For years I used the word “skyscraper” without giving it much thought. But teaching the word to a foreigner made me realize its literally meaning for the first time. It was the exact translation in his native tongue.

The origin of words continues to interest me; it demonstrates the interconnectedness between us.

If we think of the word “glace” which means ice in French, it is pronounced the same as “glass” in English. Since ice and glass share such a close physical resemblance there is little chance of this being a coincidence.

My inquiry into the etymologies of “ice”, “glass” and “glace” however, does not seem to support my theory, but I remain undeterred.