Thereby Hangs a Tale: Stories of Curious Word Origins (Perennial Library)

Charles Earle Funk

ISBN 10: 006272049X / ISBN 13: 9780062720498

Published by Harper Paperbacks (edition ), 1905

About this Item

The item might be beaten up but readable. May contain markings or highlighting, as well as stains, bent corners, or any other major defect, but the text is not obscured in any way.

Seller Inventory # 006272049X-7-1-13

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Thereby Hangs a Tale: Stories of Curious Word Origins (Perennial Library)
• Publisher: Harper Paperbacks (edition )
• Publication Date: 1905
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 006272049X
• ISBN 13: 9780062720498
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: Fair

About this title

Synopsis

From “mad as a wet hen” to “corn dodger” and “hobgoblin,” Charles Funk’s collections of curious words and expressions are a treasure trove of word origin.

In a language where hearse and rehearse have the same root and the word dunce comes from a great philosopher, English has hundreds of everyday words that originated or acquired their meanings in unusual ways. Dictionaries don’t have the space to tell us all the mysteries but now Dr. Funk, with humor and insight, tells us the strange and intriguing stories of hundreds of words and how they came to be a part of our language.

About the Author

Charles Earle Funk was editor in chief of the Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary Series. He wrote several other books on word and phrase origins, including Horsefeathers, Heavens to Betsy!, and Thereby Hangs a Tale.