OXFORD WORD ORIGINS DICTIONARY

This work is trialled and tested in schools. For the first time a comprehensive dictionary of word origins will be available for all school students.

Each headword entry gives a complete and fascinating story about how a particular word came into the English language and evolved over time.

In addition, each headword entry includes meanings and how each word is used in context.

It also includes 40 extended panels covering a range of themes like: other languages which gave vocabulary to the English language form Arabic and Australian-Aboriginal to Urdu and Yiddish; acronyms (AIDS, NATO), eponyms (Wellingtons), invented words (nylon, spoof), shortened words (photo, exam), blends (motor and hotel became motel) and folk etymology; and subjects students are interested in, ranging from food and drink, animals, sports, space, to first names and illnesses.