The Accidental Dictionary: The Remarkable Twists and Turns of English Words

By Paul Anthony Jones

Book Overview

Busking, for instance, originally meant piracy. Grin meant to snarl. A bimbo was a man; nice meant ignorant; glamor was magic, and a cupboard was a table. Buxom used to mean obedient; a cloud was a rock; raunchy originally meant dirty.

Focusing on one hundred surprising threads in the evolution of English, The Accidental Dictionary reveals the etymological origins and quirky developments that have led to the meanings we take for granted today. It is a weird and wonderful journey into words.

So, let's revel in its randomness and delight in its diversity--our dictionary is indeed accidental.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1681775697
• ISBN13: 9781681775692
• Release Date: October 2017
• Publisher: Pegasus Books
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.83 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.4" x 8.4"