is more straightforward than you might think. Roots can be traced back to the Old English words wilde (undomesticated) and deor (untamed animals), eventually combined into the word wilderness. Jessica Oreck and Rachael Teel track bewilder's etymological path from meaning natural states to complete confusion.

Lesson by Jessica Oreck and Rachael Teel, animation by Jessica Oreck.