Semantic Antics: How and Why Words Change Meaning
by Steinmetz, Sol
- Used
- Very Good
- Hardcover
- Condition
- Very Good
- ISBN 10
- 0375426124
- ISBN 13
- 9780375426124
- Seller
-
Seattle, Washington, United States
3 Copies Available from This Seller
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About This Item
Synopsis
"My favorite popular word book of the year"-William Safire, NY Times 6/22/2008A fun, new approach to examining etymology!Many common English words started out with an entirely different meaning than the one we know today. For example:The word adamant came into English around 855 C.E. as a synonym for 'diamond,' very different from today's meaning of the word: "utterly unyielding in attitude or opinion."Before the year 1200, the word silly meant "blessed," and was derived from Old English saelig, meaning "happy." This word went through several incarnations before adopting today's meaning: "stupid or foolish."In Semantic Antics, lexicographer Sol Steinmetz takes readers on an in-depth, fascinating journey to learn how hundreds of words have evolved from their first meaning to the meanings used today.From the Hardcover edition.
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Details
- Bookseller
- ThriftBooks (US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- G0375426124I4N00
- Title
- Semantic Antics: How and Why Words Change Meaning
- Author
- Steinmetz, Sol
- Format/Binding
- Hardcover
- Book Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Quantity Available
- 3
- ISBN 10
- 0375426124
- ISBN 13
- 9780375426124
- Publisher
- Random House Reference Publishing
- Place of Publication
- New York, New York, U.s.a.
- Date Published
- 2008
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ThriftBooks
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