Read e-book online Word Histories and Mysteries: From Abracadabra to Zeus PDF

By Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries

Did you recognize that cats are comparable etymologically to caterpillars? Or that Thomas Edison performed a key position in popularizing using the greeting “Hello”? Or that muscle mass have been initially mice, in view that a flexed biceps feels like a bit rodent scurrying less than the outside? Word Histories and Mysteries offers a breathtaking view of the original richness of English, uncovering the origins of 5 hundred daily phrases whose brilliant and infrequently a laugh tales supply insights into the heritage of humankind. prepared in handy alphabetical order, the notes are written in a full of life and unique kind ideal for looking. The reader can learn the way phrases have been coined, or hint the origins of English again to the Indo-European language spoken lengthy prior to the discovery of writing. a quick creation outlines the innovations linguists use to track the historical past of phrases, and a convenient thesaurus explains the linguistic phrases that describe the ways that language alterations through the years. images and drawings support familiarize the reader with the traditional items or cultural practices from which our phrases have sprung. interesting and enjoyable to learn, Word Histories and Mysteries is a perfect reward for prime college or students attracted to language and for a person who desires to be aware of extra concerning the curious sounds we make to speak each day.

Show description

Read or Download Word Histories and Mysteries: From Abracadabra to Zeus PDF

Similar other books

The Theory of Poker: A Professional Poker Player Teaches by David Sklansky PDF

The speculation of Poker via David Sklansky discusses theoriesand techniques acceptable to almost each version of the game,including five-card draw (high), seven-card stud, carry 'em, lowballdraw, and razz (seven-card lowball stud). This e-book introduces you tothe basic Theorem of Poker, its implications, and the way it shouldaffect your play.

New PDF release: Black And White And Blue: Adult Cinema from the Victorian

The flicks that society has termed pornographic were with us for over a century now. but past a handful of scholarly tracts and a a couple of glancing references in yes Hollywood histories, there is not any smooth heritage of the topic on hand. that includes specific interviews, descriptions of over three hundred movies and written in a conversational type, Black and White and Blue fills that void.

Get HTML5 Media: Integrating Audio and Video with the Web PDF

If you are an internet developer or dressmaker acquainted with CSS and JavaScript, this tightly centred advent exhibits you the way so as to add HTML5 media components in your web content, and the way to supply customized controls for letting net viewers have interaction with the content material. you are going to additionally the right way to supply subtitles and captions, utilizing dossier codecs that paintings in browsers now.

Edward Crane's The Havishams: The Hive Of Nightmares PDF

Robbie Havisham has a distinct reward, a present which he needs to defend. whilst Robbie's grandfather dies, the Havishams inherit a mysterious mansion. quickly Robbie and his sister Lucy, become aware of considered one of their grandfather's experiments. a tool designed to spoil nightmares. while Lucy tampers with the laptop she units a chain of terrifying occasions in movement.

Extra resources for Word Histories and Mysteries: From Abracadabra to Zeus

Sample text

Download PDF sample