Where did the words
bungalow
and
assassin
derive? What did
nice
mean in the Middle Ages? How were
adder, anger
, and
umpire
originally spelled? The answers can be found in this essential companion to any popular dictionary.
With over 17,000 entries, this is the most authoritative and comprehensive guide to word origins available in paperback. Based on
The Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology
, the principal authority on the origin and development of English words, it contains a wealth of information about our language and its history. For example, readers will learn that
originally meant "belonging to Bengal," that
comes from the Arabic for "Hashish-eater," and that
meant "foolish or stupid" in the thirteenth century, "coy or shy" in the fifteenth. And
were originally spelled with an initial "n." These are but a few of the fascinating tidbits found in this dictionary, which is a must for anyone interested in the richness of the English language.