The term "maven" became common in political parlance during the 1980s when William Safire, the conservative mantelpiece at the New York Times, began describing himself as "the language maven." A maven ...

In psychology, a phobia is defined as a type of anxiety disorder: an intense, persistent, and irrational fear of a specific object, situation or activity that is disproportionate to the actual danger.

Hoplophobia (fear of firearms) can be treated. The Dec. 24 letter “Sanity needed in gun debate” describes “not just a gun-free zone but (one free of) any advertising for guns and gun shops.” “Is that ...