Spencer Parks

The Dictionary

I read the English Dictionary in short sections, comment on it, make bad jokes, and sometimes sing little songs. I hope it’s more entertaining than just reading the dictionary alone. It’s an evolving project so the letter ”A” had lower quality, plus less commenting and jokes.

Author

Spencer Parks

Category

Education

Podcast website

rss.com

Latest episode

Jul 10, 2026

Where to listen?

Podcasts in the app Replaio Radio Coming soon

Podcasts are coming to the app soon. Install now and be the first to see a whole new take on podcasts

Get it on Google Play Install for free Android 5M+ downloads · 4.8 rating iOS soon

Episodes

#E69 (emf to emirate) 07.12.2023

I read from emf to emirate.     "Eminent domain" has a number of names throughout the world.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eminent_domain     There are 7 Emirates that make up the "United Arab Emirates". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Arab_Emirates     The word of the episode is "emic".     Theme music from Jonah Kraut https://jonahkraut.bandcamp.com/     Merchandising! https://www.teepubli...

#E68 (emergency medical technician to émeute) 06.12.2023

I read from emergency medical technician to émeute.     Evolution is a fascinating topic. It seems like "Darwinism" is the prevailing thought when it comes to evolution but this first link takes you to alternative theories. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternatives_to_Darwinian_evolution https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergent_evolution https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theistic_evolution     The word...

#E67 (embryophyte to emergency brake) 05.12.2023

I read from embryophyte to emergency brake.     Here's a very long timelapse of corn! https://youtu.be/9nQ6d3A2cTs?si=P9toEcoxabCfGGH8     I asked Kevin Stroud of "The History of English Podcast" about the change of "s" to "e" in words like "emerald" and this is what he sent me (thanks Kevin!): With regard to your question, the source of the change was Late Latin. It appears that the people who sp...

#E66 (embroidery to embryonic membrane) 04.12.2023

I read from embroidery to embryonic membrane.     The word of the episode is "embryonated". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embryonated     Theme music from Tom Maslowski https://zestysol.com/     Merchandising! https://www.teepublic.com/user/spejampar     "The Dictionary - Letter A" on YouTube   "The Dictionary - Letter B" on YouTube   "The Dictionary - Letter C" on YouTube   "The Dictionary - Lett...

#E65 (emboss to embroider) 01.12.2023

I read from emboss to embroider.     The word of the episode is "embrace".     Theme music from Jonah Kraut https://jonahkraut.bandcamp.com/     Merchandising! https://www.teepublic.com/user/spejampar     "The Dictionary - Letter A" on YouTube   "The Dictionary - Letter B" on YouTube   "The Dictionary - Letter C" on YouTube   "The Dictionary - Letter D" on YouTube   "The Dictionary - Letter E" on...

#E64 (emblem to emboss) 30.11.2023

I read from emblem to emboss.     If you want to prevent embolisms, the best things are to eat right, exercise regularly, don't sit too long, and don't smoke.      The word of the episode is "embonpoint".     Theme music from Tom Maslowski https://zestysol.com/     Merchandising! https://www.teepublic.com/user/spejampar     "The Dictionary - Letter A" on YouTube   "The Dictionary - Letter B" on Yo...

#E63 (embayment to emblazonry) 29.11.2023

I read from embayment to emblazonry.     The reason there's so many dates for Ember Days is because it's celebrated quarterly. It's from the Latin "quatuor tempora". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ember_days     The word of the episode is "emblazonry".     Theme music from Jonah Kraut https://jonahkraut.bandcamp.com/     Merchandising! https://www.teepublic.com/user/spejampar     "The Dictionary -...

#E62 (embarrass to embay) 28.11.2023

I read from embarrass to embay.     The word of the episode is "embarrass".     Theme music from Tom Maslowski https://zestysol.com/     Merchandising! https://www.teepublic.com/user/spejampar     "The Dictionary - Letter A" on YouTube   "The Dictionary - Letter B" on YouTube   "The Dictionary - Letter C" on YouTube   "The Dictionary - Letter D" on YouTube   "The Dictionary - Letter E" on YouTube...

#E61 (emancipate to embark) 27.11.2023

I read from emancipate to embark.     The word of the episode is "emancipate". It took 2.5 years for all slaves in the US to be free after the Emancipation Proclamation was put into effect.  Too bad they didn't have TV, social media, etc to get the word spread faster.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emancipation_Proclamation     Theme music from Jonah Kraut https://jonahkraut.bandcamp.com/     Merc...

#E60 (elves to emanation) 24.11.2023

I read from elves to emanation.     The word of the episode is "elytron". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elytron Here's a lady bug opening it's elytron! https://youtu.be/WyM-2BkQom8?si=MHymm73kDzTNkaZ5     Theme music from Tom Maslowski https://zestysol.com/     Merchandising! https://www.teepublic.com/user/spejampar     "The Dictionary - Letter A" on YouTube   "The Dictionary - Letter B" on YouTub...

#E59 (eloquent to elver) ft. Josh Pilch 23.11.2023

I read from eloquent to elver with Josh Pilch. Check out his stuff: https://www.instagram.com/thejoshpilchshow/     It's a bit dated, but here's an article that talks about the word usage in some They Might Be Giants songs. https://www.themarysue.com/tmbg-lyrics-word-frequency/     Go listen to Dracula's Deuce! Any time of year! https://spotify.link/sr5Gn1uSWDb     You definitely need to at least...

#E58 (elm bark beetle to eloquence) 22.11.2023

I read from elm bark beetle to eloquence.     The word of the episode is "elocution". "elocution" literally just means "to speak out". Go ahead! Elocute about you think needs to be said!  https://www.etymonline.com/word/elocution#etymonline_v_5751 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elocution     Theme music from Tom Maslowski https://zestysol.com/     Merchandising! https://www.teepublic.com/user/speja...

#E57 (elk to elm) 21.11.2023

I read from elk to elm.     The word of the episode is "elliptical galaxy". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elliptical_galaxy     Theme music from Jonah Kraut https://jonahkraut.bandcamp.com/     Merchandising! https://www.teepublic.com/user/spejampar     "The Dictionary - Letter A" on YouTube   "The Dictionary - Letter B" on YouTube   "The Dictionary - Letter C" on YouTube   "The Dictionary - Lette...

#E56 (Elijah to Elizabethan) 20.11.2023

I read from Elijah to Elizabethan.     The "Elite" font on a typewriter is smaller than "Pica". That seems backwards to me but I don't get a say in the matter.  https://typewriterreview.com/2015/10/14/the-dirty-secret-of-typewriters/     45 years seems like a good long reign for Elizabeth I. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_I     The word of the episode is "elite".     Theme music from Tom...

#E55 (elevator music to eligible) 17.11.2023

I read from elevator music to eligible.     Elevator music isn't just played in elevators! https://www.benvaughn.com/the-most-popular-elevator-music/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elevator_music     The word of the episode is "elf".     Theme music from Jonah Kraut https://jonahkraut.bandcamp.com/     Merchandising! https://www.teepublic.com/user/spejampar     "The Dictionary - Letter A" on YouTub...

#E54 (elephantiasis to elevator) 16.11.2023

I read from elephantiasis to elevator.     Elephantiasis is NOT also called Elephantitis. We've been wrong all these years! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elephantiasis     The word of the episode is "elephant in the room". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elephant_in_the_room     Theme music from Tom Maslowski https://zestysol.com/     Merchandising! https://www.teepublic.com/user/spejampar     "The...

#E53 (elemental to elephant grass) 15.11.2023

I read from elemental to elephant grass.     A short little talk about Elemental.  https://youtu.be/UB9kzN8OeBE?si=OtCPzJyHLmsM5Pw2     The word of the episode is "elementary school".     Theme music from Jonah Kraut https://jonahkraut.bandcamp.com/     Merchandising! https://www.teepublic.com/user/spejampar     "The Dictionary - Letter A" on YouTube   "The Dictionary - Letter B" on YouTube   "The...

#E52 (elements) ft. Jax and Rob from [melter] 14.11.2023

I read the elements with Jax and Rob from the band [melter].   Check out their links!  https://meltermusic.com/album/melter   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meltermusic/   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/meltermusic   Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/00uK5nhTRgZleccQZkA2hd?si=d2yyT0qbSAme0_9X3W6Dqg     The word of the episode is "element". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_el...

#E51 (elegance to element) 13.11.2023

I read from elegance to element.     I love this ambigram of the "original elements". https://www.reddit.com/r/DesignPorn/comments/8ee24i/four_elements_ambigram/     The word of the episode is "elegiac".     Theme music from Jonah Kraut https://jonahkraut.bandcamp.com/     Merchandising! https://www.teepublic.com/user/spejampar     "The Dictionary - Letter A" on YouTube   "The Dictionary - Letter...

#E50 (electroshock to eleemosynary) 10.11.2023

B.B. Butters reads from electroshock to eleemosynary.     It's more fun to say "electroshock" but the proper name, these days, is "electroconvulsive therapy. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electroconvulsive_therapy     The word of the episode is "eleemosynary".     Theme music from Tom Maslowski https://zestysol.com/     Merchandising! https://www.teepublic.com/user/spejampar     "The Dictionary -...

#E49 (electropherogram to electroscope) 09.11.2023

I read from electropherogram to electroscope.     Oh fun! Another thing I don't understand at all!  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrophoresis     Electricity is complicated. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrophorus     The word of the episode is "electrophoretogram". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electropherogram     Theme music from Jonah Kraut https://jonahkraut.bandcamp.com/     Merchand...

#E48 (electronic publishing to electroosmosis) 08.11.2023

I read from electronic publishing to electroosmosis.     The word of the episode is "electrooculography". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrooculography     Theme music from Tom Maslowski https://zestysol.com/     Merchandising! https://www.teepublic.com/user/spejampar     "The Dictionary - Letter A" on YouTube   "The Dictionary - Letter B" on YouTube   "The Dictionary - Letter C" on YouTube   "...

#E47 (electrometallurgy to electronic mail) 07.11.2023

I read from electrometallurgy to electronic mail.     Electrometers have really changed over the years. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrometer     Ooh! Electromotive force has fun formulas! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromotive_force     You gotta check those muscles! Electromyography! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromyography And here you can hear what it sounds like. It's very cli...

#E46 (electrolysis to electromechanical) 06.11.2023

I read from electrolysis to electromechanical.     Here you go! Check out Jonah and myself talking about the film Gaslight from 1944. Obviously I encourage you to watch it while you're watching the movie like a commentary.  https://youtu.be/LdnnDFmyokw     The word of the episode is "electromagnetism". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetism     Theme music from Tom Maslowski https://zestys...

#E45 (electrodialysis to electroluminescent) 03.11.2023

I read from electrodialysis to electroluminescent.     I don't have time to learn Electrodynamics, but it seems interesting! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_electromagnetism     I feel so dumb reading about things like "electrojet". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrojet     The word of the episode is "electroluminescent". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electroluminescence     Theme music...

Listen to the The Dictionary podcast in Replaio

Radio and podcasts in one app - free, with no sign-up. Install today and do not miss the launch

Get it on Google Play

Replaio is not a podcast publisher; show names, artwork and audio belong to their authors and are distributed through public RSS feeds.