RE: Etymology and the Magic of Words
LOL, the immortals. Well, "fake news" popped up, and "post-truth" went into the dictionary... so the hype and popularity can get new words added, or add meaning or change meaning to old words. But indeed, there are only a few keeper of definition like merriam-webster, oxford, etc.
I have found etymology to uncover more meaning and oppositional meaning in some cases, but also saw how it could be reflected in reality in that dual way.
It definitely starts implied or pointed to (ostensible) so that we at least know what the hell a sound means in relation to reality hehe. Dada is not mama hehe. Then abstraction and further development help. I learned most of my vocabulary by reading books though, not structured formal education which I hardly learned anything about what I now know. To get a better vocabulary, sometimes the environment of society isn't providing it, so we need to develop more on our own, and books help. I know you meant the crap in school though, and I agree hehe.
Indeed, etymology is interesting and reading is the best way to expand ones vocabulary. It's a floccinaucinihilipilification though if people don't know what you're talking about, you just come across as inaniloquent 😜