A simile compares two unlike things with like or as. Learn how it creates vivid meaning, with simple examples and a clear contrast.

Debt comes from Latin debitum, “something owed.” The silent b was added later to show its Latin ancestry, even though French had lost the sound.

Jactitation is an old word for publicly making a false claim, often a false claim of marriage. Here is what it meant and how it was used.

“Wreak havoc” is the standard phrase. Here is why “wreak” fits the meaning, why “wreck havoc” appears, and how to choose correctly.