A Certain je Ne Sais Quoi by Chloe Rhodes

A Certain je Ne Sais Quoi by Chloe Rhodes

English doesn't borrow from other languages. English follows other languages down dark alleys, knocks them over, and goes through their pockets for loose grammar.
-James D. Nicoll

Organized alphabetically for easy reference, A Certain Je Ne Sais Quoi is an accessible lexicon of foreign words and phrases used in English, containing everything from aficionado (Spanish) to zeitgeist (German). Inside you'll find translations, definitions, origins, and a descriptive timeline of each item's evolution. Entries include:

• la carte: from the card or of the menu (French)
• Fiasco: complete failure (Italian)
• Dungarees: thick cotton cloth/overalls (Hindi)
• Diaspora: dispersion (Greek)
• Smorgasbord: bread and butter (Swedish)
• Cognoscenti: those who know (Italian)
• Compos mentis: having mastery of one's mind; with it (Latin)

Attractively packaged with black and white illustrations, this whimsical yet authoritative book is a great gift for any etymologically fascinated individual. Use this book to reacquaint yourself with the English language, and you'll be compos mentis in no time.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9781606520574
ISBN 10	1606520571
Title	A Certain je Ne Sais Quoi
Author	Chloe Rhodes
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Hardback
Publisher	Reader's Digest Association
Year published	2010-03-04
Number of pages	175
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.