Forgotten English by Jeffrey Kacirk

Forgotten English by Jeffrey Kacirk

Regular price
Checking stock...
Regular price
Checking stock...
Summary

A humorous guide to antiquated words, with history, literary excerpts and drawings. The author includes excerpts from Shakespeare, John Donne, Ben Jonson et al. A social history of centuries past seen through the lens of language.

The feel-good place to buy books
  • Free US shipping over $15
  • Buying preloved emits 41% less CO2 than new
  • Millions of affordable books
  • Give your books a new home - sell them back to us!

Forgotten English by Jeffrey Kacirk

Have you ever sent a message via scandaroon, needed a nimgimmer, or fallen victim to bowelhive? Never heard of these terms? That's because they are a thing of the past. These words are alive and well, however, in Forgotten English, a charming collection of hundreds of archaic words, their definitions, and old-fashioned line drawings. For readers of Bill Bryson, Henry Beard, and Richard Lederer, Forgotten English is an eye-opening trip down a delightful etymological path. Readers learn that an ale connor sat in a puddle of ale to judge its quality, that a beemaster informed bees of any important household events, and that our ancestors had a saint for hangover sufferers, St. Bibiana, a fact pertinent to the word bibulous. Each selection is accompanied by literary excerpts demonstrating the word's usage, from sources such as Shakespeare, Dickens, Chaucer, and Benjamin Franklin. Entertaining as well as educational, Forgotten English is a fascinating addition to word lovers' books.
Jeffrey Kacirk is a research aficionado with a special love for antique dictionaries. He lives in Marin County, California.
SKU Unavailable
ISBN 13 9780688166366
ISBN 10 0688166369
Title Forgotten English
Author Jeffrey Kacirk
Condition Unavailable
Binding Type Paperback
Publisher HarperCollins Publishers Inc
Year published 1999-02-17
Number of pages 256
Cover note Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.