Forgotten English

Forgotten English

Paperback (01 Jul 1999)

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Publisher's Synopsis

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.

Book information

ISBN: 9780688166366
Publisher: HarperCollins
Imprint: William Morrow Paperbacks
Pub date:
DEWEY: 428.1
DEWEY edition: 22
Language: English
Number of pages: 240
Weight: 218g
Height: 142mm
Width: 211mm
Spine width: 30mm