Synopses & Reviews
With over 20,000 words and word elements -- from the everyday to the esoteric, from street slang to scientific terminology -- this dictionary paints a picture of the diverse and fascinating sources that gave rise to the English language we now speak. Each entry includes a basic definition, the word's grammatical status, and the term's history proper: when it first appeared in English, its origins, and the history of its development. A gold mine of enlightenment and entertainment.