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croscot's review against another edition
DNFing books which I haven't touched in a while! Not because they were bad, but because my ADHD brain can't focus on them for long enough! Will definitely come back to this book later!
m_tiller's review against another edition
4.0
I read it cover-to-cover, which isn't what the author apparently intended as it's in the format of "a word a day". It was an enjoyable and light read and I'll probably dip into it again when a mot juste is called for.
aimeesteph's review against another edition
3.0
(Finished early so I didn’t have to take it home). Not my favourite daily reader I’ve read, some of the descriptions felt very detached from the word of the day, and some just felt like they went on for too long. Still found it interesting though.
robotswithpersonality's review
Fun!
I did this in five word bursts, sometimes multiple a day, rather than one a day to keep up with library loans period, but it was still marvelously diverting rather than overwhelming. I can't say I'll remember every word I learned about but I always enjoy etymological entertainment.
A few things I didn't expect: UK (English and Scottish) words I've never heard of.
Some entries actually include multiple words under the heading of one, and some entries fully admit that the original origin can only be guessed at.
Diving into word history also meant getting many snippets of world history in the bargain).
Getting an Englishwoman's expansion on the origin of American English words occasionally made familiar words feel foreign, odd experience, especially where the whole British Empire colonialism in history came into play. Mostly, entries acknowledged the injustices in darker moments of history.
The book's 2020 publication date meant multiple references to COVID and Trump.
I did this in five word bursts, sometimes multiple a day, rather than one a day to keep up with library loans period, but it was still marvelously diverting rather than overwhelming. I can't say I'll remember every word I learned about but I always enjoy etymological entertainment.
A few things I didn't expect: UK (English and Scottish) words I've never heard of.
Some entries actually include multiple words under the heading of one, and some entries fully admit that the original origin can only be guessed at.
Diving into word history also meant getting many snippets of world history in the bargain).
Getting an Englishwoman's expansion on the origin of American English words occasionally made familiar words feel foreign, odd experience, especially where the whole British Empire colonialism in history came into play. Mostly, entries acknowledged the injustices in darker moments of history.
The book's 2020 publication date meant multiple references to COVID and Trump.
robinwalter's review against another edition
informative
3.75
The least enojyable of th many books of this kind I've read, it walso disappointing to see the old "avocado means testicle" chestnut trotted out when it has been well-debunked
hepalmer's review against another edition
5.0
My inner geek linguist loved it. Abflaut reduction rocks!
paperbacksandpines's review against another edition
2.0
I am interested in uncovering the meaning of new to me vocabulary words. I thought that's what this book would be about. But I was disappointed to discover that this book isn't so much about the meanings of words but about their history, provenance, and how they have sometimes evolved over the years.
I wouldn't say this book was bad but it didn't meet my expectations.
I wouldn't say this book was bad but it didn't meet my expectations.