Skip to content
Menu Button
Scan a barcode
Scan
My Lists
Scan a barcode
Scan
Sell your books for cash or store credit, and shipping is free! Try ThriftBooks BuyBack →

Etymology

Explore More

Academic Success
American Sign Language
Ancient
Anthropology
Celtic Mythology
Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking Skills
Cultural Anthropology
Dictionaries
Dictionaries & Terminology
Early Civilization
Educational
English Language
Ethnomusicology
European History
Evolution
Evolutionary Biology
Folklore
Folklore & Mythology
Genealogy
Grammar
Grammar Rules
Greek Mythology
Historical Context
History & Theory
Japanese Language
Language
Language Acquisition
Language Arts
Language Learning
Language Studies
Linguistics
Listening Skills
Mythology
Mythology & Folklore
Natural History
Parts Of Speech
Phonics
Prehistoric
Pronunciation
Punctuation
Reading
Reading Comprehension
Semantics
Sentence Structure
Social Studies
Spanish Language
Spelling
Syntax
Test Preparation
Thesauruses
Verb Conjugation
Vocabulary
Vocabulary Building
Writing

Explore More

Academic Success
American Sign Language
Ancient
Anthropology
Celtic Mythology
Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking Skills
Cultural Anthropology
Dictionaries
Dictionaries & Terminology
Early Civilization
Educational
English Language
Ethnomusicology
European History
Evolution
Evolutionary Biology
Folklore
Folklore & Mythology
Genealogy
Grammar
Grammar Rules
Greek Mythology
Historical Context
History & Theory
Japanese Language
Language
Language Acquisition
Language Arts
Language Learning
Language Studies
Linguistics
Listening Skills
Mythology
Mythology & Folklore
Natural History
Parts Of Speech
Phonics
Prehistoric
Pronunciation
Punctuation
Reading
Reading Comprehension
Semantics
Sentence Structure
Social Studies
Spanish Language
Spelling
Syntax
Test Preparation
Thesauruses
Verb Conjugation
Vocabulary
Vocabulary Building
Writing

Top Picks

The Merriam-Webster New Book of Word Histories
The Merriam-Webster New Book of Word Histories
Merriam-Webster

from $4.19

Devious Derivations
Devious Derivations
Hugh Rawson

from $5.99

The Wordsworth Dictionary of Foreign Words in English (Paperback)
The Wordsworth Dictionary of Foreign Words in English (Paperback)
John Ayto

from $5.39

THE OXFORD DICTIONARY OF WORD HISTORIES.
THE OXFORD DICTIONARY OF WORD HISTORIES.
Glynnis Chantrell

from $5.59

Word Nerd: More Than 18,000 Fascinating Facts About Words
Word Nerd: More Than 18,000 Fascinating Facts About Words
Barbara Ann Kipfer

from $5.69

Phraseology: Thousands of Bizarre Origins, Unexpected Connections, and Fascinating Facts about English's Best Expressions
Phraseology: Thousands of Bizarre Origins, Unexpected Connections, and Fascinating Facts about English's Best Expressions
Barbara Ann Kipfer

from $4.79

Word Origins: An Exploration and History of Words and Language
Word Origins: An Exploration and History of Words and Language
Wilfred Funk

from $5.99

New York Times Everyday Reader's Dictionary of Misunderstood, Misused, & Mispronounced Words
New York Times Everyday Reader's Dictionary of Misunderstood, Misused, & Mispronounced Words
Laurence Urdang

from $5.09

The World in a Phrase: A History of Aphorisms
The World in a Phrase: A History of Aphorisms
James Geary

from $5.59

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology (Oxford Paperback Reference)
The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology (Oxford Paperback Reference)
T.F. Hoad

from $16.53

Bestsellers

The Surgeon of Crowthorne: A Tale of Murder, Madness and the Oxford English Dictionary
The Surgeon of Crowthorne: A Tale of Murder, Madness and the Oxford English Dictionary
Simon Winchester

from $4.29

The Mother Tongue: The Story of the English Language
The Mother Tongue: The Story of the English Language
Bill Bryson

from $4.29

Scholastic Dictionary Of Idioms
Scholastic Dictionary Of Idioms
Marvin Terban

from $4.19

Word Power Made Easy
Word Power Made Easy
Norman Lewis

from $3.69

Panati's Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Things
Panati's Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Things
Charles Panati

from $4.29

The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language
The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language
American Heritage

from $4.99

The Highly Selective Dictionary For The Extraordinarily Literate
The Highly Selective Dictionary For The Extraordinarily Literate
Eugene Ehrlich

from $3.99

2107 Curious Word Origins, Sayings and Expressions from White Elephants to Song Dance
2107 Curious Word Origins, Sayings and Expressions from White Elephants to Song Dance
Charles Earle Funk

from $5.99

The Meaning of Everything: The Story of the Oxford English Dictionary
The Meaning of Everything: The Story of the Oxford English Dictionary
Simon Winchester

from $4.49

The Name Book: Over 10,000 Names Their Meanings, Origins, and Spritual Significance
The Name Book: Over 10,000 Names Their Meanings, Origins, and Spritual Significance
Dorothy Astoria

from $4.79

Etymology

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage
Merriam-Webster

from $4.99

Dictionary of Latin and Greek Origins
Dictionary of Latin and Greek Origins
Maxine Moore

from $8.19

Essential Idioms in English
Essential Idioms in English
Robert James Dixson

from $5.39

The Facts on File Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins (Facts on File Writer's Library)
The Facts on File Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins (Facts on File Writer's Library)
Robert Hendrickson

from $5.99

Grammar in Use Workbook with Answers (Grammar in Use)
Grammar in Use Workbook with Answers (Grammar in Use)
William R. Smalzer

from $7.69

The Adventure of English: The Biography of a Language
The Adventure of English: The Biography of a Language
Melvyn Bragg

from $5.29

Watch Your Language!: Mother Tongue and Her Wayward Children
Watch Your Language!: Mother Tongue and Her Wayward Children
Robert M. Gorrell

from $5.69

Carpe Diem - Seize the Day: A Little Book of Latin Phrases
Carpe Diem - Seize the Day: A Little Book of Latin Phrases
Sean McMahon

from $6.79

Bioscientific Terminology: Words from Latin and Greek Stems
Bioscientific Terminology: Words from Latin and Greek Stems
Donald M. Ayers

from $7.49

The American Heritage Dictionary of Indo-European Roots
The American Heritage Dictionary of Indo-European Roots
Calvert Watkins

from $6.59

Crazy English
Crazy English
Richard Lederer

from $4.79

Buried Treasure: Hidden Wisdom from the Hebrew Language
Buried Treasure: Hidden Wisdom from the Hebrew Language
Susan Lapin

from $8.79

By Jove! Brush Up Your Mythology
By Jove! Brush Up Your Mythology
Michael Macrone

from $5.59

BLACK TALK
BLACK TALK
Geneva Smitherman

from $4.49

A Student's Vocabulary for Biblical Hebrew and Aramaic
A Student's Vocabulary for Biblical Hebrew and Aramaic
Larry A. Mitchel

from $6.99

It's Greek to Me
It's Greek to Me
Michael Macrone

from $5.39

Veni, Vidi, Vici: Conquer Your Enemies, Impress Your Friends with Everyday Latin
Veni, Vidi, Vici: Conquer Your Enemies, Impress Your Friends with Everyday Latin
Eugene Ehrlich

from $5.29

The Lost Language of Symbolism (Dover Books on Anthropology and Folklore)
The Lost Language of Symbolism (Dover Books on Anthropology and Folklore)
Harold Bayley

from $19.69

Aspire: Discovering Your Purpose Through the Power of Words
Aspire: Discovering Your Purpose Through the Power of Words
Kevin Hall

from $4.79

Defining the World: The Extraordinary Story of Dr Johnson’s Dictionary
Defining the World: The Extraordinary Story of Dr Johnson’s Dictionary
Henry Hitchings

from $4.39

Dictionaries & Thesauruses

Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology
Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology
Robert K. Barnhart

from $23.49

The F-word
The F-word
Jesse Sheidlower

from $6.09

Chambers Dictionary of Etymology (Dictionary)
Chambers Dictionary of Etymology (Dictionary)
Robert K. Barnhart

from $32.30

The New Strong's Guide To Bible Words An English Index To Hebrew And Greek Words
The New Strong's Guide To Bible Words An English Index To Hebrew And Greek Words
James Strong

from $6.59

The Lexicographer's Dilemma: The Evolution of "Proper" English, from Shakespeare to South Park
The Lexicographer's Dilemma: The Evolution of "Proper" English, from Shakespeare to South Park
Jack Lynch

from $7.09

Euphemania: Our Love Affair with Euphemisms
Euphemania: Our Love Affair with Euphemisms
Ralph Keyes

from $4.19

Depraved and Insulting English
Depraved and Insulting English
Ammon Shea

from $15.00

How the Irish Invented Slang: The Secret Language of the Crossroads (Counterpunch)
How the Irish Invented Slang: The Secret Language of the Crossroads (Counterpunch)
Daniel Cassidy

from $7.89

Dictionary of Jewish Words (JPS Guides)
Dictionary of Jewish Words (JPS Guides)
Joyce K. Eisenberg

from $5.79

The Pirate Dictionary
The Pirate Dictionary
Terry Breverton

from $4.19

Forgotten English: A Merry Guide to Antiquated Words, Packed with History, Fun Facts, Literary Excerpts, and Charming Drawings
Forgotten English: A Merry Guide to Antiquated Words, Packed with History, Fun Facts, Literary Excerpts, and Charming Drawings
Jeffrey Kacirk

from $5.69

Brewer's Dictionary of Modern Phrase & Fable
Brewer's Dictionary of Modern Phrase & Fable
Ebenezer Cobham Brewer

from $5.89

The Oxford Dictionary of Foreign Words and Phrases (Oxford Paperback Reference)
The Oxford Dictionary of Foreign Words and Phrases (Oxford Paperback Reference)

from $4.39

The Origins of English Words: A Discursive Dictionary of Indo-European Roots
The Origins of English Words: A Discursive Dictionary of Indo-European Roots
Joseph Twadell Shipley

from $12.99

Dictionary of Word Origins
Dictionary of Word Origins
Linda Flavell

from $6.89

Doublespeak Defined: Cut Through the Bull**** and Get the Point!
Doublespeak Defined: Cut Through the Bull**** and Get the Point!
William D. Lutz

from $8.79

Dictionary of Proverbs
Dictionary of Proverbs
Roger Flavell

from $6.69

Word Stems: A Dictionary
Word Stems: A Dictionary
John Kennedy

from $5.39

Salty Dog Talk: The Nautical Origins of Everyday Expressions
Salty Dog Talk: The Nautical Origins of Everyday Expressions
Richard McCloskey

from $4.99

I Didn't Know That: From "Ants in the Pants" to "Wet Behind the Ears"--the Unusual Origins of the Things We Say
I Didn't Know That: From "Ants in the Pants" to "Wet Behind the Ears"--the Unusual Origins of the Things We Say
Karlen Evins

from $4.79

Language Arts

The Elements of Eloquence: How to Turn the Perfect English Phrase
The Elements of Eloquence: How to Turn the Perfect English Phrase
Mark Forsyth

from $16.39

The New Joys of Yiddish: Completely Updated
The New Joys of Yiddish: Completely Updated
Leo Rosten

from $6.49

Word Magic: The Powers and Occult Definitions of Words
Word Magic: The Powers and Occult Definitions of Words
Pao Chang

from $13.99

Shakespeare Lexicon and Quotation Dictionary: A Complete Dictionary of All the English Words, Phrases, and Constructions in the Works of the Poet (Volume I)
Shakespeare Lexicon and Quotation Dictionary: A Complete Dictionary of All the English Words, Phrases, and Constructions in the Works of the Poet (Volume I)
Alexander Schmidt

from $6.69

English from the Roots Up: Help for Reading, Writing, Spelling, and S.A.T. Scores: Greek Latin, Vol. 1
English from the Roots Up: Help for Reading, Writing, Spelling, and S.A.T. Scores: Greek Latin, Vol. 1
Joegil K. Lundquist

from $29.29

So to Speak: 11,000 Expressions That'll Knock Your Socks Off
So to Speak: 11,000 Expressions That'll Knock Your Socks Off
Harold Kobliner

from $5.19

They Have a Word for It: A Lighthearted Lexicon of Untranslatable Words & Phrases
They Have a Word for It: A Lighthearted Lexicon of Untranslatable Words & Phrases
Howard Rheingold

from $4.59

The Word Museum: The Most Remarkable English Words Ever Forgotten
The Word Museum: The Most Remarkable English Words Ever Forgotten
Jeffrey Kacirk

from $5.59

Ad Infinitum: A Biography of Latin
Ad Infinitum: A Biography of Latin
Nicholas Ostler

from $5.99

A Dictionary of American Idioms
A Dictionary of American Idioms
M T Boatner

from $5.19

The Horologicon: A Day's Jaunt Through the Lost Words of the English Language
The Horologicon: A Day's Jaunt Through the Lost Words of the English Language
Mark Forsyth

from $5.59

Grammar Snobs Are Great Big Meanies: A Guide to Language for Fun and Spite
Grammar Snobs Are Great Big Meanies: A Guide to Language for Fun and Spite
June Casagrande

from $5.09

Vocabulary Workshop: Level Green
Vocabulary Workshop: Level Green
Jerome Shostak

from $6.39

The Little Book of Lost Words: Collywobbles, Snollygosters, and 86 Other Surprisingly Useful Terms Worth Resurrecting
The Little Book of Lost Words: Collywobbles, Snollygosters, and 86 Other Surprisingly Useful Terms Worth Resurrecting
Joe Gillard

from $9.89

Amo, Amas, Amat and More
Amo, Amas, Amat and More
Eugene Ehrlich

from $4.49

The Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology
The Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology
Charles Talbut Onions

from $39.19

Mad As a Wet Hen: And Other Funny Idioms
Mad As a Wet Hen: And Other Funny Idioms
Marvin Terban

from $4.79

Standing by Words: Essays
Standing by Words: Essays
Wendell Berry

from $8.39

Vocabulary from Classical Roots: Book E
Vocabulary from Classical Roots: Book E
Nancy Fifer

from $8.29

Dictionary of Word Origins
Dictionary of Word Origins
Joseph Twadell Shipley

from $5.19

Linguistics

The Liar's Dictionary
The Liar's Dictionary
Eley Williams

from $4.89

The Highly Selective Thesaurus for the Extraordinarily Literate
The Highly Selective Thesaurus for the Extraordinarily Literate
Eugene Ehrlich

from $5.19

Wordslut: A Feminist Guide to Taking Back the English Language
Wordslut: A Feminist Guide to Taking Back the English Language
Amanda Montell

from $17.15

Word by Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries
Word by Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries
Kory Stamper

from $4.89

Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language
Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language
Merriam-Webster

from $6.18

Vocabulary from Classical Roots B
Vocabulary from Classical Roots B
Norma Fifer

from $6.19

Lost in Translation: An Illustrated Compendium of Untranslatable Words
Lost in Translation: An Illustrated Compendium of Untranslatable Words
Ella Frances Sanders

from $4.49

The American Heritage College Dictionary. Third Edition
The American Heritage College Dictionary. Third Edition
American Heritage

from $4.61

Other-Wordly: Words Both Strange and Lovely from Around the World
Other-Wordly: Words Both Strange and Lovely from Around the World
Yee-Lum Mak

from $6.89

Dictionary of Idioms and Their Origins
Dictionary of Idioms and Their Origins
Linda Flavell

from $7.69

Heavens to Betsy! and Other Curious Sayings
Heavens to Betsy! and Other Curious Sayings
Charles Earle Funk

from $4.69

Etymological Dictionary of Modern English (L-Z)
Etymological Dictionary of Modern English (L-Z)
Ernest Weekley

from $8.09

Webster's New World Large Print Dictionary
Webster's New World Large Print Dictionary
Webster's New World

from $5.39

The Language of Food: A Linguist Reads the Menu
The Language of Food: A Linguist Reads the Menu
Dan Jurafsky

from $4.49

Word Origins ... and How We Know Them: Etymology for Everyone
Word Origins ... and How We Know Them: Etymology for Everyone
Anatoly Liberman

from $6.99

Word Roots Beginning
Word Roots Beginning
Cherie A. Plant

from $12.99

a Concise Etymological Dictionary of the English Language
a Concise Etymological Dictionary of the English Language
Walter W. Skeat

from $8.99

How to Spell Like a Champ
How to Spell Like a Champ
Paige Kimble

from $5.39

A Dictionary of Yiddish Slang & Idioms
A Dictionary of Yiddish Slang & Idioms
Fred Kogos

from $4.89

Ox, House, Stick: The Story of Our Alphabet (Do You Really Know Your ABC's?)
Ox, House, Stick: The Story of Our Alphabet (Do You Really Know Your ABC's?)
Don Robb

from $6.69

Reference

The Languages of Middle-Earth
The Languages of Middle-Earth
Ruth S. Noel

from $8.39

Concise Oxford English Dictionary
Concise Oxford English Dictionary
Oxford University Press

from $6.19

Longman Dictionary of American English
Longman Dictionary of American English
Addison Wesley Longman

from $4.39

The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language
The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language
American Heritage

from $3.59

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Current English
The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Current English
R.E. Allen

from $6.39

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
A.S. Hornby

from $5.59

Websters New Universal Unabridged Dictionary
Websters New Universal Unabridged Dictionary
Merriam-Webster

from $6.39

The Secret Universe of Names: The Dynamic Interplay of Names and Destiny
The Secret Universe of Names: The Dynamic Interplay of Names and Destiny
Roy Feinson

from $4.99

Webster's New Explorer Large Print Dictionay
Webster's New Explorer Large Print Dictionay
Anonymous

from $5.59

Twenty-First Century Desk Reference Set: Dictionary
Twenty-First Century Desk Reference Set: Dictionary
Walter C. Kidney

from $5.49

Random House Word Menu: New and Essential Companion to the Dictionary
Random House Word Menu: New and Essential Companion to the Dictionary
Stephen Glazier

from $4.99

The My-Fun-With-Words Dictionary, Book 1 A-K
The My-Fun-With-Words Dictionary, Book 1 A-K
James Ertel

from $5.79

Oregon Geographic Names
Oregon Geographic Names
Lewis A. McArthur

from $13.69

Cowboy Slang: Colorful Cowboy Sayings
Cowboy Slang: Colorful Cowboy Sayings
Edgar R. Potter

from $6.09

The New York Times Crossword Puzzle Dictionary
The New York Times Crossword Puzzle Dictionary
Clare Grundman

from $5.69

My Fun with Words Dictionary Book 2 L-Z
My Fun with Words Dictionary Book 2 L-Z
James Ertel

from $5.49

The Random House Dictionary of the English Language
The Random House Dictionary of the English Language
Stuart Berg Flexner

from $12.29

Schottenfreude: Meisterwerke der deutschen Sprache (German Edition)
Schottenfreude: Meisterwerke der deutschen Sprache (German Edition)
Ben Schott

from $4.89

Wilson's Old Testament Word Studies
Wilson's Old Testament Word Studies
William Wilson

from $5.19

Webster's American English Dictionary, Newest Edition
Webster's American English Dictionary, Newest Edition
Merriam-Webster

from $3.99

Words, Language & Grammar

The Loom of Language
The Loom of Language
Frederick Bodmer

from $12.79

An Exaltation of Larks: The Ultimate Edition
An Exaltation of Larks: The Ultimate Edition
James Lipton

from $4.19

The Joys of Yiddish
The Joys of Yiddish
Leo Rosten

from $5.39

Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue: The Untold Story of English
Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue: The Untold Story of English
John McWhorter

from $7.29

The Story of English
The Story of English
William Cran

from $4.39

Dictionary of Word Roots and Combining Forms
Dictionary of Word Roots and Combining Forms
Donald J. Borror

from $8.89

The Unfolding of Language: An Evolutionary Tour of Mankind's Greatest Invention
The Unfolding of Language: An Evolutionary Tour of Mankind's Greatest Invention
Guy Deutscher

from $7.49

The Superior Person's Book of Words
The Superior Person's Book of Words
Peter Bowler

from $4.79

Concise Dictionary of English Etymology
Concise Dictionary of English Etymology
Walter W. Skeat

from $6.89

Webster's Dictionary of English Usage
Webster's Dictionary of English Usage
Anonymous

from $6.19

The Pun Also Rises: How the Humble Pun Revolutionized Language, Changed History, and Made Wordplay More Than Some Antics
The Pun Also Rises: How the Humble Pun Revolutionized Language, Changed History, and Made Wordplay More Than Some Antics
John Pollack

from $4.49

Mrs. Byrne's Dictionary of Unusual, Obscure, and Preposterous Words: Gathered from Numerous and Diverse Authoritative Sources
Mrs. Byrne's Dictionary of Unusual, Obscure, and Preposterous Words: Gathered from Numerous and Diverse Authoritative Sources
Josefa Heifetz Byrne

from $55.59

The First Word: The Search for the Origins of Language
The First Word: The Search for the Origins of Language
Christine Kenneally

from $5.29

English Words from Latin and Greek Elements
English Words from Latin and Greek Elements
Donald M. Ayers

from $5.19

Sniglets (Snig'lit : Any Word That Doesn't Appear in the Dictionary, But Should)
Sniglets (Snig'lit : Any Word That Doesn't Appear in the Dictionary, But Should)
Rich Hall

from $16.49

The American Language
The American Language
H.L. Mencken

from $9.69

Language Myths
Language Myths
Laurie Bauer

from $4.79

Inventing English: A Portable History of the Language
Inventing English: A Portable History of the Language
Seth Lerer

from $4.59

Origins: A Short Etymological Dictionary of Modern English
Origins: A Short Etymological Dictionary of Modern English
Eric Partridge

from $6.69

Why Do We Say It? The Stories Behind the Words, Expressions and Cliches We Use
Why Do We Say It? The Stories Behind the Words, Expressions and Cliches We Use
Castle Books

from $4.19

The commonality among these books is that they explore the English language, its origins, evolution, and usage. They cover topics such as etymology, synonyms, antonyms, idioms, obscure words and their meanings, spelling rules, grammar rules, and vocabulary building strategies. Some of the books have a humorous tone while others are more academic in nature. Additionally, some books explore the history and evolution of language more broadly or focus on specific languages such as Hebrew or Yiddish.

Trustpilot

Popular Categories

Website

My Account

Partnerships

Quick Help

About Us

ThriftBooks sells millions of used books at the lowest everyday prices. We personally assess every book's quality and offer rare, out-of-print treasures. We deliver the joy of reading in recyclable packaging with free standard shipping on US orders over $15. ThriftBooks.com. Read more. Spend less.

Follow Us

Link to Facebook
Link to Twitter
Link to Pinterest
Link to Tumblr
Link to Instagram
Copyright © 2024 Thriftbooks.com Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information | Cookie Policy | Cookie Preferences | Accessibility Statement
ThriftBooks® and the ThriftBooks® logo are registered trademarks of Thrift Books Global, LLC
GoDaddy Verified and Secured