Prof. Dumbledore stood on a podium to speak from his owl lectern. Today’s investigation into the Oxford English Dictionary concerns two words, with a small hope that we can figure out what it is we ...

ORLANDO, Fla. – If you ever find yourself in a heated debate at the water cooler over the definition of platforms or stands (you probably won’t), consider yourself armed with the knowledge of a king.

First, a pet peeve I just have to get off my chest: It is not called a “podium,” it is called a “lectern.” A podium is a platform that you stand on in order to be seen by an audience. And if you don’t ...