The Etymologicon: A Circular Stroll Through the Hidden Connections of the English Language
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Book Overview
This perfect gift for readers, writers, and literature majors alike unearths the quirks of the English language. For example, do you know why a mortgage is literally a "death pledge"? Why guns have girls' names? Why "salt" is related to "soldier"? Discover the answers to all of these etymological questions and more in this fascinating book for fans of of Eats, Shoots & Leaves. The Etymologicon is a completely unauthorized guide to the strange underpinnings of the English language. It explains how you get from "gruntled" to "disgruntled"; why you are absolutely right to believe that your meager salary barely covers "money for salt"; how the biggest chain of coffee shops in the world connects to whaling in Nantucket; and what, precisely, the Rolling Stones have to do with gardening. This witty book will awake the linguist in you and illuminate the hidden meanings behind common words and phrases, tracing their evolution through all of their surprising paths throughout history.
Format:Paperback
Language:English
ISBN:0425260798
ISBN13:9780425260791
Release Date:October 2012
Publisher:Berkley Books
Length:304 Pages
Weight:0.53 lbs.
Dimensions:0.9" x 5.0" x 7.7"
Age Range:18 years and up
Grade Range:Postsecondary and higher
Customer Reviews
1 rating
Extraordinary!
Published by Sally , 3 months ago
What an interesting, informative and fun read! I recommend it so highly to any word geeks!
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