History in English Words

By Owen Barfield

Book Overview

Delve into the fascinating evolution of the English language with Owen Barfield's "History in English Words." This seminal work explores the rich tapestry of etymology, tracing the origins and shifting meanings of words that shape our understanding of the world. Uncover the historical context embedded within language, revealing how semantics reflect cultural and societal changes.

A cornerstone of historical linguistics, this book illuminates the intricate connections between words and their past. Explore the profound impact of history on the very language we use every day. Whether you are a student of language, a lover of words, or simply curious about the roots of communication, this exploration of word origins provides invaluable insights. A classic study meticulously prepared for print republication, "History in English Words" offers a timeless perspective on the ever-evolving nature of language.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1023486903
• ISBN13: 9781023486903
• Release Date: March 2025
• Publisher: Anson Street Press
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 0.89 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.1" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Words as windows to the past.

I read "History in English Words" because I expected it would provide me with some technical knowledge of language which would aid me in my explorations of poetry and other cultural and literary works. I believe it did add some worthwhile sense of the evolution of usage of many English words which are common to literature, such as: romantic, imagination, genius, original, fantasy and scores of others. Meanings of many common words have shifted, and in some cases, are understood in a completely different sense than say, what they meant to Shakespeare. I soon discovered that the larger, and more meaningful purpose of the book is to analyze how the changes in the languages of European civilization reflect the evolution of the mental outlook, or consciousness, of that civilization. As a background, Barfield recaps what was then known(in 1953)about the ancient people known as Aryans, or today as Indo-Europeans, who through migrations later became Greeks, Romans, Slavs, Celts, Iranians,etc. But the real gist of the book's purpose becomes clear with the examination of the way in which Greek and Latin exemplify, through their usage of words, the difference in world-view of the two different cultures. The ever-practical Romans borrowed heavily from the cultural heritage of the more metaphysical, inward-looking Greeks, but managed to put a more utilitarian spin on those borrowings. These two world-views, inward-looking or outward-looking, are like polarities which succeeding European cultures oscillated between while trying to evolve their concept of what a Christian culture should be. The scholastics of the Middle Ages, the Elizabethans, the romantics of the eighteenth century, the scientifically influenced materialists of the nineteenth century, all invented and modified words which reflect their attempts to define the world. For the most part, Barfield presents this progression to us without favoring any particular outlook, but I think his sentiments are expressed both by the title and contents of the last chapter, "Imagination". In a sort of mystical way, he sees this long linguistic labor of European, and particularly English, culture, as being a gradual assimilation by the human consciousness of the objective, souless world of nature. This slow process of internalization has given man the creative leverage to re-animate nature with meaning derived from human perception, rather than being bound by the concept of man at the mercy of the gods. There is the feeling that Barfield had many more thoughts on the matter, but in this book at any rate, he didn't impose them on the reader. My main quibble with the book is that he wrote very long sentences containing many clauses and asides; so much so that sometimes I had to reread a sentence to pick back up on the main thrust of it. In my opinion, it would have been easier to assimilate his message, and much less tiring if he had made more frequent use of the period. But I can still warmly recommend th

A Walk Through The Ancient Human Mind

Barfield's narrative study of changes in words through the history of the English language that attest to the evolution of human consciousness. Very worthwhile, even if Barfield's style and literary landmarks are dated.

Words as Artifact

History in English Words is a fascinating archeological exploration of societies precursor to those of today that speak the English language. Where nothing or little exists in the archaeological ruins, words reveal lifestyle, thought and patterns of migration. In addition, to following the movement of the precursor civilizations across Asia and Europe. The book is lively and thought provoking. The first half gets a little thin as he approaches the modern age, but then he launches into a new premise, that of the conflict of religious and scientific thought in the second half and the book is reinvigorated.