The Oxford Dictionary of Word Histories

by Glynnis Chantrell

Book Overview

The Oxford Dictionary of Word Histories describes the origins and sense development of over 11,000 words in the English language. Well-known idioms such as "say it with flowers" are highlighted with the dates of their original use and how and when they came about. Colorful popular beliefs are explored about the origins of words like "posh" and "snob," and insights are given into our social history revealed by language development such as the connection...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0198631219
• ISBN13: 9780198631217
• Release Date: October 2002
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
• Length: 568 Pages
• Weight: 2.08 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.5" x 9.3" x 6.7"

Customer Reviews

Could have been better...

This is a slightly disappointing book. Not because it isn't a quality book, but because there's a non-Oxford book in publication that's better: John Ayto's Dictionary of Word Origins. Here's an example of how they differ on entries. First is the Oxford entry, second is Ayto's. PREY [Middle English] Early noun use included the sense 'plunder taken in war' (=that which is 'seized'); it comes from Old French preie, from Latin praeda 'boot'. The verb is from Old French preir, based on Latin praedari 'seize as plunder', from praeda. The verbal phrase prey upon is found from early times. ---- PREY Prey comes via Old French prei from Latin praeda 'booty' (from which was derived the word paredari 'plunder', source of English depradation and predatory). This was a contraction of an earlier praeheda, a noun formed with the prefix prae-'before' from the same base (*hed- 'saize', source also of English get) as produced the verb praehendere 'seize'. This has been a rich source of English vocabulary, contributing through different channels such a varied assortment as prehensile, prison, and prize 'something seized in war', not to mention prefixed forms like apprehend, comprehend, comprise, impgregnable, reprehensible, reprieve, and surprise. It is also the ancestor of French prendre 'take'. Both are complete entries, but one is obviously more complete than the other.