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Topic: Okay

Today marks 225 years since the birth of our eighth president: Martin Van Buren, who had a home in what is sometimes called Old Kinderhook, New York, was born on this date in 1782.

What's the significance of Van Buren's homestead? Just this: it played a role in the establishment of one of the most widespread words in any language. Need a hint as to which word? Think initials.

During the 1830s, the collision of two fads helped create the word okay. First, humorists adopted deliberate misspellings, so that all correct might be (and in fact, was) spelled oll korrect. Second, it became quite trendy for folks to abbreviate longer phrases, much as folks nowadays type BRB or LOL for Be right back or laugh out loud on electronic messaging. As you may have figured out, this coincidence of fads helped create OK.

Then, during the presidential election of 1840, Van Burens' supporters were dubbed the OK Club, ostensibly after Old Kinderhook, but clearly with an eye to the popular phrase. The election season was filled with what might be politely called high jinks: name-calling on both sides, coupled with rallies heavy on demagoguery and light on substance, made the papers and helped contribute to the spread of the term OK. Ultimately, although the incumbent Van Buren lost his bid for re-election, his race helped okay win a seat in the lexicon.

Questions or comments? Write us at wftw@aol.com Production and research support for Word for the Wise comes from Merriam-Webster, publisher of language reference books and Web sites including Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition.