Overview

Have you ever sent a message via scandaroon, needed a nimgimmer, or fallen victim to bowelhive Never heard of these terms That's because they are a thing of the past. These words are alive and well, however, in Forgotten English, a charming collection of hundreds of archaic words, their definitions, and old-fashioned line drawings.For readers of Bill Bryson, Henry Beard, and Richard Lederer, Forgotten English is an eye-opening trip down a delightful etymological path. Readers learn that an ale connor sat in a puddle of ale to judge its quality, that a beemaster informed bees of any important household events, and that our ancestors had a saint for hangover sufferers, St. Bibiana, a fact pertinent to the word bibulous. Each selection is accompanied by literary excerpts demonstrating the word's usage, from sources such as Shakespeare, Dickens, Chaucer, and Benjamin Franklin. Entertaining as well as educational, Forgotten English is a fascinating addition to word lovers' books.

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9780688166366

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Reviews

A stroll through the neglected and overgrown byways of the English dictionary. The author uncovers words which probably haven't been written or pronounced for centuries, such as piggesyne, adamitism, lycanthrope, cachpule. He then traces their history and defines them. Amusing and entertaining for anyone compulsively fascinated by the English language. (Kirkus UK)

Author Information

Jeffrey Kacirk is a research aficionado with a special love for antique dictionaries. He lives in Marin County, California.

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