The etymologicon

a circular stroll through the hidden connections of the English language

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Mark Forsyth: The etymologicon (2012, Berkley Books)

279 pages

English language

Published Nov. 13, 2012 by Berkley Books.

ISBN:
978-0-425-26079-1
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OCLC Number:
775418832

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Springing from writer and journalist Mark Forsyth's hugely popular blog The Inky Fool and including word-connection parlour games perfect for any word-lovers get-together, The Etymologicon is a brilliant map of the secret labyrinth that lurks beneath the English language. There's always a connection. Sometimes, it's obvious: an actor's role was once written on a roll of parchment, and cappuccinos are the same color as the robes of a Capuchin monk. Sometimes the connection is astonishing and a little more hidden: who would have guessed that your pants and panties are named after Saint Pantaleon, the all-compassionate?

4 editions

Review of 'The etymologicon' on 'Goodreads'

The book itself is funny and informative, but the audiobook is infinitely skippable. I'll be picking up more of these, but they'll be hard copies only because the narrator's affect was so flat, it made finishing it a chore.

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Subjects

  • Terms and phrases
  • Etymology
  • English language