The Wordspotter's Guide

Etymological Adventures Through the English Language

Olivia Swarthout

Description

Olivia Swarthout turns her idiosyncratic and humorous eye to the fascinating roots of the English language. Here, she introduces readers to wordspotting, a hobby for those who love words and their peculiarities, origins and histories.

From the seemingly modern unfriend – which dates back to the seventeenth century – to the revelation that the leotard was named after its inventor Jules Léotard, The Wordspotter's Guide brims with fascinating linguistic tidbits alongside advice and techniques for detecting the bizarre and unlikely commonalities between words and their meanings.

An invitation to pay better attention to words and their stories, this etymological romp will bring out the wordspotter in everyone.

Details

  • Format
    Paperback
  • Pages
    336
  • Size
    220 x 135mm
  • Publisher
    Prion
  • ISBN
    9781805226208
Stock Code
260684
Our Price
$39.99
Coming soon – due November
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