Word OriginsThe average contemporary English speaker knows 50,000 words. Yet stripped down to its origins, this apparently huge vocabulary is in reality much smaller, derived from Latin, French and the Germanic languages. It is estimated that every year, 800 neologisms are added to the English language: acronyms (nimby), blended words (motel), and those taken from foreign languages (savoir-faire). Laid out in an A-Z format with detailed cross references, and written in a style that is both authoritative and accessible, Word Origins is a valuable historical guide to the English language. |
Common terms and phrases
16th century acquired the word Anglo-Norman appears applied borrowed from Old borrowed into English coined comes from Latin comes from Old comes ultimately comes via Old compound formed compound verb formed Danish derivative of Latin descendant of Latin developed dialect diminutive form distinct words English acquired English borrowed English via Old etymologically Germanic languages given English goes back ultimately Greek hence Indo-European base Indo-European languages Italian late Latin Latin verb meant literally medieval Latin metaphorical Middle Dutch Middle English Middle Low German modern English modern sense Old English Old French Old Norse originally meant participle of Latin passed into English passed into Old past participle prehistoric Indo-European probably produced English produced German reached English related to English relative of English Sanskrit semantic source of English Spanish spelling survives Swedish term turn ultimate source ultimately from Latin variant via Old French Vulgar Latin whence English word comes word's