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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... never written; they were spoken by heedless illiterates who (as speakers of dialects around the world today) tended to slur sounds, drop any sound that got in the way of rapid expression, or add any that made for smoother flow. Looking ...
... never written; they were spoken by heedless illiterates who (as speakers of dialects around the world today) tended to slur sounds, drop any sound that got in the way of rapid expression, or add any that made for smoother flow. Looking ...
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... never sounded. In Greek, the Furies were called Eumenides, “daughters of kindness.” This process, known as euphemism, has changed many an unpleasant word, and it still functions in many forms. Behind a woman's back, one might remark ...
... never sounded. In Greek, the Furies were called Eumenides, “daughters of kindness.” This process, known as euphemism, has changed many an unpleasant word, and it still functions in many forms. Behind a woman's back, one might remark ...
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... never; see ne and the more active negative root nek. Also probably related is the dangerous nighttime, L nox, noctis; see nekut. La Rochefoucauld, in Maxims (1665), observed: “Age loves to give good precepts, to console itself for being ...
... never; see ne and the more active negative root nek. Also probably related is the dangerous nighttime, L nox, noctis; see nekut. La Rochefoucauld, in Maxims (1665), observed: “Age loves to give good precepts, to console itself for being ...
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... Never mind. —Punch 30 (1855): 19 L amare, amatum: love. amateur, amatory, amorous; amour, enamored. It, inamorata. paramour. amity, enmity; enemy, inimical. Sp, amigo. Fr commère: godmother; Scot cummer. L amita: father's sister; OFr ...
... Never mind. —Punch 30 (1855): 19 L amare, amatum: love. amateur, amatory, amorous; amour, enamored. It, inamorata. paramour. amity, enmity; enemy, inimical. Sp, amigo. Fr commère: godmother; Scot cummer. L amita: father's sister; OFr ...
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... never put with the wrong end in front. This, however, is merely an afterthought; the Riddle as originally invented, had no answer at all.” English children had given it one: “Because neither can climb a tree.” And an ingenious ...
... never put with the wrong end in front. This, however, is merely an afterthought; the Riddle as originally invented, had no answer at all.” English children had given it one: “Because neither can climb a tree.” And an ingenious ...
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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