Dictionary of Word Origins - Softcover

Flavell, Linda And Roger Flavell.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1856263711 ISBN 13: 9781856263719

Publisher: Trafalgar Square,, 2001

Synopsis

A fascinating guide to the origins and histories of more than 300 commonly used English words from the authors of The Chronology of Words and Phrases, Dictionary of Proverbs and Their Origins and The Dictionary of Idioms and Their Origins.

About this title

From the Publisher

Words are the building blocks of language, but their derivations are often stories in themselves. Have you ever wondered why we wear perfume, read magazines, vote for candidates, speak in jargon? 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. In selecting words for inclusion, Linda and Roger Flavell have chosen those with a story to tell. The result is an enlightening guide to the richness and diversity of the English language, boasting both scholarly accuracy and much to delight the curious browser.

About the Author

Linda Flavell holds a degree in modern languages and qualifications in primary and secondary teaching. Roger Flavell's Master's thesis was on the nature of idiomaticity, and his doctorate on idioms and their teaching in several European languages. He has recently retired from the University of London Institute of Education, where he was head of the department of English for Speakers of Other Languages. Their other books for Kyle Cathie are The Chronology of Words and Phrases, Dictionary of Idioms and Dictionary of Proverbs, which is being reissued at the same time as Dictionary of Word Origins.

Edition details

• Publisher: Trafalgar Square,
• Publication date: 2001
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1856263711
• ISBN 13: 9781856263719
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 288