Word Origins: The Hidden Histories of English Words from A to Z (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780713674989)

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
ISBN-10: 0713674989
ISBN-13: 9780713674989
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Language: English
Published: 10/01/2006
Pages: 574
Format: Paperback
Weight: 1.86lbs
Size: 9.18h x 6.12w x 1.19d