University of Pennsylvania speechwriter Josh Piven found a website he thinks you should know about: Time Traveler, from Merriam-Webster.
It spits out words and phrases that first appeared in general usage in a given year, going back to the 12thcentury.
“We are often called on to write speeches that commemorate or celebrate something that happened in a specific year,” Piven says. “The humor (among other) possibilities are endless. So, if you’re ever stuck, it’s a handy shortcut to open a speech.”