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An Etymological Dictionary of the English Language

An Etymological Dictionary of the English Language
By Walter W. Skeat

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Product Description

Practical and reliable, this reference traces English words back to their Indo-European roots. Each entry features a brief definition, identifies the language of origin, and employs a few illustrative quotations. An extensive appendix includes lists of prefixes, suffixes, Indo-European roots, homonyms and doublets, and the distribution of English-language sources.

Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #67156 in Books
  • Published on: 2005-06-17
  • Original language: English
  • Number of items: 1
  • Binding: Paperback
  • 832 pages

Customer Reviews

Rich reading5
This is the pinnacle of 19th century Philology. The edition with which I'm familiar refers to "indo-aryan" roots. Undoubtedly, some of Skeat's misconceptions have been corrected, but the wealth of information here is amazingly interesting reading for anyone interested in the whence of English

Best Book for English Language Research5
The Etymological Dictionary of the English Language is the best book of its kind. If you're fascinated by where words come from and what other languages English is rooted in, you'll love this concise dictionary. Great for researchers, teachers and students alike!

A Useful Old Reference3
This book is simply a re-print of an older text on English Etymology. As long as you are not expecting a modern work, you'll be happy with it. It is extensive, but certainly not the OED. The typface is old and can be difficulty to scan quickly, but is very legible. I use it as a classroom reference in one of our Education classrooms.

Again, as long as you know what you are getting, you'll be fine with it.