Dear Humans,

The Oxford English Dictionary just called “rizz” the word of the year. Short for “charisma,” it means one’s ability to attract or impress others. 

When I was growing up, we had a different word for it. And my parents had a different word for it. And my grandparents had their own word for it. Because, as the saying goes, every generation thinks they invented love and romance. 

And though all of these words describe roughly the same thing, there have been changes to courtship over the years. And we know that because our language reveals it. When things change–even slightly–the words we use for it change as well.

Sincerely,

Mr. Curt