The Language of the Mormon Pioneers

by George W. Givens

This book is an amazing mix of definitions and historical facts that allows readers to seemingly step into life in the 1800s. Every page holds interesting information from 19th century documents. Each source has been carefully researched. What is a breechy cow, a churl or a dolly peg? What did it mean to cozen, to swan or to rive?These words, like hundreds of others in this book, were common in the mid-1800s. for anyone with an interest in how our...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1555176763
• ISBN13: 9781555176761
• Release Date: March 2003
• Publisher: Council Press
• Length: 284 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.1" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

A superb reference for anyone studying primary sources

Compiled and organized by Mormon historian George W. Givens, The Language Of The Mormon Pioneers is a straightforward dictionary of English words that were commonly used in the mid-1800s -- especially those by Mormon Pioneers -- and yet which have mostly fallen into disuse today. Terms such as "catechise" (verb - to question or interrogate); "priest bound" (adverb - overly controled by religious rules); "tippling house" (noun - a public house where liquor is sold by the drink), and more, these colorful archaic terms are succinctly presented with cited examples of usage drawn from historical real documents. A superb reference for anyone studying primary sources of American and Mormon history, The Language Of The Mormon Pioneers is a welcome and unique contribution to personal and academic Language Studies reference collections.