Lexitecture

About

A Canadian (Ryan) and a Scot (Amy) talking about the words in the English language that fascinate them most at the moment, looking at their histories and origins and trying to piece together just how they got to where they are today.This is a podcast for anyone interested in etymology (the study of words and their origins/history). If you've ever found yourself happier after discovering some bizarre bit of trivia about a word that you hadn't even given a second thought to (such as how the word 'trivia' relates to its Latin components meaning "three roads"), this might just be the podcast for you.

Episodes

• Episode 139: Salient Kaleidoscope 2026-03-13

  Narrator voice : The 'monthly schedule' was not, in fact, a thing. Nevertheless, we're BACK (again). In this episode, Amy really jumps out at you with " salient ", while Ryan observes beauty in a tube with " kaleidoscope ". For those who l…

• Episode 138: Balaclava Cardigan Sandwich Crapper 2025-10-23

  It has been, decidedly, WAAYYYYY too long, but we're (well... more specifically I'm) back with a new episode! As you'll hear, we really do deeply appreciate those of you who are still subscribed to our show, and particularly our longsuffer…

• Episode 137: Blackmail Juggernaut 2025-04-28

  We're back and it looks like 'monthly' is our new for-real schedule! WOO! In this episode, Amy pays the unscrupulous rent with " blackmail ", while Ryan communes with a Hindu effigy known as " Juggernaut ". Lexitecture is a podcast about e…

• Episode 136: Carfax Wealth 2025-03-31

  The sun may be setting on the third month of 2025, but it's not gone yet, and here we are with our third episode of the year! In this episode, Amy squares up against " carfax ", while Ryan discovers a stowaway suffix in a pile of " wealth…

• Episode 135: Haughty Orange 2025-03-02

  We're back!! In this episode, Amy looks loftiyl at " haughty ", while Ryan ponders a sweet and colourful examply of 'chicken vs egg with " orange ". For those curious about the colour "pewke", here is a list that features an example of the…

• Episode 134: Destroy Present 2025-01-26

  We're back!! In this episode, Amy looks at a sneaky compound with " destroy ", while Ryan considers the nature of time and gifts with " present ". Lexitecture is a podcast about etymology (the linguistics study of the origin and history of…

• Episode 133: Scavenger Road 2024-08-07

  In this episode, Amy just throws around needless "n"s with impunity during a solid " scavenge ", while Ryan goes from place to place, possibly with hostility, along the " road ". Lexitecture is a podcast about etymology (the linguistics st…

• Episode 132: Sparkle Crackle Twinkle Paddle Waddle Dazzle Hobble Wriggle Nuzzle 2024-04-30

  In this episode, Amy is elsewhere completely while Ryan is appreciating all over again the all-too-frequent cuteness of the "-le" suffix in English! Lexitecture is a podcast about etymology (the linguistics study of the origin and history…

• Episode 131: Rudimentary Rival 2024-03-27

  In this episode, Amy gets back to basics with " rudimentary ", while Ryan swimming upstream, but along a bank, and always staring side-eyed across to his " rival ". Lexitecture is a podcast about etymology (the linguistics study of the ori…

• Episode 130: Object Between 2024-02-17

  In this episode, Amy explores the space " between ", while Ryan is trying to figure out a connection between an " object " and the action itself. Lexitecture is a podcast about etymology (the linguistics study of the origin and history of…

• Episode 129: Fine Film 2024-01-12

  In this episode, Amy keeps a thin lid on things with " film ", while Ryan is trying to figure out why there are so many different ways to be " fine ". For the record, the book is Synonyms Discriminated and it's by the Rev. Charles John Smi…

• Episode 128: Taskmaster Handicap 2023-11-10

  In this episode, Amy keeps everything on track as the " taskmaster ", while Ryan is trying to weigh how much cheese a duck costs with " handicap ". For those interested (which should be literally 100% of the listening audience), here is Ca…

• Episode 127: Pitch Harmony 2023-09-09

  In this episode, Amy keeps it all together with " harmony ", while Ryan is considering sticky angles with " pitch ", that he never knew in the first place. Lexitecture is a podcast about etymology (the linguistics study of the origin and h…

• Episode 126: Not Long Ago, with Erin 2023-08-01

  In this episode, Amy is joined by a very special guest for a live, in-person and totally Canadian-less episode, featuring long-time listener and avid academic Word Nerd, Erin Bell! Erin is currently pursuing a Masters degree in linguistics…

• Episode 125: Forget Flag 2023-07-05

  In this episode, Amy rails against a Glastonbury tradition with " flag ", while Ryan is remembering all kinds of things about " forget ", that he never knew in the first place. Lexitecture is a podcast about etymology (the linguistics stud…

• Episode 124: Frequent Folk 2023-06-05

  In this episode, Amy getting back to roots with " folk ", while Ryan is stuffing " frequent " repeatedly. Lexitecture is a podcast about etymology (the linguistics study of the origin and history of words). In each normal, increasingly inf…

• Episode 123: Every Cocktail 2023-05-15

  In this episode, Amy is mixing things up with " cocktail ", while Ryan is peeling back the many, many layers of " every ". Lexitecture is a podcast about etymology (the linguistics study of the origin and history of words). In each normal,…

• Episode 122: Quaint Dwang 2023-03-28

  In this episode, Amy is holding up the walls with a " dwang ", while Ryan is trying to be as skillful and ingenious as possible with " quaint ". Special and enormous thanks going out to our newest Patreon supporter: Fiona! Also, for anyone…

• Episode 121: Cataract Shed 2023-03-07

  In this episode, Amy is throwing shade at the world of the humble " shed ", while, Ryan is falling down and opening the floodgates with " cataract ". Lexitecture is a podcast about etymology (the linguistics study of the origin and history…

• Episode 120: Align, Malign, Benign 2023-02-03

  In this episode, Ryan is exploring - at the behest of listener Liz - whether there's a connection between " align ", " malign ", and " benign ". Lexitecture is a podcast about etymology (the linguistics study of the origin and history of w…

• Episode 119: Christmas Winter 2022-12-20

  In this episode, Amy delves into the cold and wet with " winter ", and Ryan learns what happens when you combine a Greek letter with a sort of early missile with " Christmas ". Lexitecture is a podcast about etymology (the linguistics stud…

• Episode 118: Cheesemonger Parade 2022-11-07

  In this episode, Amy takes learns that cheese has always sold itself with " cheesemonger ", and Ryan makes an ostentatious show of things for a " parade ". Special and enthusiastic thanks to Alyson, our newest Patreon sponsor!! Thank you A…

• Episode 117: Sloth Junk 2022-10-25

  In this episode, Amy takes her sweet time with " sloth ", and Ryan tries to make the most of old " junk ". Lexitecture is a podcast about etymology (the linguistics study of the origin and history of words). In each episode, a Canadian (Ry…

• Episode 116: Basic Harvest 2022-10-10

  In this episode, Amy finds a solid footing with " basic ", and Ryan revels in autumnal activities with " harvest ". Enormous and heartfelt merci to Joy, our latest Patreon supporter!! Lexitecture is a podcast about etymology (the linguisti…

• Episode 115: Draw Queue 2022-09-22

  In this long, long, LONG overdue episode, Amy traces the story of a national obsession with a " queue ", and Ryan pulls and drags his way through the story of " draw ". Lexitecture is a podcast about etymology (the linguistics study of the…

• Episode 114: Secret Dazzle 2022-08-08

  In this episode, Amy has a double dose of PIE with " secret ", and Ryan gets all befuddled (over and over again) with " dazzle ". Lexitecture is a podcast about etymology (the linguistics study of the origin and history of words). In each…

• Episode 113: Pickle Hiatus 2022-07-11

  In this episode, Amy gazes into the gaping void with " hiatus ", and Ryan gets into a small spot of minor trouble with " pickle ". Lexitecture is a podcast about etymology (the linguistics study of the origin and history of words). In each…

• Episode 112: Only Yesterday 2022-06-21

  In this episode, Amy is not quite back yet, so Ryan looks backwards and forwards with " yesterday " and thinks about the nature of "one" with " only " Lexitecture is a podcast about etymology (the linguistics study of the origin and histor…

• Episode 111: Sentimental Crusade 2022-05-16

  In this episode, Amy looks back to a " crusade " that never actually was, while Ryan gets into his feelings with " sentimental ". Lexitecture is a podcast about etymology (the linguistics study of the origin and history of words). In each…

• Episode 110: Pilates Charisma 2022-05-02

  In this episode, Amy strengthens her core understanding of " Pilates " while Ryan wonders how to achieve a new " charisma ". Lexitecture is a podcast about etymology (the linguistics study of the origin and history of words). In each episo…

• Episode 109: Listener Wordstravaganza 6! 2022-04-11

  In this episode, Ryan is diving back into the pile of listener suggestions to try to find the etymology behind " stubble ", to figure out why we drive on a parkway and park on a driveway, whether "the jig is up" or "the gig is up", and to…

• Episode 108: Gentle Negative 2022-03-28

  In this episode, Amy explores the necessarily derivative " negative " while Ryan tries, despite not being a gentleman, to be " gentle ". Lexitecture is a podcast about etymology (the linguistics study of the origin and history of words). I…

• Episode 107: Vulva Toilet 2022-03-14

  In this episode, Amy joins Team V with " vulva " while Ryan lays out a sumptuous " toilet ". Lexitecture is a podcast about etymology (the linguistics study of the origin and history of words). In each episode, a Canadian (Ryan) and a Scot…

• Episode 106: Devastated Orphan 2022-02-28

  In this episode, Amy is doling out some " devastation " while Ryan tries not to have too much fun with " orphan ". Lexitecture is a podcast about words. In each episode, a Canadian (Ryan) and a Scot (Amy) each present their current favouri…

• Episode 105: Oxter Lozenge 2022-02-14

  In this episode, Amy is up to her " oxters " in etymology and Ryan works on dissolving a " lozenge ". Lexitecture is a podcast about words. In each episode, a Canadian (Ryan) and a Scot (Amy) each present their current favourite word and t…

• Archaeolexy: Ginger 2022-01-31

  In this episode, we look back at some of our favourite words, starting with Amy's chopping up of " ginger " from Episode 23! Lexitecture is a podcast about words. In each episode, a Canadian (Ryan) and a Scot (Amy) each present their curre…

• Archaeolexy: Log 2022-01-24

  In this episode, we look back at some of our favourite words, starting with Ryan's notes on " log " from Episode 8! Lexitecture is a podcast about words. In each episode, a Canadian (Ryan) and a Scot (Amy) each present their current favour…

• Archaeolexy: Loaf 2022-01-17

  In this episode, we look back at some of our favourite words, starting with Ryan's look at " loaf " from Episode 6! Lexitecture is a podcast about words. In each episode, a Canadian (Ryan) and a Scot (Amy) each present their current favour…

• Archaeolexy: Serendipity 2022-01-10

  In this episode, we look back at some of our favourite words, starting with Amy's exploration of " serendipity " from our very first episode ever! Lexitecture is a podcast about words. In each episode, a Canadian (Ryan) and a Scot (Amy) ea…

• Episode 104: Fabulous Penguin 2021-12-20

  In this episode, Amy becomes a woman of stories with " fabulous " and Ryan connects Wales, Patagonia and the Round Table with " penguin ". Lexitecture is a podcast about words. In each episode, a Canadian (Ryan) and a Scot (Amy) each prese…

• Episode 103: Feisty Tire 2021-12-06

  In this episode, Amy learns to blame the dog for being " feisty " and Ryan to dress himself with " tire ". Lexitecture is a podcast about words. In each episode, a Canadian (Ryan) and a Scot (Amy) each present their current favourite word…

• Episode 102: Listener Wordstravaganza 5 2021-11-08

  In this episode, Ryan is all by his onesy, digging into the bag of listener suggestions and pulling out " manicure ", " care ", " pink ", and " endeavour ". Lexitecture is a podcast about words. In each (normal) episode, a Canadian (Ryan)…

• Episode 101: Vocable Fetish 2021-10-25

  In this episode, Amy communicates in non-word noises with " vocable " and Ryan learns how Eldritch White Men ruin everything with " fetish ". Lexitecture is a podcast about words. In each episode, a Canadian (Ryan) and a Scot (Amy) each pr…

• Episode 100: Surrogate Friend 2021-10-04

  In this episode, we hit a momentous and arbitrary-base-10-numbering-system milestone of 100 episodes! Amy gets cheesy with " friend " and Ryan asks for a sub with " surrogate " but the REAL story is all the amazing people who contributed c…

• Episode 99: Apothecary Curator 2021-09-20

  In this episode, Amy finds a place to put her stuff with " apothecary " and Ryan takes care of a " curator ". Lexitecture is a podcast about words. In each episode, a Canadian (Ryan) and a Scot (Amy) each present their current favourite wo…

• Episode 98: Monster Island 2021-09-06

  In this episode, Amy thinks about signs and portents with " monster " Ryan discovers just how silly a silent 's' can be with " island ". A huge shoutout of thanks to Tim and Thomas, our two newest Patreon supporters!! Lexitecture is a podc…

• Episode 97: Listener Wordstravaganza 4! 2021-08-23

  In this episode, Amy is all by her lonesome, answering listeners' burning etymological questions, including the relationship between " tradition " and " treason "; " thanks "; " plumber "; the homonyms " lead " and " lead "; " poison "; an…

• Episode 96: Lieutenant Beer 2021-08-10

  In this episode, Amy delves into the history of all human civilization with " beer " Ryan finds someone to hold his spot with " lieutenant ". Lexitecture is a podcast about words. In each episode, a Canadian (Ryan) and a Scot (Amy) each pr…

• Episode 95: Flirt Graph 2021-07-26

  In this episode, Amy cuts and charts with " graph " Ryan wonders which came first, the " flirt " or the fan. Lexitecture is a podcast about words. In each episode, a Canadian (Ryan) and a Scot (Amy) each present their current favourite wor…

• Episode 94: Two Nerds, One Yankee 2021-07-12

  In this episode, Amy suffers a technical glitch and Ryan wonders whether " yankee " is a Dutch sailor, a cheese-based nickname or just a word a Cambridge farmer really, really liked. Lexitecture is a podcast about words. In each episode, a…