Kiss the Cow - 19 April 2021

<p>An anadrome is a word that forms a whole new word when you spell it backwards. For example, the word "stressed" spelled backwards is "desserts." Some people's first names are actually anadromes. There's the girl named Noel in honor of her father Leon, and the woman named Edna who adopted the name Ande. Speaking of names, know anybody whose occupation fits their name? Maybe a college administrator named Dean, or a breadmaker named Baker? Well, there's a name for that, too. It's called nominative determinism. Plus, a conversation about how hard it can be to gracefully end . . . a conversation. Also: a puzzle about famous names, Wellerisms, kaffedags and fika, a kissing game, moco, greissel, twacking and the plural of computer mouse. (Computer mice? Computer mouses? Computer meece?)</p> <p>Read full show notes, hear hundreds of free episodes, send your thoughts and questions, and learn more on the <em>A Way with Words</em> website: <a href= "https://waywordradio.org/">https://waywordradio.org/</a>. Email <a href="mailto:words@waywordradio.org">words@waywordradio.org</a>. Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/wayword">@wayword</a>. Our listener phone line <a href="tel:+18779299673">1 (877) 929-9673</a> is toll-free in the United States and Canada. Elsewhere in the world, call <a href="tel:+16198004443">+1 (619) 800-4443</a>; charges may apply. From anywhere, text/SMS <a href= "sms:+16195679673">+1 (619) 567-9673</a>. Copyright Wayword, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation.</p>