52. Zemblanity

This week, Emily and Kyle look at a real doozy of a word, zemblanity, and its equally delightful companion word, serendipity. They find out how these two words are linked to the island nation of Sri Lanka, and to a cozy Persian fairy tale about a trio of lucky princes. And the winding tale of these words leads them to a famous Walpole, and his involvements in politics, gothic architecture, and letter-writing. They explore zemblanity’s inevitable origin in a book called Armadillo and an island off the coast of Russia. They also hone in on exactly how serendipity and zemblanity are opposites. Last, but certainly not least, they touch on the idea of serendipitous discovery and invention, and reveal the greatest of all dinosaurs. Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike. Like and follow us on Instagram and Facebook @ButterNoParsnipsPodcast Support us! ⁠www.patreon.com/ButterNoParsnips⁠ Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore