Origins: A Short Etymological Dictionary of Modern English [Paperback]

Eric Partridge (Author)

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Product Details

Paperback: 992 pages
Publisher: Routledge; 1 edition (Oct 15 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0415474337
ISBN-13: 978-0415474337
Product Dimensions: 23.1 x 15.5 x 5.3 cm
Shipping Weight: 1.5 Kg
Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #343,393 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #61 in Books > Nonfiction > Education > Reference > Words & Language > Etymology

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Product Description

This dictionary gives the origins of some 20,000 items from the modern English vocabulary, discussing them in groups that make clear the connections between words derived by a variety of routes from originally common stock. As well as giving the answers to questions about the derivation of individual words, it is a fascinating book to browse through, since every page points out links with other entries. It is easy to pursue such trails as the longer articles are written as continuous prose clearly divided up by means of numbered paragraphs and subheadings, and there is a careful system of cross-references. In addition to the main A-Z listing, there are extensive lists of prefixes, suffixes, and elements used in the creation of new vocabulary.

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Amazon.com: 4.5 out of 5 stars (12 customer reviews)

43 of 43 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply the best, Oct 30 1999

By Sean Burke - Published on Amazon.com

This review is from: Origins: A Short Etymological Dictionary of Modern English (Hardcover)

If you have any interest at all in English etymology, you MUST HAVE THIS BOOK. Beg, borrow, bid, phone every used bookstore you can find -- do anything to get a copy of this book. This book is so good that when I came across a copy of it and skimmed it, all I could do was look back with new regret at the years I'd spent using other works I could now recognize as inferior.

This is simply the best book on English etymology I've ever seen -- beats the earlier etymological dictionaries by Skeats and Weekley hands down, and of course is superior to any normal dictionary's treatment of etymologies (OED, Merriam-Webster, etc.).

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Should be reprinted if not improved!, Feb 3 2005

By P. De Fridman - Published on Amazon.com

This review is from: Origins: A Short Etymological Dictionary of Modern English (Hardcover)

Over thirty years ago I begun developing the habit of consulting etymological dictionaries whenever I wanted to deepen my understanding of words. I equipped myself with several etymological dictionaries in each of the three languages I use: spanish, french and english (which share many words). Over the years and independently of the language that triggered a given search, I found myself increasingly going FIRST to Partridge's ORIGINS (acquired in 1977) and often feeling no need of consulting another dictionary.

Quite a number of years comparing etymological dictionaries! Hence I agree, it should at least be reprinted or, hopefully, edited anew after improvement by a team of experts knowledgeable of more recent research in the field.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A "must have" book, Nov 16 2002

By William G. Rhines - Published on Amazon.com

This review is from: Origins: A Short Etymological Dictionary of Modern English (Hardcover)

If you love the English language and are truly very curious about the meanings of its words as reflected in the evolution of its origins and meanings, this is a "must have" book. I have used the 1966 issue of it for years now, and rate it more useful, although a companion book, to the seminal work of Walter Skeat. No library can realistically be said to be complete,nor can any lover of the English language, without both of these works.

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 12 reviews 4.5 out of 5 stars