Where did the words in language come from? What do the origins of words say about our culture? And, how do the various meanings of words evolve over time. Read more about word origins: the stories they tell...
by Charles Earle Funk. HarperCollins. From the publisher: "There are hundreds of words in our common speech that originated or acquired their meanings in unusual ways, & the dictionaries cannot find the space to give us the stories. This book thoroughly & entertainingly tells the stories of these words & the circumstances that brought them into our language."
by Glynnis Chantrell (Editor). Oxford University Press. From the publisher: "The Oxford Dictionary of Word Histories describes the origins and sense development of thousands of words of the English language; dates are given where recorded evidence of use has been found, sourced by the ongoing research for the Oxford English Dictionary."
by Willard D. Sheeler, and R. W. Markley. University of Michigan Press. From the publisher: "The text is divided into five sections: Learning Words and Using a Dictionary; Deriving Words with Suffixes; Compound Words; Prefixes and Word Roots; and Social Usage of Words."
by Robert K. Barnhart (Editor). HarperCollins. From the publisher: "Written in a fresh, accessible style, this book provides the derivations of over 21,000 English-language words without resorting to the use of abbreviations, symbols, or technical terminology."
by Robert Hendrickson. Facts on File. From the publisher: "More than 9,000 entries over 2,000 new to this revised and expanded edition provide information and anecdotes on the origin and development of a wide range of words and phrases, including slang, nicknames, historical expressions, and more."
by Webb B. Garrison. From the publisher: "Here is a fascinating and humorous encyclopedia of more than three hundred words and phrases and how they have taken on new meanings over time. It is an informative reference book for the whole family. What's in a Word? is a sequel to Garrison's popular 'Why You Say It'."
by John Ayto. Arcade Publishing. From the publisher: "Written in a clear and informative style, the 'Dictionary of Word Origins' shows how English today has developed from its Indo-European origins and how diverse influences on the language have intermingled. This highly browsable reference also looks at the many new words and coinages that enter the language every year."
by William Morris, and Mary Morris. HarperCollins. From the publisher: "The first Edition of the Morris Dictionary of Word and Phrase Origins detailed the fascinating and little known stories behind thousands of words and phrases that we use every day. In this new edition, William and Mary Morris update and expand their classic work to keep pace with our ever changing language."
by Jordan Almond. Kensington Publishing Corporation. From the publisher: "Useful for reference and fun just for browsing, Dictionary of Word Origins is also a great way to expand vocabulary and enjoy doing it."
by Linda Flavell, and Roger Flavell. Kyle, Cathie Limited. From the publisher: "Words are the building blocks of language, but their derivations are often stories in themselves... With entries from accolade to zoo, and including such disparate items as blackmail, fiasco, and rigmarole, this dictionary explains the origins and development of 300 commonly used words."
