Alibris: English language Etymology

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1	I Didn't Know That: From "Ants in the Pants" to "Wet Behind the Ears" the Unusual Origins of the Things We Say more books like this by Karlen Evins (Read by) add to wishlist The producer and co-host of the national radio talk show "Beyond Reason" delivers a fun, fascinating, and informative collection of everyday expressions and their colorful origins. Illustrations. see all copies from $3.85! new only from $9.18!
2	Exploring Medical Language: A Student-Directed Approach more books like this by Myrna LaFleur Brooks add to wishlist "Exploring Medical Language" provides students in health care educational programs with the basic knowledge of medical language they need to communicate clearly and understand communication from other health care team members. LaFleur's strength has always been its clear presentation of not only medical terms built from word parts, but also those ... see all copies from $1.99! new only from $9.14! \| first editions \| SVS
3	Origins of the Specious: Myths and Misconceptions of the English Language more books like this by Patricia T O'Conner, Stewart Kellerman add to wishlist This witty and informative book debunks myths that bamboozle word-loving fansand offers a delightful primer on the eccentricities of the English language.288 pp. see all copies from $12.35! new only from $12.64! \| first editions \| SVS
4	Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue: The Untold Story of English more books like this by John McWhorter add to wishlist A survey of the quirks and quandaries of the English language, this work focuses on its strange and wonderful grammar. Delving into provocative topics and more, "Our Magnificent Bastard Language" distills hundreds of years of fascinating lore into one lively history. see all copies from $3.98! new only from $3.98! \| first editions \| SVS
5	Words Their Way: Word Sorts for Derivational Relations Spellers more books like this by Shane Templeton, Francine Johnston, Donald R Bear add to wishlist Words Their Way companion volumes, 2e We believe that the hands-on word sorting approach to word study is invaluable to you and your students. These stage-specific companion volumes to Words Their Way: Word Study for Phonics, Vocabulary, and Spelling Instruction provide a complete curriculum of reproducible sorts and detailed directions for the ... see all copies from $16.35! new only from $16.79! \| SVS
6	Inventing English: A Portable History of the Language more books like this by Professor Seth Lerer add to wishlist Why is there such a striking difference between English spelling and English pronunciation? How did our relatively simple grammar rules develop? What are the origins of regional dialect, literary language, and everyday speech, and what do they have to do with you? Based on the enormous success of his video and lecture series and the widespread ... see all copies from $9.45! new only from $13.38! \| first editions \| SVS
7	Word Myths: Debunking Linguistic Urban Legends more books like this by David Wilton add to wishlist Do you "know" that posh comes from an acronym meaning "port out, starboard home"? That "the whole nine yards" comes from (pick one) the length of a WWII gunner's belt; the amount of fabric needed to make a kilt; a sarcastic football expression? That Chicago is called "The Windy City" because of the bloviating habits of its politicians, and not the ... see all copies from $1.99! new only from $1.99! \| SVS
8	The Facts on File Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins more books like this by Robert Hendrickson add to wishlist This is an updated encyclopedia that explores the origins of thousands of words and phrases.The most comprehensive single-volume reference of its kind, "The Facts On File Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins, Fourth Edition" has been completely updated and expanded and now contains definitions and origins of more than 15,000 words and ... see all copies from $1.99! new only from $19.95! \| SVS
9	The Secret Life of Words: How English Became English more books like this by Henry Hitchings add to wishlist Communication is essential to our lives, but how often do we stop to think about where the words we use have come from? Have you ever thought about which words in English have been borrowed from Arabic, French or Dutch? Try admiral, landscape and marmalade just for starters. The Secret Life of Words is a wide-ranging account not only of the ... see all copies from $6.00! new only from $11.63! \| SVS
10	Keywords: A Vocabulary of Culture and Society more books like this by Professor Raymond Williams add to wishlist Now revised to include new words and updated essays, Keywords focuses on the sociology of language, demonstrating how the key words we use to understand our society take on new meanings and how these changes reflect the political bent and values of society. see all copies from $4.94! new only from $11.90! \| first editions \| SVS
11 view cover	Horsefeathers: & Other Curious Words more books like this by Charles Earle Funk add to wishlist If readers have ever wondered why the candy is called butterscotch; why a certain Southern food is called a hushpuppy; or why log supports in a fireplace are known as andirons, or, sometimes, firedogs; then they'll be fascinated by the origins of the over 600 words discussed in "a book that gets curiouser and curiouser as it goes along" ("San ... see all copies from $1.99! new only from $2.00! \| signed copies \| first editions \| SVS
12 view cover	The Dord, the Diglot, and an Avocado or Two: The Hidden Lives and Strange Origins of Common and Not-So-Common Words more books like this by Anu Garg, M.S. add to wishlist This collection features some of the most interesting stories and fascinating origins behind more than 300 words, names, and terms. For any devoted "philomath" (a lover of learning), this anthology of entertaining etymology is an ideal way to have fun with language. see all copies from $1.99! new only from $1.99!
13 view cover	The Whatchamacallit: Those Everyday Objects You Just Can't Name (and Things You Think You Know About, But Don't more books like this by Danny Danziger, Mark McCrum add to wishlist Danziger and McCrum have assembled an impressive--and fun--collection of true terms for things people use and see everyday but are unsure of what they are called. Whimsical and informative, this reference offers hours of fun for anyone who just likes to know stuff. see all copies from $12.50! new only from $13.27! \| first editions \| SVS
14 view cover	Chinese Characters: A Genealogy and Dictionary more books like this by Rick Harbaugh (Editor) add to wishlist see all copies from $19.70! new only from $19.70!
15 view cover	Word Origins... and How We Know Them: Etymology for Everyone more books like this by Anatoly Liberman add to wishlist "Millions of people want to know the origin of the words they use. Word columns in daily newspapers and numerous books attempt to satisfy their curiosity. Word histories are usually digested like pills: the user is interested in getting well, not in the chemistry of the prescribed medication. Those who send letters to the Editor also want a ... see all copies from $2.16! new only from $6.95! \| first editions \| SVS
16 view cover	Sparkle and Spin: A Book about Words more books like this by Ann Rand, Mr. Paul Rand add to wishlist Through harmony and rhythm, resonance and pitch, Ann Rand inspires readers tolisten to the tuneful play of her text as it sings off each page. see all copies from $3.49! new only from $6.13! \| first editions
17 view cover	The Oxford Dictionary of Word Histories more books like this by Glynnis Chantrell (Editor) add to wishlist The Oxford Dictionary of Word Histories describes the origins and sense development of thousands of core words of the English language; dates are given where recorded evidence of use has been found sourced by the ongoing research for the Oxford English Dictionary. Additional word histories outside this core group are included for words with a ... see all copies from $1.99! new only from $3.99! \| first editions
18 view cover	Who Put the Butter in Butterfly: And Other Fearless Investigations Into Our Illogical Language more books like this by David Feldman add to wishlist A hilarious book from the author of the runaway bestseller Why Do Clocks Run Clockwise? and Other Imponderables illustrating funny foibles of the English language for the incurably curious. see all copies from $1.99! new only from $2.00! \| first editions \| SVS
19 view cover	Why You Say It: The Fascinating Stories Behind Over 600 Everyday Words and Phrases more books like this by Webb B Garrison add to wishlist Ambrose E. Burnside, a one-time manufacturer of rifles, is the only man who twice refused command of the Army of the Potomac in the Civil War - only to accept the post under stern orders from President Lincoln. He was three-time governor of Rhode Island and a U.S. senator. Yet Burnside is remembered most for the term "sideburns" - which is named ... see all copies from $1.99! new only from $5.75! \| first editions
20 view cover	Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology more books like this by Robert K Barnhart (Editor) add to wishlist For all those interested in the history of the English language, this is the first serious dictionary focusing on contemporary American English and directed toward the average reader. see all copies from $22.45! new only from $29.98! \| first editions \| SVS
21 view cover	Why You Say It more books like this by Webb B Garrison add to wishlist Wny You BY WEBB B. GARRISON Illustrated ly Henry R. Martin ABINGDON PRESS NEW YORK NASHVILLE To BRUCE and BEATRICE BLACKMAR GOULD Connoisseurs of Words Foreword Words and phrases are like persons. Some are dull and stodgy, while others are very good company indeed. It is from the ranks of the latter group that the words in this volume have been ... see all copies from $1.99! new only from $7.00! \| SVS
22 view cover	The Oxford Dictionary of Allusions more books like this by Andrew Delahunty, Sheila Dignan, Penelope Stock add to wishlist Allusions form a colourful extension to the English language, drawing on our collective knowledge of literature, mythology, and the Bible to give us a literary shorthand for describing people, places, and events. So a miser is a Scrooge, a strong man is a Samson or a Hercules, a beautiful woman is a Venus or a modern-day Helen of Troy - we can ... see all copies from $1.99! new only from $9.92! \| first editions \| SVS
23 view cover	When a Loose Cannon Flogs a Dead Horse There's the Devil to Pay: Seafaring Words in Everyday Speech more books like this by Olivia A Isil, Isil Olivia add to wishlist Have you ever wondered about the origin of "son of a gun," "flotsam and jetsam," or "hunky-dory"? You'll find the nautical derivation of these expressions and more than 250 others in this collection of nautical metaphors and colloquialisms. In addition, this book includes thought-provoking and entertaining examples of these words drawn from ... see all copies from $1.99! new only from $8.16! \| SVS
24 view cover	Common Phrases: And Where They Come from more books like this by Myron Korach, John B Mordock add to wishlist Discover the fascinating stories behind hundreds of commonly used words and phrases. see all copies from $1.99! new only from $2.00! \| first editions \| SVS
25	Vocabulary Energizers II: Stories of Word Origins more books like this by David Popkin add to wishlist see all copies from $1.99!

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	Heavens to Betsy!: & Other Curious Sayings by Charles Earle Funk see all from $1.99! new only from $2.00!
	The Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology by C T Onions (Editor), G W S Friedrichsen, Robert W Burchfield see all from $22.23! new only from $62.84!
	Medical Terminology for Health Professions by Ann Ehrlich see all from $1.99! new only from $39.85!
	Why Do Clocks Run Clockwise? and Other Imponderables: Mysteries of Everyday Life Explained by David Feldman see all from $1.99! new only from $1.99!
	Culture and Society 1780-1950 by Professor Raymond Williams see all from $9.99! new only from $31.63!
	Alphabet Juice: The Energies, Gists, and Spirits of Letters, Words, and Combinations Thereof; Their Roots, Bones, Innards, Piths, Pips, and Secret Parts, Tinctures, Tonics, and Essences; With Examples of Their Usage Foul and Savory by Roy Blount, Jr. see all from $2.35! new only from $2.35!