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Synopsis
A witty and fascinating foray into the origins of words reveals the historical and literary figures who have lent their names to the English language--from Achille's heel to Reverend William Archibald Spooner's spoonerisms--in the hopes of keeping it colorful and lively. 12,500 first printing.
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About the Author
Eugene Ehrlich is a retired member of the Department of English and Comparative Literature at Columbia University.
Reviews
Ehrlich is the author of at least six other books on language, notably Amo, Amas, Amat and More (LJ 5/1/85). Here he defines some 550 words, ranging from Achilles heel to spoonerisms, that come from names of persons celebrated for their contributions to medicine, science, business, academia, or entertainment. Unlike similar books, this one includes words that originate in the names of mythological and literary characters. Each entry includes the part of speech, related forms, and a short definition as well as lengthy historical background. The entries are entertaining, often ending with a humorous "kick line." This is a great book for the browser, but its reference value is compromised by its lack of indexing. It is one of a small crowd of popular dictionaries of eponyms that have appeared recently, among them Andrew Sholl's Wellingtons, Watts & Windsor Knots (NTC Pub., 1997), David Muschell's What's in the Word?: Origins of Words Dealing with People and Places (McGuinn & McGuire, 1996), Morton Freeman and Edwin Newman's New Dictionary of Eponyms (Oxford Univ., 1997), and Dorothy Auchter's Dictionary of Historical Allusions & Eponyms (LJ 8/98). Auchter's title is probably the best of the bunch.?Paul A. D'Alessandro, Portland P.L., ME
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WHAT'S IN A NAME? : How Proper Names Became Everyday Words
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Henry Holt & Company [1999], New York, 1999
ISBN 10: 0805059423
ISBN 13: 9780805059427
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WHAT'S IN A NAME? How Proper Names Became Everyday Words
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ISBN 13: 9780805059427
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