Origins: A Short Etymological Dictionary of Modern English

by Eric Partridge

Book Overview

This dictionary gives the origins of some 20,000 items from the modern English vocabulary, discussing them in groups that make clear the connections between words derived by a variety of routes from... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0517414252
• Release Date: November 1988
• Publisher: Random House Value Publishing
• Length: 972 Pages
• Weight: 1.90 lbs.

Customer Reviews

The place where words come from.

I found this difficult to read, at first, because of the abbreviations used (literally 100's of different ones throughout the book) in each definition, but caught onto them over time. You get used to flipping to check the key when an uncommon abbreviation comes up. Once I became accustomed to that....it really opened up a wealth of knowledge. This is a great resource, and highly recommended for anyone deeply interested in Etymology. It contrasts nicely with the online Etymology dictionaries, since the information offered in the book is a bit more in depth. The book also does a better job of cross-referencing related words than any website could. It's an older book (the author died in 1979), but the information in here never gets old. The new print is pricey, but you can pick up used copies for a fair price. It's a great addition to any reference shelf. Highly recommended, if you are an Etymology geek.

Should be reprinted if not improved!

Over thirty years ago I begun developing the habit of consulting etymological dictionaries whenever I wanted to deepen my understanding of words. I equipped myself with several etymological dictionaries in each of the three languages I use: spanish, french and english (which share many words). Over the years and independently of the language that triggered a given search, I found myself increasingly going FIRST to Partridge's ORIGINS (acquired in 1977) and often feeling no need of consulting another dictionary. Quite a number of years comparing etymological dictionaries! Hence I agree, it should at least be reprinted or, hopefully, edited anew after improvement by a team of experts knowledgeable of more recent research in the field.

Simply the best

If you have any interest at all in English etymology, you MUST HAVE THIS BOOK. Beg, borrow, bid, phone every used bookstore you can find -- do anything to get a copy of this book. This book is so good that when I came across a copy of it and skimmed it, all I could do was look back with new regret at the years I'd spent using other works I could now recognize as inferior.This is simply the best book on English etymology I've ever seen -- beats the earlier etymological dictionaries by Skeats and Weekley hands down, and of course is superior to any normal dictionary's treatment of etymologies (OED, Merriam-Webster, etc.).

Why is this book out of print?

Please bring it back and put one under the pillow of every lover and liker of the language of Shakespeare and Milton. (Or, check your local used bookstore when you're feeling lucky.) My favorite book on English etymology.