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Posted By: goodward Word Derivations - 06/28/00 07:10 PM
Does anyone know of a good book of word derivations?

Posted By: Bridget Re: Word Derivations - 06/29/00 09:04 AM
Not personally - I tend to look in my dictionary which is a Shorter Oxford, but if you go to Amazon.com and type 'etymology' in the search engine a fair mass of books come up. You can always take the list to a decent bookstore if you want to see the real thing, which is how I use Amazon anyway.

Posted By: Jackie Re: Word Derivations - 06/29/00 11:56 AM
Welcome, goodward--
I saw on Anu's home page that he gives Project Gutenberg as a site for books online. Haven't had time to check it out
myself, yet. Hope it helps. Let us hear, hear?

Posted By: Bingley Re: Word Derivations - 06/30/00 09:49 AM
My favourite is Eric Partridge's "Origins" -- or it was until my father borrowed it.

Bingley
Posted By: eclecticology Re: Word Derivations - 07/12/00 04:30 AM
I too have "Origins" by Partridge, and use it frequently, but good as it may be I would caution against depending entirely on a single source. Each etymologist will have been influenced by his own experience. A variety of references will help in building a more nuanced understanding of the language. Depending on a single source makes you akin to the university science student who has been careful to avoid any courses in the arts or humanities.

Posted By: AnnaStrophic Re: Word Derivations - 07/13/00 01:34 AM
Aside from Partridge, you can't beat the O.E.D. I also like the American Heritage. I think those three make a good combination, off-line-wise, anyway.

Posted By: Jazzoctopus Dictionaries - 07/13/00 09:27 PM
In the same line, what would you consider the best dictionary out there?

Posted By: Rubrick Re: Dictionaries - 07/14/00 07:34 AM
> In the same line, what would you consider the best dictionary out there?

I've been using the OED since I was knee-high and I can't recommend it too highly. Plenty of other good ones too but that's the one I turn to in times of forgetfulness or ignorance. Makes a good read in its own right, too.

Posted By: Jazzoctopus Re: Dictionaries - 07/14/00 02:37 PM
I'm guessing OED stands for Oxford English Dictionary?

Posted By: Bingley Re: Dictionaries - 07/17/00 05:07 AM
Knee-high? Shouldn't that be volume-high?

Bingley
Posted By: Jackie Re: Dictionaries - 07/17/00 02:48 PM
>>Knee-high? Shouldn't that be volume-high?<<

Aduh!, bingley! Good one! Sounds like 'Brick has been knee-deep in volumes since he was knee-high!

'Nother question, not worth opening a new thread: the end
of the knee-high expression here is "...to a grasshopper".
Is it different anywhere else?



Posted By: william grasshoppers - 07/17/00 02:50 PM
that's the one i know too, jackie.
i wonder why that particular choice of insects?
probably nothing to do with opera or baseball at all.

Posted By: jmh Re: Dictionaries - 07/17/00 10:48 PM
>knee high

I think it was a pun!!!

Posted By: Jackie Re: Dictionaries - 07/18/00 03:09 AM
>>>knee high

I think it was a pun!!!<<

Well, I don't get that one, Jo. I would have if he'd been talking about the Shorter Oxford, but that was Bridget.

We used to have Nehi (same pronunciation) soft drinks here.
I'm not sure if they're still sold, and also have no idea
of whether this was a play on the expression.



Posted By: paulb Re: knees - 07/20/00 11:49 AM
Speaking of 'knees'-

there's a CD by Marty Grosz (sp?) with the wonderful title "Songs I learned on my mother's knee, and other low joints".

Posted By: Jackie Re: knees - 07/21/00 01:07 AM
>>"Songs I learned on my mother's knee, and other low joints".<<

That sounds like the bee's knees!



Posted By: Bingley Re: knees - 07/24/00 03:20 PM
Just what I needed to make me a member.

Bingley
Posted By: TEd Remington Re: Dictionaries - 07/25/00 12:04 PM
> wonder why that particular choice of insects?

Grasshoppers have knees that are more apparent than most other insects.

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