Dictionary of Word Origins PDF Download

Author: John Ayto
Publisher:
ISBN: 9787506215879
Category : English language
Languages : en
Pages : 582

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Book Description

Author: John Ayto
Publisher: Arcade
ISBN: 9781611450538
Category : Reference
Languages : en
Pages : 592

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Book Description
Uncover the hidden and often surprising connection between words. Written in a clear and informative style, the more than 8,000 articles reveal the origins of and links between some of the most common English-language words. What is the link between map and apron, acrobat and oxygen, zeal and jealousy, flour and pollen, secret and crime? Did you know that crimson originally comes from the name of tiny scale insects, the kermes, from whose dried bodies a red dyestuff is made? That Yankee began as a nickname for Dutchmen? That omelette evolved from amulette, “a thin sheet of metal,” and is a not-too-distant cousin of the word laminate? That jeans find their antecedent in jean fustian, meaning “a cotton fabric from Genoa”? They also contain an extensive selection of words whose life histories are intrinsically fascinating or instructive. This dictionary shows how modern English has developed from its Indo-European roots and how the various influences on the language—from migration and invasion to exploration, trade, technology, and scholarship—have intermingled. It is an invaluable addition to any English or linguistics library.

Author: John Ayto
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780747554486
Category : English language
Languages : en
Pages : 582

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Book Description
The histories of over 8,000 words explained in an authoritative and accessible style.

Author: John Ayto
Publisher: A&C Black Business Information and Development
ISBN: 9780713674989
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 576

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Book Description
The average contemporary English speaker knows 50,000 words. Yet stripped down to its origins, this apparently huge vocabulary is in reality much smaller, derived from Latin, French and the Germanic languages. It is estimated that every year, 800 neologisms are added to the English language: acronyms (nimby), blended words (motel), and those taken from foreign languages (savoir-faire). Laid out in an A-Z format with detailed cross references, and written in a style that is both authoritative and accessible, Word Origins is a valuable historical guide to the English language.

Author: John Ayto
Publisher: A&C Black
ISBN: 1408101602
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 983

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Book Description
The average contemporary English speaker knows 50,000 words. Yet stripped down to its origins, this apparently huge vocabulary is in reality much smaller, derived from Latin, French and the Germanic languages. It is estimated that every year, 800 neologisms are added to the English language: acronyms (nimby), blended words (motel), and those taken from foreign languages (savoir-faire). Laid out in an A-Z format with detailed cross references, and written in a style that is both authoritative and accessible, Word Origins is a valuable historical guide to the English language.

Author: Fred Sedgwick
Publisher: A&C Black
ISBN: 1847062741
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 442

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Book Description
An invaluable guide to the fascinating origins of everyday words crafted into pithy annecdotes and facts.

Author: Julia Cresswell
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN: 0199547939
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 514

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Book Description
Contains alphabetically arranged entries that explore the origin, evolution, and social history of over three thousand English language words.

Author: John Ayto
Publisher:
ISBN: 9789810137250
Category : English language
Languages : en
Pages : 467

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Book Description

Author: Joseph T Shipley
Publisher: Open Road Media
ISBN: 1504068041
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 1067

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Book Description
This extensive reference volume presents the etymological history of thousands of English words. The story of how words come to be is the story of how humans think, and how we fashion our civilizations. Words can be the product of long and intertwining histories, migrations from other languages, or new coinages of science or slang. This diversity of origins is part of what gives the English language its beauty and power. In Dictionary of Word Origins, etymologist Joseph T. Shipley provides a fascinating window into the evolution of modern English, from the onomatopoetic aspect of “abash” to the animalistic origins of “zodiac.”

Author: Julia Cresswell
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0192639374
Category : Reference
Languages : en
Pages : 1042

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Book Description
Newly updated to incorporate recent additions to the English language, the Oxford Dictionary of Word Origins provides a fascinating exploration of the origins and development of over 3,000 words in the English language. Drawing on Oxford's unrivalled dictionary research programme and language monitoring it brings to light the intriguing and often unusual stories of some of our most used words and phrases. The A-Z entries include the first known use of the term along with examples, related lexes, and expressions which uncover the etymological composition of each word. Also featured are 22 special panels that give overviews of broad topic areas, 5 of which are completely new and that variously cover words from Oceania, word blends, eponyms, and acronyms. New findings in the OED since the previous edition have also been added, including emoji, mansplain, meeple, meme, and spam. An absorbing resource for language students and enthusiasts, but also an intriguing read for any person interested in the development of the English language, and of language development in general. It also includes an extended introduction on the history of the English language.