Most of the words in our language have come down to us with little or no drama associated with their origins. But there are hundreds of words in our common speech that originated or acquired their meanings in unusual ways, and the dictionaries cannot find the space to give us the stories. This book thoroughly and entertainingly tells the stories of hundreds of these words and the circumstances that brought them into our language.

Thereby Hangs a Tale: Stories of Curious Word Origins (Harper Colophon Books)

Reference

Charles Earle Funk

Foreign Language Study & Reference

HarperReference

The Greek root of school means leisure.
A language where hearse and rehearse have the same root and the word dunce comes from a great philosopher, English has hundreds of every day words that originated or acquired their meaning 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.

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

Humor & Entertainment

Puzzles & Games

Harper Paperbacks

A Hog on Ice: And Other Curious Expressions

Words, Language & Grammar

WARNER BOOKS

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Books by Charles Earle Funk