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Joined: Jun 2000
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stranger
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OP
stranger
Joined: Jun 2000
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Does anyone know of a good book of word derivations?
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addict
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addict
Joined: Jun 2000
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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.
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613 |
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?
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Joined: Apr 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,065 |
My favourite is Eric Partridge's "Origins" -- or it was until my father borrowed it.
Bingley
Bingley
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stranger
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stranger
Joined: Jul 2000
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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.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
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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.
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old hand
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old hand
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,094 |
In the same line, what would you consider the best dictionary out there?
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 679
addict
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addict
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 679 |
> 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.
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Joined: Jul 2000
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old hand
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old hand
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,094 |
I'm guessing OED stands for Oxford English Dictionary?
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Posts: 3,065 |
Knee-high? Shouldn't that be volume-high?
Bingley
Bingley
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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>>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?
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enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 200 |
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.
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,981 |
>knee high
I think it was a pun!!!
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613 |
>>>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.
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addict
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addict
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 460 |
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".
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613 |
>>"Songs I learned on my mother's knee, and other low joints".<<
That sounds like the bee's knees!
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Joined: Apr 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
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Just what I needed to make me a member.
Bingley
Bingley
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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> wonder why that particular choice of insects?
Grasshoppers have knees that are more apparent than most other insects.
TEd
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