The words of the English language constitute an incredible heritage, and every word has its own unique history. Originally published in 1984, The Private Lives of English Words tells the fascinating stories behind more than 400 words with a particularly interesting philological history. It describes their diverse origins and the intricate ways in which their meanings and forms have developed through the centuries. Based on the findings of linguistics, discussions of words in the entries are written to interest all lovers of words. In the explanations of how meanings of words have evolved, we find history and fancy, mythology and religion, cultural influences and the manners of society.

All in all, the book is a pleasant and easy-to-use resource for all who are interested in the vocabulary of English.

The words of the English language constitute an incredible heritage, and every word has its own unique history. Originally published in 1984, The Private Lives of English Words tells the fascinating stories behind more than 400 words with a particularly interesting philological history. It describes their diverse origins and the intricate ways in which their meanings and forms have developed through the centuries. Based on the findings of linguistics, discussions of words in the entries are written to interest all lovers of words. In the explanations of how meanings of words have evolved, we find history and fancy, mythology and religion, cultural influences and the manners of society.

All in all, the book is a pleasant and easy-to-use resource for all who are interested in the vocabulary of English.

In classic abecedarian fashion A B C Et Cetera, originally published in 1985, takes from the rich Roman cornucopia more than enough to demonstrate the fact that sixty percent of our working vocabulary descends directly from the Latin. Nothing in Roman culture – and Romance – is beyond the measure and mischief of the brothers Humez: not unicorns, Vestal Virgins, and maledicta balloons; not Roman nomenclature, dating systems and numbering; not Roman religion, education, humor, law, slavery, literature, and not, of course, the gluttonous Ampersand.

Originally published in 1981, Alpha to Omega is divided into twenty-four sections, each of which examines one letter of the Greek alphabet, looking at English words that come from Greek words beginning with the letter under discussion, and exploring the aspects of Greek culture behind the borrowed words. It also includes an examination of letters that were discarded from the Greek alphabet.

In classic abecedarian fashion A B C Et Cetera, originally published in 1985, takes from the rich Roman cornucopia more than enough to demonstrate the fact that sixty percent of our working vocabulary descends directly from the Latin. Nothing in Roman culture – and Romance – is beyond the measure and mischief of the brothers Humez: not unicorns, Vestal Virgins, and maledicta balloons; not Roman nomenclature, dating systems and numbering; not Roman religion, education, humor, law, slavery, literature, and not, of course, the gluttonous Ampersand.

Originally published in 1981, Alpha to Omega is divided into twenty-four sections, each of which examines one letter of the Greek alphabet, looking at English words that come from Greek words beginning with the letter under discussion, and exploring the aspects of Greek culture behind the borrowed words. It also includes an examination of letters that were discarded from the Greek alphabet.

The words of the English language constitute an incredible heritage, and every word has its own unique history. Originally published in 1984, The Private Lives of English Words tells the fascinating stories behind more than 400 words with a particularly interesting philological history. It describes their diverse origins and the intricate ways in which their meanings and forms have developed through the centuries. Based on the findings of linguistics, discussions of words in the entries are written to interest all lovers of words. In the explanations of how meanings of words have evolved, we find history and fancy, mythology and religion, cultural influences and the manners of society.

All in all, the book is a pleasant and easy-to-use resource for all who are interested in the vocabulary of English.

The words of the English language constitute an incredible heritage, and every word has its own unique history. Originally published in 1984, The Private Lives of English Words tells the fascinating stories behind more than 400 words with a particularly interesting philological history. It describes their diverse origins and the intricate ways in which their meanings and forms have developed through the centuries. Based on the findings of linguistics, discussions of words in the entries are written to interest all lovers of words. In the explanations of how meanings of words have evolved, we find history and fancy, mythology and religion, cultural influences and the manners of society.

All in all, the book is a pleasant and easy-to-use resource for all who are interested in the vocabulary of English.

In classic abecedarian fashion A B C Et Cetera, originally published in 1985, takes from the rich Roman cornucopia more than enough to demonstrate the fact that sixty percent of our working vocabulary descends directly from the Latin. Nothing in Roman culture – and Romance – is beyond the measure and mischief of the brothers Humez: not unicorns, Vestal Virgins, and maledicta balloons; not Roman nomenclature, dating systems and numbering; not Roman religion, education, humor, law, slavery, literature, and not, of course, the gluttonous Ampersand.

Originally published in 1981, Alpha to Omega is divided into twenty-four sections, each of which examines one letter of the Greek alphabet, looking at English words that come from Greek words beginning with the letter under discussion, and exploring the aspects of Greek culture behind the borrowed words. It also includes an examination of letters that were discarded from the Greek alphabet.

In classic abecedarian fashion A B C Et Cetera, originally published in 1985, takes from the rich Roman cornucopia more than enough to demonstrate the fact that sixty percent of our working vocabulary descends directly from the Latin. Nothing in Roman culture – and Romance – is beyond the measure and mischief of the brothers Humez: not unicorns, Vestal Virgins, and maledicta balloons; not Roman nomenclature, dating systems and numbering; not Roman religion, education, humor, law, slavery, literature, and not, of course, the gluttonous Ampersand.

Originally published in 1981, Alpha to Omega is divided into twenty-four sections, each of which examines one letter of the Greek alphabet, looking at English words that come from Greek words beginning with the letter under discussion, and exploring the aspects of Greek culture behind the borrowed words. It also includes an examination of letters that were discarded from the Greek alphabet.