"Backwards word" update: Some recent Bits discussed those few words derived from other words spelled backwards, like the electrical unit mho (derived from "ohm"). We recently noticed that "wonk" (an overly studious person) spelled backwards is "know," and thought we discovered another member of this exclusive club. But alas, according to all the dictionaries we checked, "wonk" and "know" are unrelated.

Surprisingly, only on ...

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