The Origins of English Words: A Discursive Dictionary of Indo-European RootsJHU Press, 2001 M07 1 - 672 pages There are no direct records of the original Indo-European speech. By comparing the vocabularies of its various descendants, however, it is possible to reconstruct the basic Indo-European roots with considerable confidence. In The Origins of English Words, Shipley catalogues these proposed roots and follows the often devious, always fascinating, process by which some of their offshoots have grown. Anecdotal, eclectic, and always enthusiastic, The Origins of English Words is a diverting expedition beyond linguistics into literature, history, folklore, anthropology, philosophy, and science. |
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... to have sprung from some common source, which, perhaps, no longer exists.” He was right: the original speech, the primal Indo-European from which a hundred languages have flowered, was unwritten, and therefore left no.
... to have sprung from some common source, which, perhaps, no longer exists.” He was right: the original speech, the primal Indo-European from which a hundred languages have flowered, was unwritten, and therefore left no.
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... common root. The various additions to our Indo-European heritage from later or alien sources, however, have not basically altered its nature; these have, when necessary, been transformed to fit the pattern of our speech. A bird named in ...
... common root. The various additions to our Indo-European heritage from later or alien sources, however, have not basically altered its nature; these have, when necessary, been transformed to fit the pattern of our speech. A bird named in ...
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... common. Thus, crevisse became crayfish. Pentis, a lean-to, was transfigured to penthouse. When laymen began to write (an activity that for centuries was the almost exclusive function of the clergy; reading, too: a man could escape ...
... common. Thus, crevisse became crayfish. Pentis, a lean-to, was transfigured to penthouse. When laymen began to write (an activity that for centuries was the almost exclusive function of the clergy; reading, too: a man could escape ...
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... common use from its euphemistic thrust in advertisements, instead of “foul breath.” names come Many of familiar animals have surprisingly late. The only animal truly domesticated is the cat; the word may be African, but is first seen as ...
... common use from its euphemistic thrust in advertisements, instead of “foul breath.” names come Many of familiar animals have surprisingly late. The only animal truly domesticated is the cat; the word may be African, but is first seen as ...
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... common to knaves and all.” To tickle was early used for what was later called petting and necking; to kittle meant to rouse, also to give birth. OED defines tickle-tail as a wanton woman, “now dialectal.” And pussy, perhaps also ...
... common to knaves and all.” To tickle was early used for what was later called petting and necking; to kittle meant to rouse, also to give birth. OED defines tickle-tail as a wanton woman, “now dialectal.” And pussy, perhaps also ...
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The Origins of English Words: A Discursive Dictionary of Indo-European Roots Joseph Twadell Shipley No preview available - 2001 |
Common terms and phrases
ancient animal applied associated beauty became bird body called coined color columns comes common compounds Dictionary earlier early earth element ending England English especially figuratively folkchanged four French frequent genus gives Greek hand head hence hold horse human imitative Italy John King known land language later Latin leaves letters light lists literally live Lord mark meaning meant mind nature never Note one’s originally perhaps person pictured plant play Possibly prefix probably referred Roman root says sense Shakespeare shape short shortened song sound speaks stand star suggested term things translation tree turn usually whence woman words beginning wrote young