More Word Histories And Mysteries: From Aardvark to Zombie

by Editors of the American Heritage Di

Overview

Did you know that school originally meant “free time”? Or that a gymnasium was originally a “nude practice area”? Or that nachos are named after Ignacio “Nacho” Anaya, who created them? The fascinating stories of these words and over three hundred more are told in More Word Histories and Mysteries: From Aardvark to Zombie.

In this companion to the popular Word Histories and Mysteries: From Abracadabra to Zeus, the most surprising stories in the history of English vocabulary are told as a series of brief notes written in a lively and entertaining style. Conveniently arranged in alphabetical order, the notes explore all corners of the dictionary, from everyday words like flak and sideburns to scientific terms like nitrogen to regionalisms like lagniappe.
The history of many words is traced back to Egypt, India, and other ancient cultures.

A short introduction sketches the history of the English language and American regional dialects. A handy glossary defines special terms for readers who wish to learn more about linguistics and also gives information about the exotic languages that have enriched our vocabulary.
Photographs and drawings enliven the pages and illuminate the understanding of word histories.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780618716814
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	10/25/2006
Pages:	306
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.25(h) x 0.64(d)
Age Range:	11 - 13 Years

About the Author

The Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries are a team of professional lexicographers with advanced degrees in various scholarly fields. The editors familiarize themselves with the vocabulary in specific subject areas, collect materials on new developments and usage, and work with expert consultants to ensure that the content of our publications is as accurate and as up-to-date as possible.

Editorial Reviews

[More Word Histories and Mysteries]continues an enjoyable series of words with colorful histories.
The Chicago Tribune

The book's informative yet informal writing style ... [appeals] to the amateur enthusiast ... accessibility is further enhanced by a useful glossary.
Library Journal —

From the Publisher

Compiled by the editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries, this follow-up to 2004's Word Histories and Mysteries emphasizes the huge number of source languages from which English draws its vast vocabulary-from Sanskrit to French and beyond. The introductory pages give the reader a brief overview of the methods and aims of etymology and a potted history of the origins of English. Having whetted the reader's appetite with this concise background, the editors then present an alphabetical listing of words and their etymology. Each of the 300-plus entries is about half a page to a page long and briefly outlines the origins of the word, its use, and the evolution of its meaning. There is a particular concentration on regional American terms, such as "pone," "stoop," and "goober," with explanations of these terms' localized history and use. Bottom Line The book's informative yet informal writing style would appeal to the amateur enthusiast, and accessibility is further enhanced by a useful glossary of linguistic terms. Suitable for public and secondary school libraries.-Rebecca Bollen Manalac, Sydney, Australia Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Library Journal