The Etymologicon
A Circular Stroll through the Hidden Connections of the English Language
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Springing from writer and journalist Mark Forsyth's hugely popular blog The Inky Fool and including word-connection parlour games perfect for any word-lovers get-together, The Etymologicon is a brilliant map of the secret labyrinth that lurks beneath the English language. There's always a connection. Sometimes, it's obvious: an actor's role was once written on a roll of parchment, and cappuccinos are the same color as the robes of a Capuchin monk. Sometimes the connection is astonishing and a little more hidden: who would have guessed that your pants and panties are named after Saint Pantaleon, the all-compassionate?
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An entertaining “stroll”, as the cover says, through the etymology and origins of many English words. Helps expand on your vocabulary and is chock full of random tidbits of trivia to annoy your friends with. If you have ever studied any Latin or Greek, you will be well aware that they form the roots of many English words today, but exactly how the meanings and spellings of words shift is pretty fascinating. A single event, or a single usage of a word, can set the ball rolling for a whol wave of different meanings. Not exactly burdened with a particular message or anything, this is continous links between one word and the next, easy to pick up and read for a few minutes at a time. Forsyth is humourous and keeps the subject engaging. A good read.
