John Ayto Knihy

In Twentieth Century Words, lexicographer John Ayto takes us on an exhilarating tour of our century, charting it decade by decade by way of the words we've coined to mark our passage through time. Ayto looks at some 5,000 words and meanings, from "flapper" to "flower power" to "road rage." We learn the birth dates of words such as "movie" (1910s), "barbecue" (1930s), Beatlemania (1960s), and "foodie" (1980s). Ayto also treats us to many surprises as well. Did you know, for instance, that "atomic energy" was coined in the 1900s, "rocket ship" in the 1920s, "hologram" in the '40s, and "modem" in the '50s? And in addition to the main alphabetic sequence of entries, the book also offers boxed features on topics of special interest, such as words arising from World War II ("bazooka," "jeep," "bikini"). With a thoughtful essay to introduce each decade, and thousands of evocative words and phrases, Twentieth Century Words will enthrall all word lovers as it opens a unique window on the last one hundred years.

Celebrating the 125th anniversary of its original publication, this expanded and updated edition of a classic reference features a new, simplified organization.

The average English speaker knows about 50,000 words, a figure that belies the smaller number of roots from Latin, French, and Germanic languages. Each year, around 800 new words enter the English lexicon, including acronyms like 'yuppie' and blended terms such as 'motel'. This dictionary offers a concise history of over 8,000 commonly used words, revealing fascinating etymological connections. For example, the word 'vice' has multiple meanings and is derived from two Latin roots: 'vitium' (defect) and 'vitis' (vine), which also leads to 'viticulture'. The dictionary uncovers surprising origins, such as 'bishop', which comes from the Greek 'episkopos' (overseer) and is related to 'spy'. In etymological terms, a 'dairy' should refer to a female kneader of bread. Organized in an A-Z format with detailed cross-references, this authoritative yet accessible guide sheds light on the diverse influences that have shaped the English language, showcasing the intricate and often unexpected relationships between words.

All your questions answered on spelling, grammar, and usage When is it correct to use me instead of I? Should its have an apostrophe? Should you use affect or effect? Looking for help? Good English! tells you how to get it right. - confused and misused words - spelling - usage - pronunciation - grammar - punctuation - British and American English

The volume takes a fresh look at the idiomatic phrases and sayings that make English the rich and intriguing language that it is. This major new edition contains entries for over 6000 idioms, including 700 entirely new entries, based on Oxford's language monitoring and the ongoing third edition ofthe Oxford English Dictionary

This book systematically records, verifies and interprets over 1200 new English words and meanings which appeared worldwide, predominently in 1987 and 1988. The entry records the word, gives a definition, cites the press quotation to verify the occurance and interprets the origin of the word.

A lively, authoritative, and up-to-date look at the world of rhyming slang, from its origins in London's 19th-century underworld to the buzzwords of 21st-century popney. Arranged by topic, including Crime, Food and Drink, Illness, Money, Sex, and Sport, this highly readable collection is at once an informative source to the story behind some of our most lively expressions and a browser's delight.

The ideal reference for those interested in the more quirky and unofficial words used in English. Each area of life and each aspect of the world that generates slang is explored in turn. Including surprisingly old words such as booze and guzzle as well as the most up-to-date words like humongous and lunchbox, this fascinating book is sure to provide a stonking good read for all.

Euphemism is the art of avoiding giving offence. It is possible to minimize the obvious by calling someone cuddly or junoesque when they are actually fat; to disguise the actual truth, extermination becomes the less unpleasant ethnic-cleansing; and large-scale redundancies become restructuring.

This dictionary defines a myriad of phrases and sayings that are used daily in the English language. It contains more than 10,000 idioms, including figurative expressions, similes, sayings, and proverbs, and features usage examples and information on origins for many of them.