Thereby Hangs a Tale: Stories of Curious Word Origins
Language: English
Published by HarperCollins Publishers Inc, 1985
- Softcover
- Used
Seller: World of Books Inc, Montgomery, IL, U.S.A.World of Books Inc
AbeBooks seller since March 23, 2026
Condition: Used - Good
US$ 6.41
Quantity: 2 available
Add to basketItem description from seller
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.
Seller Inventory # CIN006091260XG
- Title
- Thereby Hangs a Tale: Stories of Curious Word Origins
- Author
- Charles Earle Funk
- Publisher
- HarperCollins Publishers Inc
- Publication year
- 1985
- Condition
- Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- Language
- English
- ISBN 10
- 006091260X
- ISBN 13
- 9780060912604
"Synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
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.
"About the title" may belong to another edition of this title.
World of Books Inc
Montgomery, IL, U.S.A.
AbeBooks seller since March 23, 2026
Shipping rates within U.S.A.
| Item | 4 to 12 business days | 3 to 6 business days |
|---|---|---|
| First item | US$ 0.00 | US$ 10.95 |
Payment methods
Store description
Founded in 2002, World of Books is a leading online destination for buying and selling both preloved and new books, committed to making sustainable reading accessible to all. With a mission to help people read more and waste less, World of Books offers a huge range of affordable, high-quality books — giving both new and preloved titles a second life. The company also operates World of Books – Sell Your Books, an easy-to-use platform that allows customers to trade in unwanted books for cash, helping to keep books in circulation while promoting sustainability. As a Certified B Corp, World of Books is driven by a vision to become the world’s largest and most sustainable dedicated online bookstore. The company measures its success through the positive environmental impact it creates, the value it provides to customers, and its ability to operate profitably while supporting its sustainable mission …
Specialty
Second Hand - All GenreSeller's business information
SBYB, Inc.
900 Knell Road
Montgomery, IL U.S.A. 60538