I created Rootl, a daily word game based on etymology, because I love words.
Words mean so much more than their dictionary definition. A word is a living, breathing entity with a past, present, and future. Like any living thing, it evolves over time, sometimes developing in new and unexpected ways. Understanding that story – a science called “etymology” – makes you appreciate a word in a whole new way.
Every day, Rootl players attempt three puzzles where they must guess ordinary words from the English language. I provide clues based on what the words used to mean at some time in their past. The challenge and the fun is to see the present through the lens of history.
As a reward for playing, each puzzle finishes with a bit of background on the word, including facts about its history, some interesting observations about its usage, or sometimes just a link to a fun movie, TV show, or book where the word was used.
In addition to playing the game, the following resources are available:
And I’d be remiss if I didn’t offer a shoutout to my primary research source, the Online Etymology Dictionary.
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