Word histories and mysteries: from abracadabra to Zeus
Publisher:
Houghton Mifflin Co
Pub. Date:
2004
Language:
English
Description
Did you know that cats are related etymologically to caterpillars? Or that Thomas Edison played a key role in popularizing the use of the greeting “Hello”? Or that muscles were originally mice, since a flexed biceps looks like a little rodent scurrying under the skin?
Word Histories and Mysteries provides a panoramic view of the unique richness of English, uncovering the origins of five hundred everyday words whose surprising and often amusing stories offer insights into the history of humankind. Arranged in convenient alphabetical order, the notes are written in a lively and entertaining style perfect for browsing. The reader can learn how some of the most recent words, such as the computer term wiki, were coined, or trace the origins of English back to the Indo-European language spoken long before the invention of writing.
A short introduction outlines the techniques linguists use to trace the history of words, and a handy glossary explains the linguistic terms that describe the ways in which language changes over time. Photographs and drawings help familiarize the reader with the ancient objects or cultural practices from which our words have sprung.
Fascinating and fun to read, Word Histories and Mysteries is an ideal gift for high school or college students interested in language and for anyone who wants to know more about the curious sounds we make to communicate every day.
Word Histories and Mysteries provides a panoramic view of the unique richness of English, uncovering the origins of five hundred everyday words whose surprising and often amusing stories offer insights into the history of humankind. Arranged in convenient alphabetical order, the notes are written in a lively and entertaining style perfect for browsing. The reader can learn how some of the most recent words, such as the computer term wiki, were coined, or trace the origins of English back to the Indo-European language spoken long before the invention of writing.
A short introduction outlines the techniques linguists use to trace the history of words, and a handy glossary explains the linguistic terms that describe the ways in which language changes over time. Photographs and drawings help familiarize the reader with the ancient objects or cultural practices from which our words have sprung.
Fascinating and fun to read, Word Histories and Mysteries is an ideal gift for high school or college students interested in language and for anyone who wants to know more about the curious sounds we make to communicate every day.
More Details
Contributors:
ISBN:
9780618454501
Staff View
Grouping Information
Grouped Work ID | e3aa365b-7528-09dc-79be-ec574270f4aa |
---|---|
Grouping Title | word histories and mysteries from abracadabra to zeus |
Grouping Author | houghton mifflin |
Grouping Category | book |
Grouping Language | English (eng) |
Last Grouping Update | 2023-09-29 01:08:25AM |
Last Indexed | 2023-10-03 05:09:00AM |
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Houghton Mifflin Company
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Ashland Vaughn Public Library
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Books
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Non Fiction
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Ashland Vaughn Public Library
owning_location_ashland
Ashland Vaughn Public Library
primary_isbn
9780618454501
publishDate
2004
publisher
Houghton Mifflin Co
recordtype
grouped_work
subject_facet
Dictionaries
English language -- Etymology -- Dictionaries
English language -- Etymology -- Dictionaries
title_display
Word histories and mysteries : from abracadabra to Zeus
title_full
Word histories and mysteries : from abracadabra to Zeus / from the editors of the American Heritage dictionaries
title_short
Word histories and mysteries
title_sub
from abracadabra to Zeus
topic_facet
English language
Etymology
Etymology
Solr Details Tables
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