Accidental Dictionary, The: The Remarkable Twists and Turns of English Words

Accidental Dictionary, The: The Remarkable Twists and Turns of English Words
Paul Anthony Jones
Our Price:
NZ$ 22.99
Paperback
h198 x 129mm - 224pg
13 Jun 2019 UK
International import eta 7-19 days
9781783964383
Out Of Stock
Currently no stock in-store, stock is sourced to your order
Our everyday language is full of surprises; its origins are stranger than you might think. Any word might be knocked and buffeted, subjected to twists and turns, expansions and contractions, happy and unhappy accidents. There are intriguing tales behind even the most familiar terms, and they can say as much about the present as they do the past. Busking, for instance, originally meant piracy. Grin meant to snarl. A bimbo was a man; nice meant ignorant; glamor was magic, and a cupboard was a table. Buxom used to mean obedient; a cloud was a rock; raunchy originally meant dirty. Focusing on one hundred surprising threads in the evolution of English, The Accidental Dictionary reveals the etymological origins and quirky developments that have led to the meanings we take for granted today. It is a weird and wonderful journey into words. So, let's revel in its randomness and delight in its diversity-our dictionary is indeed accidental.
Status: Active
ISBN-13: 9781783964383
Published: 13 Jun 2019
Published In: United Kingdom
Imprint: Elliott & Thompson
Publisher: Elliott & Thompson
Format: Paperback
Height: 198mm
Width: 129mm
Pages: 224

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