What'S In A Word: Etymological Gossip About Some Interesting English Words [Hardcover]

Modern English is rich in words derived from sources as diverse as classical Latin and Greek, Indonesian and other Asian languages, European mythology and religion, and the popular culture of many times and places. In this survey of the origins of several hundred familiar English words, linguist Robert Gorrell explores the myriad ways our language has been shaped by successive conquests of Britain by the Romans, Germanic tribes, and Normans; by borrowings from Greek (which followed the spread of Christianity into the British Isles), Arabic, Native American languages, French, and others; and by the spread of British conquerors, colonists, and merchants around the world.

The myriad ways our language has been shaped by successive conquests

Robert Gorrell (1914-2011)influenced thousands of students at Nevada and across the country with the publication of the Modern English Handbook. Penned with Department of English colleague Charlton Laird, the Modern English Handbook was one of the most successful texts of its kind. He was a professor of English emeritus at the University of Nevada, Reno and the author of more than a dozen books. His weekly newspaper column Straight Talk was published in the Reno Gazette-Journal for thirteen years through 1995. He was the recipient of numerous distinguished service awards from the University of Nevada, Reno, the Nevada Humanities Committee, and the University of Nevada Alumni Association. In 2001, he was inducted into the Nevada Writers Hall of Fame.